Therapeutic Wilderness Schools - Any Insights?
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Anonymous
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My 13-yr old son has been struggling mightily (anxiety, depression, etc) since COVID began. Home schooling is a non-starter and my wife and I are desperately looking for alternatives to try and help him.
We were referred to an therapeutic wilderness program called True North located in Vermont and was interested to hear if anyone has any experience with this program or has suggestions for any other boarding school type program. We are trying to figure out something to help him that doesn't involve a change in scenery, but we are afraid if we don't change the status quo soon, he is headed to inpatient treatment somewhere. Any insights, advice is greatly appreciated. |
Anonymous
| What else have you tried? My sense (in dealing with a teen with anxiety and depression for several years now) is that wilderness program are sort of the nuclear option when you have several behavioral disruption and non-compliance with lower levels of care. Have you tried more intensive therapy like a PHP? I would also consider a residential program before a wilderness program. I posted this in another thread yesterday, but we had a very good experience with Rogers Behavioral Health in Wisconsin, which takes insurance and does a really nice job with adolescents, IMO. They also have in person PHP right now in various locations - none around here, so you would have to stay temporarily in one of their locations. But there are other PHPs in this area. |
Anonymous
| Don't know the program, but be sure you're up for the drive to Vermont, it'll be about 10 hours each way. |
Anonymous
Many times people try inpatient before looking at a wilderness program. Have you tried a PHP yet? |
Anonymous
| Without more context, a wilderness program seems like a really big jump for a 13 year old. |
Anonymous
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why not look at a therapeutic boarding school first? |
Anonymous
Anonymous
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My son went to what I would consider a hybrid program. It was outdoors, but longer term and they didn't have a quest sort of experience. I can't tell from the True North website if they are total wilderness or a hybrid. I also couldn't tell if they offer school - my son's program did.
Clearly, I have no issues with sending my child away to get the help he really needed. But, I have to say that your child sounds really young for this and also his issues don't sound like he really needs this if you haven't even had a hospitalization yet. One of the things you have to realize once your child gets to the point of inpatient, PHP and residential is that they learn way too much about things you wish they didn't know about. And, not that it likely matters because you're looking at Vermont, but they make relationships that can be hard to manage. |
Anonymous
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I’m so sorry you are experiencing this with your DS. Puberty is when it kicks in for many children, including our 2 DDs.
I’m not sure but I think almost none of the wilderness programs are covered by insurance. So this would be a big out-of-pocket expense for your family. Not that your child isn’t worth it of course. But because of that, it might make sense to try paths that are covered by insurance first. Partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, 1-2 times a week appts with a therapist specializing in teen depression and anxiety (usually at out of network but every little bit helps). Residential at Leland House, Discovery or out of state at such places as Rogers. These could be avenues to try first. |
Anonymous
| I don't see the downside of a wilderness program is the kid is up to trying it. Sure, 13 is too young but 14 isn't. It might be better than going in and out of inpatient for the same amount of time. |
Anonymous
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WHy not try a day program/PHP first? It might be covered by your insurance. Wilderness is obscenely expensive.
Before you commit to anything, I would join a facebook group to get honest reviews-there's one for parents considering wilderness therapy. |
Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
| I do not recommend sending a kid with anxiety to a whole new scene, with whole new people and a new setting. |
Anonymous
| Is your kid on medication? Doing CBT? What is he doing now to address the issue? |
Anonymous
| Is he on medication? |