Director of AdmissionsKelly Webster, BS
Admissions Emailinfo@truenorthwilderness.com
Admissions Phone(203) 435-2253
Physical Address5354 Main St.
Waitsfield, VT 05673
United States
Mission Statement
We help families chart the course toward a successful future.Through communication with students, parents, and previous professionals, as well as in-the-moment assessment, we help students identify and begin to change patterns that have kept them stuck. Our highly trained field guides help students on a daily basis to notice patterns and implement skills learned in therapy to change them.Students meet with their therapists twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, so they never go more than 3 days without individual and group therapy sessions. The group size never exceeds 7 students, which means the therapists and field guides are able to provide exceptional individual attention to each student. Our highly trained field guides help students work through a curriculum that includes physical and therapeutic assignments specifically catered to their individual goals. The curriculum works through 4 phases, during which time students take on more responsibility and leadership opportunities. All parents at True North participate in a parent curriculum, which includes weekly calls with an assigned parent therapist in addition to the weekly calls they have with their child’s therapist. Parents are also encouraged to participate in a family workshop, which includes a day of intensive family workshops and therapy with their child and a day of workshops and therapy just for parents.
Treatment Specialties
Wilderness Therapy
Related Newsletters
Located in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont, True North provides a unique therapeutic environment for adolescents and young adults. Our students may present as anxious, depressed, or avoidant. They have generally struggled to thrive because of these issues and find themselves stuck. We work with a sophisticated clinical profile and a variety of behaviors, though we rule out extensive drug use or addiction and aggression. Our students are often compelled by their parents to attend the program, but must commit to participation when they walk in the door.
Because of our location, our experiential model changes with the seasons. From May to November, we are a nomadic model of wilderness therapy. Students backpack through the mountains, hiking from one location to another throughout the week. Young adults also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of adventures including canoeing and rock climbing.
From November to May, we are a base camp model. Our students participate in a range of outdoor activities like snowshoeing and hiking, but always come back to our base camp at night. There, they sleep in rustic but heated indoor spaces. They also participate in indoor activities like basketball, yoga, and cooking classes.
While the experiences change with the weather, the therapeutic model is consistent and second to none. We regularly see an increase in student confidence, improvement of their relationships, and development of the ability to take ownership for their lives. We accomplish this through extensive therapeutic intervention as described below.
Ownership Type
Private Company – Owners On-Site
Name of Parent Company
N/A
Name of Sister Company
N/A
Type of Land
Privately Owned
Do your students receive insurance coverage for more than two weeks?
N/A
Do you have an insurance utilization person?
N/A
Is the program on any insurance panels?
N/A
State and/or National
State License
Academic Accreditation
N/A
Wilderness Therapy Model
Base Camp | Backpacking
Number of Phases or Levels
4
If program has phases/levels, are they tied to privileges?
No
Percentage of students who complete all phases/levels prior to leaving the program
> 50%
Average Length of Stay
10
Religious Affiliation
N/A
Is there individual therapy?
N/A
Number of individual therapy hours student receives on a difficult week?
0
Number of individual therapy hours student receives on typical week?
0
Percentage of licensed therapists?
N/A
Therapist average case load
0
Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside a program?
N/A
Does the Clinical Director carry a case load?
N/A
Is there group therapy?
No
Average number of hours per week facilitated by licensed therapist
0
Average number of hours per week of group processing? (i.e. run by staff, interns, grad students, etc.)
0
Average number of formal family therapy hours per week (not social calls to teen)
0
Is Skype accessible for family therapy?
N/A
Are there Additional Professionals? (Select all that apply)
N/A
Are there Medical rule outs
N/A
Possible Medical Rule Outs
N/A
Is there a minimum BMI
N/A
Can Program accept insulin-dependent diabetics
N/A
Psychiatrist
Contracted psychiatrist as needed
Percentage of students on meds at enrollment
N/A
If psychiatrist is available to students, what percentage of students change meds?
< 50%
Types of Therapy Offered
N/A
Does the program have a level/phase system?
N/A
If yes, are phases/levels tied to privileges?
N/A
Does program have a milieu-driven residential model? (Staff are trained in model)
N/A
If yes — select all that apply
N/A
Integrated Wellness
N/A
Does program use time out rooms?
N/A
Line staff to student ratio during awake hours
1:0
Does program run background checks on all staff?
Yes
Is there an educational requirement for staff?
Yes
If Yes, what is it?
