Therapeutic Outline

Each youth participates in the following:

• A Full Psychological Evaluation (included in the cost of the program) This evaluation includes IQ testing, an academic screener to identify any potential learning problems, and a personality test battery to examine possible mental health issues. It also includes a substance abuse assessment and a current mental status exam. (A list of all the tests used in the evaluation is available upon request.) If the evaluation indicates further difficulties, additional testing can be completed at the request of the parent. The psychological evaluation is used to clearly define the youth's needs, strengths, and concerns. It can also be used to make recommendations for the youth after the program is completed.
• A carefully formulated treatment plan that establishes a roadmap for care and therapy in the wilderness. The youth, parents, and therapist must agree regarding the key areas they will focus on during the course of the program.
• Individual Therapy with a qualified mental health professional twice per week.
• Family Therapy: Using the most up-to-date electronic equipment, parents can participate in face-to-face family therapy sessions with their teen in the wilderness using real time video teleconferencing.
• Parenting Support and Education: Parents also receive a personalized session with the therapist over the phone or via teleconferencing on a weekly basis. We emphasize family relationship enhancement, parent support, and parenting classes. Parents will be given resources for improving parenting skills including recommendations for further interventions at the completion of the wilderness program, if they are needed for their teen.
• Group Therapy: the youth will participate in group therapy sessions each week, which are conducted by the wilderness therapist.
• Family Therapy Day: At the end of your teen's expedition we offer a Family Therapy Day held in the field. During the day, parents will have the chance to meet with the therapist and their teen and participate in family goal setting. The day may also include experiential therapy components such as ropes course elements or rock climbing. Meals are provided and accommodations are available in a nearby town.
• Specific Additional Testing: Some testing beyond the normal psychological testing is available, if necessary, at an additional cost.
• Medication Management by an APRN is also available for clients on psychotropic medication at an additional cost.
• Aftercare: Included in the cost of the program is a weekly contact with the therapist for six weeks following graduation from the program. The contact helps with transition back home or to another placement. This can be with the youth, parents, or both. It is available as a resource to the family, but is not required of the youth or parents.

All experiential aspects of the program are therapeutic... outdoor education, wilderness skills, and environmental service projects. Essentially, all activities are related to the client's treatment plan and individual goals.