subject: Somewhere That Respect And Trust Are Prime For Teen Help [print this page] There are many facilities, institutions and organizations that profess to provide teen help, but the form of help differs, and may not provide any help at all. The approach used should be matched with the individual to maximize results, and wilderness treatment programs have been documented with a good success record.
Whereas boot camps, tough love, Outward Bound, the military and specialized schools offer treatment, wilderness programs are also a viable option for teen help. A wilderness program is of shorter length and uses the ultimate school environment: Mother Nature. This program is one of the most successful treatment programs provided for teen help as experiential learning is practiced (versus academic or military scenarios), with the focus being on the potential of the individual. With Mother Nature being the ultimate teacher, a student learns to accept what She throws at him or her and how to utilize available resources, rather than being commanded to do something by a person.
An important aspect of wilderness programs is the absence of nepotism with everyone being equal. By living outside, all phenomenon provided by Nature is dealt with individually, but in a societal framework. It is this commonality between all those in such a program that teaches how an individual can provide for the group, yet enforces what the individual can do for him/herself.
Team members in a wilderness program are trained in their field to provide teen help, as well as having worked with troubled teens for a minimum ten year term. Therapists provide group and individual sessions at weekly intervals, although the avenue for discussion is always open. An individual's family comes together by phone once a week that allows interaction on progress and the program.
Even though it is a wilderness program the purpose is not to teach survival skills (although many outdoor activities are learned), but to dispel the idea that it is just an outdoor office. Teen help in this scenario goes a long way in teaching what an individual has to offer in a real setting.
