Posted by Joshua C. Doyle, M.Ed. on Mon, Mar 22, 2010
Over a year ago I started taking a new approach to visiting wilderness therapy programs. Rather than simply visiting the administrative office or taking a quick trip out into the field to observe a group of kids, I wanted to experience first hand what it was like to go through the program itself. 
Now when I visit wilderness therapy programs I usually spend the night in the field with the staff and students in a group. The lack of distractions and the chance to "unplug" from the world is, in my opinion, an absolute luxury. During one of my more recent visits to a wilderness therapy program out west I took the opportunity to visit two young men whose parents I had recently advised.
When the students found out that I was there to spend the night in the field they were rather shocked that I would be crazy enough to subject myself to high desert terrain during the winter season. Despite what was viewed initially as temporary insanity, my stay in those conditions earned me a kernel of credibility.
The highlight of the trip for me was sitting down with the students for whom I had actually recommended placement earlier in their process. Normally I participate in regular communications with their therapists by phone, but it was amazing to be present to witness their sessions live. I had a whole new appreciation for how productive and meaningful the meetings were and felt validated that my students were experiencing the power of the wilderness I had described prior to their enrollment.
The funniest part of the experience was calling the parents after my visit to the field to inform them of where I had been for the preceding 24 hours. It took quite a bit of convincing that I went to see their child in the high desert by choice. Of course, after answering the deluge of questions, I spent the rest of the time assuring them that their child was warm, well cared for, smiling, eating well, and on the way to emotionally healthier living.
Talk about the perfect get-away...
Posted by Leslie S. Goldberg, M.Ed., CEP on Tue, Feb 23, 2010
We have always heard stories about kids saying unkind things to others. Remember reciting "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me"? Never did I imagine I would become nostalgic for that.
Unfortunately as media and technology have become more sophisticated so have those who hurl insults at others. In times past, bullies simply spread rumors person to person. Then they went virtual, moving insults to email messages and texting. Now they're leveraging the Social Mediasphere (Facebook, My Space, Twitter, etc.) and the hurtful content is out there for all to see.
It seems that nothing can or will be held back by the kids who are out to belittle another student. Fabricated stories are published online, photos are shared with the world, no matter how personal, hateful, or illicit they may seem. Hardly a month goes by that we don't hear about the child who took his or her own life as a direct result of such harassment.
What can parents do? Nearly every child has a cell phone or computer. It is our job as parents to oversee what kinds of messages are being sent and received. This is not a matter of being nosy or invading our children's privacy; it is simply a way to know if they are involved in either cyber-bullying or sexting. (sending inappropriate pictures by text on one's cell phone, which can then be distributed online).
Talk openly with your children. Let them know that you are current in your understanding of these issues. That way, you establish credibility as a savvy parent. The more your children, especially adolescents, know you can relate, the more likely they are to share thoughts, opinions, and concerns with you.
Get involved. Recent cases of suicide due to cyber-bullying covered in the media have opened a lot of eyes. As a result, parents, community leaders, school officials, and clergy have jumped into the mix to urgently address the issue.
Finally, keep on top of the issue. As quickly as bullying jumped into cyberspace, it is likely that it will continue to morph into new formats over time.
What will that look like in future years? Share your thoughts and any predictions...
Posted by Karen Plescia, M.S. on Thu, Feb 04, 2010
College is scary. For parents. For high school students applying. For students already enrolled.
It seems that every time I hear a news story about "college" lately, the undertone is fear. This was especially the case as I watched our local news one morning recently. The headline stories included: the stabbing of a student at a well-regarded local university and a murder in which a man shot his daughter to death, critically wounded his wife, and then killed himself. The reason for the latter has been alleged to be financial strain - including upcoming college tuition bills; his daughter was a high school senior heading to college next year.
In international news, compliments of NPR, I read about the New Zealand 19-year-old who auctioned her virginity online claiming she "was desperate for money to pay university fees." Prostitution is legal in New Zealand, and she fetched $32,000.
