True North Evolution - Vermont Wilderness Therapy Program

Age Groups :: Teens, Young Adults (18 - 30)

Gender :: Female | Male | Transgender

Nestled in Vermont's picturesque Mad River Valley, True North Evolution offers a year-round therapeutic wellness program for young adults ages 18-28. Founded by licensed clinical social workers Ty Maves and Madhurii Barefoot, the program provides an empowering setting for students to grow, heal, and thrive. Through specialized clinical tracks, participants build healthy, sustainable lifestyle strategies, focusing on mental health, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and interpersonal relationships.

For families seeking support for teens ages 14 to 17, True North Evolution offers a distinct Special Summer Session running from May 26 to August 21. Grounded in a holistic therapeutic wellness model, the program pairs experienced clinical care with a structured schedule that fosters physical, emotional, mental, social, and relational growth.

🏔️ Vibrant Lifestyle: The young adults experience life in a beautiful resort town, with activities that support their development and success across all areas of their lives. Adventures and activities can include skiing 🎿, golf ⛳, mountain biking 🚵, and paddleboarding, along with access to local amenities and nearby cities.

👉Parent Involvement: True North Evolution values parental participation. It is essential to the family's process, ensuring active engagement in each young adult's journey. Each parent receives a weekly call with a parent program facilitator to address their goals and needs. Parents attend a two-day family therapy workshop in Vermont with their adult child to strengthen their relationship.

How much does True North cost? It costs about $23,800 per month (roughly $750–$800 per day), with total out-of-pocket tuition for a standard 10-to-12-week stay. Families often request a "Superbill" to take back to their insurance company. Call Madhurii Barefoot, co-owner and admissions, for more information about how True North operates for clients of all ages and their families.

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General Information

Participant Age Group(s)

Teens

Young Adults (18 - 30)

Organization's Name

True North Evolution

Year Founded

2005

Director of Admissions

Madhurii Barefoot

Admissions: Rolling or scheduled?

Rolling admissions

Admissions

Which age groups does your organization accept?

Children/Adolescents

Young Adults

Professional Associations/Affiliations

National Association of Therapeutic Schools & Programs (Professional Member)

Payment Options

Insurance

Private Pay | Out-of-pocket

Call for more information

Does the program have more than one location for this particular program?

How does the program prevent clients/students/patients from leaving (running) from the program?

Clients are ALWAYS in "Line-of-Sight" with staff

Average Length of Stay

2 months

Minimum Age of Participants

17.5

Location of Program

Rural

Gender(s)

Female

Male

Transgender

What is the average number of clients you see per year?

Only accepts participants who are voluntarily enrolling only.

Yes

Can support 18 yo, if they enroll before 18?

Yes

Certified to accept students with I-20 Visa (SEVIS)

Yes

Religious Affiliation?

Billing & Payments

Payment Type

Private | Self Pay

Breakout Billing For Insurance | ‘Superbill’

Cost per month/workshop/programming (in USD)

23800

What percentage of participants receiving funding from a state Adoption Assistance Programming?

What percentage participants who are Court Ordered?

What percentage of your participants are 'Private Pay'?

Is there an enrollment fee/outfitting fee/payment in advance?

Yes

If applicable, is the last month’s fees due at enrollment?

Insurance

Do your students receive insurance coverage for more than two weeks?

Yes

Do you have an insurance utilization person?

N/A

in-network?

Yes

Levels of Care

Treatment Categories | Levels of Care

Residential Treatment

Residential Treatment - Failure to Launch/Emerging Adulthood

Residential Treatment - Mental Health

Accreditation

Professional Associations/Affiliations

National Association of Therapeutic Schools & Programs (Professional Member)

Other

For licensed programs, by state or under 18, please select Incidents required to be reported to the state:

Other

Ownership

Ownership Type

Private Company - Owners On-Site

Name of Parent Company

☎️ admissions for more information ~ 203-435-2253

Name of Sister Company

n/a

Facility Operations | Type of Land

Privately Owned

Who owns the land?