College Degree
Average number of hours staff are trained before their first shift
0
Are night staff awake or asleep
N/A
What percentage of the line staff are full time employees?
N/A
Grades Served
N/A
Average student to teacher ratio
1:0
Teaching/Classroom
N/A
Is the program able to implement IEP’s
N/A
Can Program handle a student who is more than two grade level’s behind in reading?
N/A
Academic Calendar
N/A
Can program support a student to complete a GED?
N/A
Can program support a student who wants vocational training?
N/A
Does the school have AP Classes or the ability to give or take a student to the AP Test?
N/A
Does the academic program have the ability to provide ACT or SAT Tutoring (on or off site)?
N/A
Does program have transition services for students?
N/A
If Yes, select all options that apply to your program
N/A
Are there additional fees that apply to transitional options?
N/A
Percentage of families that participate in various transition programming?
N/A
Scheduled or rolling admissions?
N/A
Is there an enrollment fee/outfitting fee/payment in advance?
N/A
If applicable, is the last month’s fees due at enrollment?
N/A
Cost per month/workshop/programming (in USD)
N/A
Percentage of clients who return home, or to a more traditional setting (like transitions to college or gap year, boarding school, etc.)
< 50%
Does a student have to sign themself into the program?
N/A
Link to Weekly or Daily Schedule
N/A
For licensed programs, but state or under 18, please select Incidents required to be reported to the state:
N/A
What is the typical amount of time a family should expect before hearing about an major incident?
N/A
What is the average number of clients you see per year?
N/A
Professional Associations/Affiliations
N/A
Payment Type
N/A
Has the program previously been part of an evidence-based study?
No
Is the program presently part of an evidence-based study?
Yes
Link to the study that the organization is part of
N/A
Type of Family Therapy/Work Offered
N/A
Family involvement
N/A
Who completes the psychological evaluation?
N/A
Minimum length of stay
N/A
Does the student receive a neuropsychological evaluation?
N/A
Type Of Programming For Students
N/A
Typical Student
N/A
Minimum IQ
N/A
Interview Requirements for Applicants
N/A
Additional Therapy
N/A
Therapist Case Load at Peak Season
< 8
Percentage of licensed therapists?
N/A
Average number of days/week therapist is in the field
2
Number of Individual Sessions with Therapist
2
Integrated Wellness Support
Art
Breathing Techniques/Breath Work
Meditation
Yoga
Do clinical assistants work with lead therapists?
No
Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside of wilderness?
Not Applicable
Do any of the therapists operate more than one group at peak season?
No
What percentage of participants receive psychological evaluations?
> 50%
Does program receive a fee for evaluation or referral?
No
Additional levels of care offered by facility
N/A
Types of eating disorder care provided
N/A
Specialized Programming
N/A
Is program focused on full recovery?
N/A
Housing
N/A
Community Service Requirement
N/A
Random Drug Testing
N/A
Transportation Options
N/A
Support Services
N/A
House/Community Meetings
N/A
Are participants required to do chores in the house/community?
N/A
12 Step Meetings on Location
N/A
Type of Students
N/A
Computer Access
N/A
Cell Phones
N/A
Academic Options
N/A
School Name (if applicable)
N/A
School Website (if applicable)
N/A
Types of Workshops Offered
N/A
Accommodations
N/A
Use of Personal Vehicle
N/A
Use of Electronics
N/A
Location of Workshop
N/A
Average Length of Workshop
N/A
Professional Associations/Affiliations
N/A
Ownership Type
Private Company – Owners On-Site
Name of Parent Company
N/A
Name of Sister Company
N/A
Type of Land
Privately Owned
Do your students receive insurance coverage for more than two weeks?
N/A
Do you have an insurance utilization person?
N/A
Is the program on any insurance panels?
N/A
State and/or National
State License
Academic Accreditation
N/A
Wilderness Therapy Model
Base Camp | Adventure Therapy
Number of Phases or Levels
4
If program has phases/levels, are they tied to privileges?
No
Percentage of students who complete all phases/levels prior to leaving the program
> 50%
Average Length of Stay
10
Religious Affiliation
No
Is there individual therapy?
N/A
Number of individual therapy hours student receives on a difficult week?
0
Number of individual therapy hours student receives on typical week?
0
Percentage of licensed therapists?
N/A
Therapist average case load
0
Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside a program?
N/A
Does the Clinical Director carry a case load?
N/A
Is there group therapy?
No
Average number of hours per week facilitated by licensed therapist
0
Average number of hours per week of group processing? (i.e. run by staff, interns, grad students, etc.)
