Wilderness Therapy Assists International Students

Guest Blogger

Steven DeMille, LCMHC, PhD
Executive Director – RedCliff Ascent

Wilderness Therapy provides many opportunities for teens and young adults to have life altering experiences. With an increase in international students attending school in the U.S., RedCliff Ascent has seen an increase in international students over the years.

These students come to RedCliff because they are struggling in their current academic setting or suffering from some emotional concerns that are getting out of hand. Please find below some helpful points associated with international students and RedCliff Ascent

· Wilderness therapy has a strong history as a character building intervention, which supports academic success.

· Emotional distress is a major contributor to failure in school.

· OutdoorBehavioral Healthcare (OBH) originally emerged as an intervention for struggling university students. It assisted in the development of the student’s emotional growth, resilience and self-discipline.

· Wilderness therapy is also a good intervention for mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, self harm and substance use.

· OBH can be an effective intervention for struggling students so they do not fail or get withdrawn from school.

· RedCliffAscent has a long history of working with international students. Up to 18% of the RedCliff student population has been internationally referred.

· The trend is on the rise as demonstrated by the above graph.

You can read a letter from a parent in the UK here.

Comments

The Young Boy and the Rattlesnake

By Stephen C. Schultz (Editors note: This is a story used in a Wilderness Treatment Program for Young Adults . Many come to this program having struggled with substance abuse and interacting with unsavory friends.) Many years ago there was a young Native American who lived in the very land you are residing in. He decided to seek wisdom by journeying to the top of Indian Peak. As he approached the base of the mountain he came across a rattlesnake that slithered beside him. The snake coiled as if to strike and the young boy moved back quickly in fear of being struck by the snake’s deadly venom. At that instant the snake spoke to the boy saying, “Don’t be afraid of me, I mean you no harm. I come to you to ask a favor. I see that you are about to traverse to the top of Indian Peak and was hoping that you may be willing to place me in your satchel so that I don’t have to make the long journey alone.” The young boy surprised by the snake’s request quickly re...

Video Games, Anxiety and ADHD - Free Family Resources

By Stephen C. Schultz This guide provides resources for parents navigating the challenges of ADHD, anxiety, and video game management in their teens and young adults. ADHD Resources The following books and websites can help you better understand and manage ADHD: Recommended Books: Russell Barkley : Taking Charge of ADHD Hallowell & Ratey : Delivered from Distraction Harvey Parker : The ADD Hyperactivity Workbook for Parents, Teachers, & Kids Bradley & Giedd : Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind Michael Gurian : The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and Life Mohab Hanna : Making the Connection: A Parents’ Guide to Medication in AD/HD Helpful Websites: CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) Help for ADHD American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Anxiety Resources: The following websites provide support and information for mana...

When Seizures Strike: A Story of Resilience, Love, and Hope

By Stephen C. Schultz As a father, I never anticipated seeing and emotionally supporting my daughter through 50 seizures a day, for days on end. Each seizure brings with it a stiffened left arm and leg, convulsing motions, eyes rolling back to the left, and her head contorting to the right. Her breathing stops for the duration. The most harrowing aspect is that she remains conscious and aware of her surroundings. She can hear people talking, but her body simply does what it does. After 15 to 30 seconds of not breathing, a panic begins to set in. What if the seizure doesn’t stop? It’s a horrific experience to endure time and time again. It is nothing short of torture, with the emotional and psychological trauma that accompanies it. There were four seizures in the car on the way to the emergency room, all within about 20 minutes. After 10 hours in the emergency room, she was admitted and immediately hooked up to an EEG. There was a computer screen displaying graphs and a video...

The Interpreted Rock

Search This Blog