Therapeutic Wilderness Schools - Any Insights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is an older thread, but it's been really helpful for a list of places to research for my 16 yr old DD, who is now inpatient again for suicidal ideation after a hospitalization a year ago and a 6-month PHP/IOP. Needless to say we are so stressed at being back on the rollercoaster.

Does anyone have any recommendations for or against consultants to help find the right program?

And for those upthread who did have success at wilderness therapy programs, can you please name names if you ever come back?

Did you just post in the Special Needs forum? If so, I read and responded to your post. We used what I consider a hybrid program with great success. The program is Elk River Treatment Program. The program is excellent and they have a very interesting and successful philosophy based on the circle and core issues. I would never do justice to the program by trying to explain it, but it was really helpful for my son. We continued with teletherapy with his therapist from ER after he was discharged because we couldn't find anything local that would work for him.

[Anonymous]

I say all this as constructive advice

Tread carefully and try to talk to some people who sent kids like your kid (age, issues etc.) and who did not do well at similar programs

there are some facebook groups for wilderness and I have heard from many parents whose kids did not do well at Wilderness but who do not feel comfortable saying so on those FB group pages - because everyone is "drunk on the kool-aide"

it is a huge expense and some kids are highly traumatized by it

[Anonymous]

Thank you, this is super-helpful and I will check out Elk River. Yes, I did open up a new thread about in-person PHPs/IOPs. I'm just trying to research all options because it's so clear that what we've done and been doing isn't enough. I'm definitely going into everything with eyes wide open, knowing that the "troubled teen" industry is a huge money-maker with many places overstating results.

I'm posting this article from High Country News that I found last week in case it's helpful for someone reading this thread in the future:

https://www.hcn.org/articles/wilderness-do-wilderness-therapy-programs-really-work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is an older thread, but it's been really helpful for a list of places to research for my 16 yr old DD, who is now inpatient again for suicidal ideation after a hospitalization a year ago and a 6-month PHP/IOP. Needless to say we are so stressed at being back on the rollercoaster.

Does anyone have any recommendations for or against consultants to help find the right program?

And for those upthread who did have success at wilderness therapy programs, can you please name names if you ever come back?

I was one of the previous posters whose child had success at wilderness. For consultant we used was Tom Harvey of The School Counseling Group and we had a very positive experience. Another poster mentioned Trails (Carolina) - our child went there as well. I seem to recall having maybe two wilderness programs recommended - one of the things was our consultant suggested a very specific therapist and group of peers within Trails for our child, which turned out to be a fantastic fit; in the end they helped us sort out previously undiagnosed issues as well as left my child in a really strong place emotionally. In the end, a place like Trails will almost inevitably STRONGLY encourage transition to a therapeutic boarding school so be prepared for that. We didn't quite go that route ourselves, but our consultant helped us finding a school for afterwards which was a good fit.

Wishing you and your child the best, I've been there and feel for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid on medication? Doing CBT? What is he doing now to address the issue?

Neither of these solve the problem of a child being isolated from his peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you everyone for your feedback. I am thankful for such a vocal community.

Our son has basically shut down since COVID. We are/have explored both inpatient and intensive outpatient options. Our concerns are i) we are not sure we would even be successful getting our son out of the house each morning for outpatient, ii) Inpatient might be too clinical and doesn't necessarily address his overall life coping skills, iii) since the cost for many of these programs are astronomical to begin with, we'd rather try do something more extreme. We are basically in nuclear mode at this point, and we (along with his therapist) believe a complete change in scenery might be the most beneficial option for him.

That said, i am not without concerns about such a decision. I have scoured Facebook, Reddit, Better Business Bureau, etc for any honest feedback i can find. We are scheduled to speak with 3 different parents who sent their kids to the program over the last 2 years to get their honest feedback.

I will also look into the many suggestions everyone provided as an alternative.

You mention "inpatient" and "outpatient" programs but then only mention a therapist. Have you had him evaluated by an experienced child psychiatrist and tried medications? I would do that before sending him away to a program.

Some people need medication. I understand why people are reluctant to try medication in adolescents; I have been there. But, if the anxiety and depression have lasted more than a few weeks, and you have been working with a therapist, then it really is time to try medication.

My DS presented with irritability, anger and opposition. I know everyone attributes that to the "teenage years," but after about a month or two of getting him educated about medication options and him consenting to try medication, he found something that works. The change is a amazing. He is the happy, optimistic, kind guy I knew.

I'm not saying every medication is a miracle. It takes time to develop some trust with a doctor and to understand choices and try some options to see what might work. But, it is well worth it and I would do that before sending a kid away to a program.

[Anonymous]

OP, I’m sorry. I have some experience with such programs for family members, including a 14 year old who joined a program two weeks ago. These programs can be life-changing in a positive way, and my guess is that most of the naysayers on this thread have not been at a true crisis point with their child. I highly recommend Dr. Joshua Cohen in Bethesda/Rockville, who currently has close to 20 kids in placements that he helped facilitate. He has visited various programs, including wilderness, residential treatment centers and therapeutic boarding schools. He knows the staff and will help find the best placement for your child. He will remain part of your team for a year, interacting with placement staff and facilitating any transitions (wilderness programs are typically 8-12 weeks, and over 80% of kids transition to a treatment center or therapeutic boarding school). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

How much are Dr. Cohen's fees?