0
Average number of formal family therapy hours per week (not social calls to teen)
0
Is Skype accessible for family therapy?
N/A
Are there Additional Professionals? (Select all that apply)
N/A
Are there Medical rule outs
N/A
Possible Medical Rule Outs
N/A
Is there a minimum BMI
N/A
Can Program accept insulin-dependent diabetics
N/A
Psychiatrist
Contracted psychiatrist as needed
Percentage of students on meds at enrollment
N/A
If psychiatrist is available to students, what percentage of students change meds?
< 50%
Types of Therapy Offered
N/A
Does the program have a level/phase system?
N/A
If yes, are phases/levels tied to privileges?
N/A
Does program have a milieu-driven residential model? (Staff are trained in model)
N/A
If yes — select all that apply
N/A
Integrated Wellness
N/A
Does program use time out rooms?
N/A
Line staff to student ratio during awake hours
1:0
Does program run background checks on all staff?
Yes
Is there an educational requirement for staff?
Yes
If Yes, what is it?
College Degree
Average number of hours staff are trained before their first shift
0
Are night staff awake or asleep
N/A
What percentage of the line staff are full time employees?
N/A
Grades Served
N/A
Average student to teacher ratio
1:0
Teaching/Classroom
N/A
Is the program able to implement IEP’s
N/A
Can Program handle a student who is more than two grade level’s behind in reading?
N/A
Academic Calendar
N/A
Can program support a student to complete a GED?
N/A
Can program support a student who wants vocational training?
N/A
Does the school have AP Classes or the ability to give or take a student to the AP Test?
N/A
Does the academic program have the ability to provide ACT or SAT Tutoring (on or off site)?
N/A
Does program have transition services for students?
N/A
If Yes, select all options that apply to your program
N/A
Are there additional fees that apply to transitional options?
N/A
Percentage of families that participate in various transition programming?
N/A
Scheduled or rolling admissions?
N/A
Is there an enrollment fee/outfitting fee/payment in advance?
N/A
If applicable, is the last month’s fees due at enrollment?
N/A
Cost per month/workshop/programming (in USD)
N/A
Percentage of clients who return home, or to a more traditional setting (like transitions to college or gap year, boarding school, etc.)
N/A
Does a student have to sign themself into the program?
N/A
Link to Weekly or Daily Schedule
N/A
For licensed programs, but state or under 18, please select Incidents required to be reported to the state:
N/A
What is the typical amount of time a family should expect before hearing about an major incident?
N/A
What is the average number of clients you see per year?
N/A
Professional Associations/Affiliations
N/A
Payment Type
N/A
Has the program previously been part of an evidence-based study?
N/A
Is the program presently part of an evidence-based study?
N/A
Link to the study that the organization is part of
N/A
Type of Family Therapy/Work Offered
N/A
Family involvement
N/A
Who completes the psychological evaluation?
N/A
Minimum length of stay
N/A
Does the student receive a neuropsychological evaluation?
N/A
Type Of Programming For Students
N/A
Typical Student
N/A
Minimum IQ
N/A
Interview Requirements for Applicants
N/A
Additional Therapy
N/A
Therapist Case Load at Peak Season
< 8
Percentage of licensed therapists?
N/A
Average number of days/week therapist is in the field
2
Number of Individual Sessions with Therapist
2
Integrated Wellness Support
Art
Breathing Techniques/Breath Work
Meditation
Yoga
Do clinical assistants work with lead therapists?
No
Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside of wilderness?
Not Applicable
Do any of the therapists operate more than one group at peak season?
Yes
What percentage of participants receive psychological evaluations?
> 50%
Does program receive a fee for evaluation or referral?
No
Additional levels of care offered by facility
N/A
Types of eating disorder care provided
N/A
Specialized Programming
N/A
Is program focused on full recovery?
N/A
Housing
N/A
Community Service Requirement
N/A
Random Drug Testing
N/A
Transportation Options
N/A
Support Services
N/A
House/Community Meetings
N/A
Are participants required to do chores in the house/community?
N/A
12 Step Meetings on Location
N/A
Type of Students
N/A
Computer Access
N/A
Cell Phones
N/A
Academic Options
N/A
School Name (if applicable)
N/A
School Website (if applicable)
N/A
Types of Workshops Offered
N/A
Accommodations
N/A
Use of Personal Vehicle
N/A
Use of Electronics
N/A
Location of Workshop
N/A
Average Length of Workshop
N/A
Professional Associations/Affiliations
N/A