Wilderness Therapy Programs Colorado
Wilderness therapy is a therapeutic intervention that involves getting troubled teens from Colorado into a wilderness environment and having them confront their problems. With no cell phone service, TV, or internet, the wilderness environment is very different than the one we are used to. It’s just you and the wilderness.
This is one of the reasons wilderness therapy programs are so effective. It is a way to get a person to focus on the present moment and whatever issues they may be dealing with. It also provides a person with a unique opportunity to get away from the pressures and stresses of society.
What is wilderness therapy?
Wilderness therapy is a type of intensive therapeutic treatment that has been proven to dramatically reduce mental illness, behavioral issues, and addictive behaviors. Many who try wilderness therapy programs find their lives have changed forever because of the improved perspective that they have gained through this type of treatment. Wilderness therapy programs in Colorado have similarities to what we see in typical treatment programs, however, the WinGate difference sets us apart from the rest.
Wilderness Programs for Troubled Youth Colorado
Of all the wilderness programs for troubled youth from Colorado, WinGate is one of the premier wilderness programs for troubled youth in the U.S.; and just like the name suggests, wilderness therapy is all about getting into nature. This is because just being in nature allows you to focus on your inner self. Your thoughts become clearer and you can focus on the activities you are doing and what you are learning about your surroundings.
Wilderness therapy is the process of putting teens through a type of outdoor experience that forces them to think about their actions, how they got there, and what they want to do in the future. Wilderness therapy programs offer a way for troubled teenagers to get away from their distractions and troubles in order to reflect on themselves, life, and the future. This type of therapy leads to higher chances of getting sober or graduating from high school, while they learn self-reliant skills like problem solving and building trust with their counselors.
Therapeutic Wilderness Program Colorado
As a therapeutic wilderness program for Colorado teens, we see drastically improved mental health and overall well-being for many adolescents that have struggled with severe issues. It helps troubled teenagers reconnect with themselves and their environment through physical challenges, creative expression, and group process.
Another benefit that our therapeutic wilderness program provides teenagers is reducing and removing the trauma and stress that is built up in their lives. Trauma in teens is such a huge factor in their mental health that many parents feel it is a very long road to recovery, but wilderness therapy programs, like WinGate, can get them back on track in a big way.
Who needs wilderness therapy?
Wilderness therapy programs like WinGate, offer an intervention for at-risk adolescents that utilizes the use of wilderness environments to facilitate growth and equip Colorado teens with skills necessary to overcome life's obstacles.
Wilderness therapy programs are successful in treating many challenges commonly found in teens from Colorado.
- ADD/ADHD
- Addiction
- Adoption issues
- Anger issues
- Anxiety (general/social)
- Behavior issues
- Body image issues
- Cutting and self-harm
- Depression
- Divorce conflict
- Eating disorders
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Substance abuse
- Suicide ideation
What happens after wilderness therapy?
Often, after spending time in the wilderness, teenagers in these wilderness therapy programs come out with a better understanding of themselves and their peers. This is a far cry from other treatment programs that place adolescents in suburban facilities.
After spending a week in the wilderness, the teens are surrounded by nature and a challenging, life-sustaining activity. The traditional treatment programs lack real connection and do not include a supportive community. If you or someone you know is struggling with issues of depression, or other mental health and/or behavioral challenges, consider getting more information on the power of wilderness therapy programs like WinGate Wilderness Therapy.
Should I send my kid to a wilderness therapy program?
WinGate is a quality program that focuses on teaching adolescents from Colorado how to work cooperatively and respectfully. What's more, wilderness therapy promotes the development of self-confidence and new personal skills.
There is no doubt that wilderness therapy programs offer a great space for troubled teenagers to work through their issues. There is no need for shame or guilt in parents who have made the decision to send their children into the woods. In the end, your child's mental health is vitally important now and for their future, it's worth investing in.
Best Wilderness Therapy Programs Colorado
WinGate, one of the best wilderness therapy programs for Colorado youth, helps to instill inner reflection in a safe, nurturing and supportive environment. Our technique relies on the very practical experience of one's surroundings with any student that participates in our program.
Over thirty years of combined experience has helped us further develop an "actual wilderness experience" model as an integral part of the way we approach treatment. Unlike our competitors, our proven model utilizes guided interaction with natural environments and situations, rather than solely focusing on classroom-based learning opportunities isolated from nature for extended periods of time.
Is Your Child a Candidate? Call for a FREE Confidential Screening (800) 560-1599.
Colorado State Parent Resources:
Mental Health America of Colorado (MHAC) - The MHAC goal is a healthy Colorado, liberated from the discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness. With MHAC, every person has full access to high-quality services for all mental health and substance use disorders. MHAC promotes mental health to the residents of Colorado through cooperation with strategic partners. Their goal is to expand access to services and transform methods of healthcare.
Colorado Department of Human Services (Office of Behavioral Health) - OBH supports, funds, and monitors various substance abuse and mental health community providers and programs. They are not only responsible for policy development and coordination, but also program evaluation and monitoring for the public behavioral health system. OBH is the authority for Colorado State's behavioral health. Their community programs assure quality and competent behavioral health prevention, intervention, and treatment services through setting and monitoring standards of care.
Mistakes Parents Make When Seeking Treatment for Their Teen from Colorado
Many parents from Colorado love their teen(s) so much that they want them to be close to home for the duration of their treatment program or boarding school stay. But to be effective a treatment program needs to be able to apply consistent methods and in a setting where the teen is not surrounded by familiar places and more importantly friends, influencers and family members. Teens can then more easily focus on the work they are doing in the program or school.
As mentioned previously, there are many mistakes that can be made when selecting a program or school for your teen. Often parents choose the least expensive program because that is all they can afford. But unless you and your teen are extremely lucky the least cost program is more often the least effective program or school as well. Then you end up not getting results and you have lost a lot of money and time in the process. Call Wingate and get a professional opinion on your teen's program needs: (800) 560-1599.