True North Evolution

Additional Professionals & Medical Rule Outs

Are there medical rule outs

Yes

Possible medical rule outs

Active Psychosis

Actively Suicidal

Fire Starter

Need for Detox?

Pregnancy

Is there a minimum BMI

Can program accept insulin-dependent diabetics

Are there additional professionals?

Psychiatrist

Psychologist

Percentage of clients on meds at enrollment

> 50%

Psychiatrist

Contracted psychiatrist as needed

If psychiatrist is available to students, what percentage of students change meds?

< 50%

Clinical Operations

Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside of organization?

Not Applicable

What is the largest caseload a therapist can have?

< 8

Percentage of licensed therapists?

All therapists are licensed by the state of operation

Average number of days/week therapist are with clients?

Number of Individual Sessions with Therapist

Do clinical assistants work with lead therapists?

Do any of the therapists have more than one case load?

Yes

Treatment Modalities

Types of Therapy Offered

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills

Eye Movement & Desensitization and Reprocessing

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Narrative Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psycho educational

Recreation Therapy

Integrated Wellness Support offered

Art

Breathing Techniques/Breath Work

Meditation

Yoga

Does the program have a level/phase system?

Yes

If yes, are phases/levels are they tied to privileges?

Does program have a milieu-driven residential model? (Staff are trained in model)

Yes

If yes -- select all that apply

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Integrated Wellness

Art

Breathing Techniques/Breath Work

Meditation

Yoga

Does program use time out rooms?

Family Involvement

HIGH: Family Expected on weekly calls (or more) & to attend all family workshops (weekly , monthly or quarterly)

Family involvement

HIGH: Family Expected on weekly calls (or more) & to attend all family workshops (weekly , monthly or quarterly)

What is the typical amount of time a family should expect before hearing about an major incident?

Type of Family Therapy/Work Offered

Family Handbook

Family process facilitated by another therapist

Family Workshops Available

Flexible length of call with therapist per week

Therapy - Group

Is there group therapy?

Yes

Average number of hours per week facilitated by licensed therapist

Average number of hours per week of group processing? (i.e. run by staff, interns, grad students, etc.)

Average number of formal family therapy hours per week (not social calls to teen)

Is video conferencing accessible for family therapy?

Yes

Therapy - Individual

Is there individual therapy?

Yes, part of the program cost

Number of individual therapy hours student receives on a difficult week?

Number of individual therapy hours student receives on typical week?

Therapist average case load

Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside a program?

Not Applicable

Does the Clinical Director carry a case load?

Staff

What percentage of the line staff are full time employees?

> 50%

Line staff to student ratio during awake hours

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

Are night staff awake or asleep

Asleep

Programming

Dorm/Housing

Doubles

Neurodiverse Specialties

ADHD/ADD

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Type of Programming Offered for Neurodiverse Students

Academic, functional living skills, life skills and social skills focused

Call for more information

Academics

Average student to teacher ratio

Transitions

Do you offer transition services for participants/students?

Yes

If Yes, select all options that apply to your program

Family Or Student Coaching Support For Certain Amount

Are there additional fees that apply to transitional options?

Yes

Percentage of families that participate in various transition programming?

> 50%

Assessments

Does the client receive a neuropsychological evaluation?

What percentage of participants receive psychological evaluations?

> 50%

Who completes the psychological evaluation?

Contracted separately by family/client

Does program receive a fee for evaluation or referral?

Sober Living Houses

Housing Options (+18+)

Call for more information

Technology

Computer Access

Other

Call for more information

Cell Phones

Other

Research

Percentage of clients who return home, or to a more traditional setting (like transitions to college or gap year, boarding school, etc.)

< 50%

Has the program previously been part of an evidence-based study?

Yes

Workshops

If you have workshops choose all that apply.

Family | Group

Call for more information

Accommodations

Nearby Hotel

Call For More Information

Use of Personal Vehicle

Use of Electronics

Handed Over to Staff

If you have a workshop, where is it located?

Address Listed Above

Average Length of Workshop

1 day