Less extreme, perhaps, but ever present at this time of year are stories of high school seniors receiving admissions rejection letters and disappointment over financial aid packages and the frantic appeals that each trigger.
In the midst of all of this, college counselors - both school-based and private - are supposed to get high school juniors and their families excited about the idea of going through this apparently frightening - sometimes even life-threatening - rite of passage. Something doesn't jive.
I'm left with such a sense of bewilderment that I don't know where to begin teasing apart the madness. My egalitarian heart still holds on to my conviction that every capable young person should be able to pursue higher education. No matter how scary it may seem socially, emotionally, or financially, they should have the opportunity to give it a shot. On the other hand, my practical mind reminds me that there are many paths to higher education and that taking a path that is well-suited to the individual can, and should, make the whole process of applying to, paying for, and completing college less scary.
My heart and head aside, experience has taught me that college is not "one-size-fits-all." Unfortunately, our collective societal mentally has pushed students and families to believe that a 4-year, top tier college experience is the measure of success. Success is measured by what one does with the opportunities presented to him - not by where those opportunities occur.
As someone who counsels families through the college process, I want to stop the madness and take the "scary" out of the application process. And somehow my colleagues who still work at higher education institutions, parents, and the students themselves will have to figure out how to take the scary out of being in college.
Are you scared? How so? Let us know...
Posted by Joshua C. Doyle, M.Ed. on Wed, Jul 15, 2009
"What about my summer!?!?!?!?"
How often do we hear teenagers say that they need..., they must have... they deserve to have a fun summer, free from stress and responsibility. They argue that a job, summerschool, chores, and accountability during the summer constitute cruel and unusual punishment. They must have a "summer off." I am still waiting for a convincing argument as to what teenagers are taking the "summer off" from.
What is scary is that many parents actually fall for it!!!! They often succumb to their child convincing them that a "summer off" is imperative for their well being and if they don't have this one summer to themselves the consequences will be irreparable. How else are they going to get ready for the rigors of the fall?
As parents... we like to see our kids happy. However, what a teenager may define as happiness can often result in unhealthy choices, made without the maturity to realize the consequences of actions. Having a significant amount of unstructured time can lead to risky behaviors that can start an adolescent on a downward spiral very, very quickly.
I have seen a number of times where there has been a moderate to significant amount of regression in adolescents who are "taking the summer off." The expression "too much free time on your hands" is NOT a healthy thing, especially for an adolescent.
I have also seen many instances where teenagers have had structured, busy, and productive summers that provided them with a much needed boost of confidence, accomplishment, and pride. Adolescents who stay busy by going to summer schools, participating in outdoor summer programs, getting jobs, or even engaging in service initiatives are generally the ones who hit the ground running in the fall while others are often playing catch-up thanks to short-sighted choices.
Ask yourself as parents if you are really serving your child's best interest in allowing them to have their "summer fun." Why not consider providing your child with an amazing opportunity to learn the importance of hard work and integrity. Those are things that they will take with them wherever they go.
Don't regret putting your children's learning on hold so they can wander into the wrong crowd, experiment with or start using drugs and alcohol, or even make poor choices that can, in fact, be... irreparable...
Posted by Joshua C. Doyle, M.Ed. on Sat, Mar 21, 2009
Years ago, when I directed admissions at a private boarding school, I often heard dark and murky stories about therapeutic wilderness. At times I wondered if these programs were merely myths created to scare unruly teens. My colleagues and I often asked what kind of parent would be cruel and unusual enough send their children to such a wilderness program with a bunch of defiant teens - or as we would naively refer to them, "hoods in the woods."
When I transitioned into educational consulting, I began travelling around the country to visit a wide variety of schools and programs. Theses visits included a number of therapeutic wilderness programs. As time went on and my knowledge and understanding increased, I came to appreciate the experience that good programs provided for young people.