[Anonymous]

^ Nothing about this experience is inexpensive. Dr. Cohen charges $8k for a one year contract that includes all placements and communicating with placement staff during that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry. I have some experience with such programs for family members, including a 14 year old who joined a program two weeks ago. These programs can be life-changing in a positive way, and my guess is that most of the naysayers on this thread have not been at a true crisis point with their child. I highly recommend Dr. Joshua Cohen in Bethesda/Rockville, who currently has close to 20 kids in placements that he helped facilitate. He has visited various programs, including wilderness, residential treatment centers and therapeutic boarding schools. He knows the staff and will help find the best placement for your child. He will remain part of your team for a year, interacting with placement staff and facilitating any transitions (wilderness programs are typically 8-12 weeks, and over 80% of kids transition to a treatment center or therapeutic boarding school). Good luck!

bullsh*t. I have a family member who suffered life-long harm from being sent to a “wilderness program,” and there are countless other people who testify to the same.

an actual boardy therapeutic school that is accredited and staffed by doctors and trained mental health professionals? Possibly appropriate. For-profit “wilderness therapy” is not therapy.

[Anonymous]

I’d be worried about unregulated troubled teen nature programs.

https://nospank.net/bacon2.htm

This is a copy of John Krakauer’s article Loving Them to Death. It’s from the mid-90s but I’m concerned that things haven’t changed much.

Being geographically remote means you are unable to check in with your child on short notice, which I think is important for student safety.

[Anonymous]

I heard from a friend that Dr. Cohen was $10K flat fee, for one year. Patti at Compass is approx.ly $8500 as I understand. Not sure about Tom - maybe a little less and done in multiple payments instead of Cohen and Patti who do one lump sum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid on medication? Doing CBT? What is he doing now to address the issue?

Neither of these solve the problem of a child being isolated from his peers.

Interesting that op never answered the question.

Medication certainly helps children with anxiety and depression, no matter the cause.
Anxiety and depression are feelings that feel very bad.

A parent who doesn't understand that is lacking the empathy the child needs to understand. A child with anxiety should not be shuffled off to a wilderness program. Again, total lack of empathy about the child's feelings.

There is more going on here besides peer isolation.

Unfortunately, therapists are unable to tell the parents when the problem is the parents as that doesn't pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry. I have some experience with such programs for family members, including a 14 year old who joined a program two weeks ago. These programs can be life-changing in a positive way, and my guess is that most of the naysayers on this thread have not been at a true crisis point with their child. I highly recommend Dr. Joshua Cohen in Bethesda/Rockville, who currently has close to 20 kids in placements that he helped facilitate. He has visited various programs, including wilderness, residential treatment centers and therapeutic boarding schools. He knows the staff and will help find the best placement for your child. He will remain part of your team for a year, interacting with placement staff and facilitating any transitions (wilderness programs are typically 8-12 weeks, and over 80% of kids transition to a treatment center or therapeutic boarding school). Good luck!

bullsh*t. I have a family member who suffered life-long harm from being sent to a “wilderness program,” and there are countless other people who testify to the same.

an actual boardy therapeutic school that is accredited and staffed by doctors and trained mental health professionals? Possibly appropriate. For-profit “wilderness therapy” is not therapy.

I don't think anybody is suggesting someone send their kid to just any old wilderness program, or even that this particular person send their child to one to begin with.

I suspect there are likely way more bad programs than good out there, which is why if considering one it's being suggested to get help finding a good one. And I don't think every child is a great fit for a wilderness program. That said, I sent my own child to one - after exhausting many many other avenues of treatment and carefully considering options with a team of mental health professionals. That program was run and staffed staffed by trained mental health professionals and doctors, easily as much as any therapeutic boarding school. It was well run. And if you asked my child now a couple years later, they'd tell you that (1) it wasn't abusive in the least bit, and (2) the program, along with a specific therapist there, changed their life for the better.

I'm sorry your family member was scarred by their experience, and I'm sure they could speak accurately to the specific place they were sent to. But just because you or a few other people who've posted here know one person who had a bad experience somewhere, or watched something on 60 minutes one time, doesn't make your assertion that "wilderness therapy" isn't therapy correct. You think you know everything without any first hand experience, but you only have some of the story and lack perspective.

OP and this newer poster are considering this as an option and asking for help from people who have direct experience with this. Posters are telling them to be very careful and do their homework (and giving them references to help), consider all other options including medication, therapy, hospital based programs, IOPs and PHPs, before this one. And that this is going to be very expensive. And that after all of this, it's not guaranteed to work for their own specific child.

But hey, you know everything, don't you?

[Anonymous]

Dr. Cohen is $8k unless his fee increased in the last two months.