The professionals that I met at these wilderness programs were compassionate, caring and patient with these struggling teens. The kids that I met at these programs were NOT "hoods in the woods" or bad kids at the core. More often than not, they were kids who were struggling to get through adolescence and needed an alternative intervention to office-based therapy.
Bottom line, I wanted to speak from experience when describing the benefits of wilderness to families. Sure, I had always loved the outdoors and had spent a considerable amount of time on extended backpacking trips, but I had never spent the night immersed in a therapeutic wilderness program. I had not worn the same clothes as the kids; nor had I eaten the same food or slept in the same type of shelter.
All of this changed when I journeyed out west to visit a wilderness program and spent the night out in the field with the staff and kids. Believe it or not, one of the most challenging moments came when I was asked to leave my Blackberry behind. I was officially "unplugged" and struggled for the first few hours, my mind share vacillating between clients, family, and friends.
Regardless, the evening progressed and the elements of the outdoor milieu took hold. The kids opened up to me as to why they were in wilderness therapy and were able to reflect on culminating events. There was a deluge of laughter, tears, and support all the way around. In those moments, I felt an enormous amount of hope for them.
As I prepared to leave the following morning, I could not help but feel a sense of regret that I had not arranged to stay longer. In the short time that I was there, I had gained a whole new perspective on the efficacy of wilderness therapy.
Feel free to leave a comment on this post if you would like me to rehash specific aspects of my experience. An open dialogue is encouraged!
Posted by Leslie S. Goldberg, M.Ed., CEP on Mon, Mar 09, 2009
Families have been seeking our guidance for their troubled teens over the course of three decades and for those looking into such help there is no better time than the present because of all the options available. In addition, the current economy has caused some of the less viable programs to close and others to open with the exiled seasoned professionals.
Why would we suggest a therapeutic wilderness program for some tweens, teens, and young adults rather than simply advising families to go directly to a longer term therapeutic school?
It is almost miraculous what happens when a struggling teen is taken out of his or her comfort zone, away from all distractions, especially the electronic ones. When we see kids during our frequent visits and revisits to therapeutic wilderness programs, we can actually tell simply by looking at their faces and posture how long they have been in the field. The clear eyes, the rosy cheeks, the confident walk are signs that several weeks have passed.
The benefit of rolling admissions (continuous flow, as it is called in the therapeutic wilderness programs) is that those who have been there longer can actually rise to a leadership position, helping the newer ones adapt and thereby enhancing their own level of confidence. The group wilderness therapy, along with intense individual sessions, enhances the power of the wilderness program. In addition the "hard skills" such as "busting a fire" (rolling a stick between your hands into some brush and a rock until a spark catches the brush) take inordinate amounts of patience, a tool which teens lack today in our world of instant gratification. In full disclosure, I must admit that I have never yet been able to bust a fire...
These are NOT boot camps! The careful training of the field staff, the incredibly gifted credentialed therapists, the joy that emerges from being active, eating healthy (no, there is no food deprivation), and having plenty of fluids (yes, there is careful monitoring to prevent dehydration) is amazing to watch.
Thorough psychoeducational or neuropsychological testing can additionally be arranged, typically after a few weeks to ensure validity, and the testing, the weekly family therapy sessions by phone, the letters flowing back and forth from kids to parents, all lead to a great jump-start to either the next school or program or back home. If the family follows the advice of the professionals, the graduates of therapeutic wilderness programs are much more successful than those who opt out of such an option.
Obviously therapeutic wilderness programs are not for everyone. There may be certain medical issues, psychiatric diagnoses, or aggressive behaviors that rule out such an option but most profiles would fit a certain wilderness program, depending on the match of therapist, composition of group, and programmatic approach. No two wilderness programs are alike.
Afraid you can't afford a therapeutic wilderness program? They are impacted by this economy as well and this, once again, could open up an opportunity that normally might not exist at other times.