Therapeutic Philosophy

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)
Jesus

Helping Families Build Solid Futures

We strive to meet our clients where they are at without judgement, but instead with care, confidence, and wisdom to help them make positive changes and take steps forward via our Christian Clinical Counseling approach. We utilize an eclectic and holistic approach and strive to work personally with every client according to their specific needs. We specialize in a variety of helpful treatment modalities, including but not limited to Spiritual Integration, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Experiential Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, and Intensive Therapy.  We also take a whole-person oriented approach with our clients believing that as people we are spiritual, relational, emotional, mental, and physical.  Therefore, we seek to help the whole-person and their family.  Additionally, we are pleased to be different from other therapeutic centers and from many therapists because we believe clients come to us seeking professional help and advice and that they are looking for direction to help them navigate their discomfort or challenging circumstances. Our clients are wanting sound therapeutic interventions, strategies, and skills. So, they want us, the professionals, to give them advice and expertise, teach them skills, or help them attain tools whenever warranted or needed. We do this with the utmost care and concern and without imposition. However, whenever it is applicable we are not afraid to speak the truth in love and offer the guidance and direction our clients truly need. If you're ready to experience not just a listening ear but also therapeutically sound advice, then we are glad you found us!

Why Do You Utilize Outdoor Experiential Therapy?

1. Engages All Your Senses for Optimum and Lasting Impact

I have long been trying to tell people that the more senses you engage in any setting the more impact any experience will have. As it turns out, research backs this up.

A study of outdoor experiential therapy programs (OET) showed that family functioning was positively impacted after two months from the point of treatment, and furthermore, a twelve month assessment revealed that the positive outcomes were still being maintained. Another similar study marked outdoor healthcare as improving family communication. Another states that it is beneficial to help one attain self-confidence and self-esteem. How could this not be true? After all, it is experiences that leave a lasting impact on the brain and heart!

2. Creates an Environment that Naturally Puts People at Ease

An important advantage that our outdoor experiential therapy program has is that it provides an environment that naturally puts people at ease. The Journal of Mental Health Counseling published an article relating to this very point. It stated, “Wilderness therapy, a specialized approach within adventure-based counseling (experiential therapy), provides an alternative treatment modality that maximizes the client’s tendency to spontaneously self-disclose in environments outside the counseling office.” (29(4), 338-349) Therefore, any issues you have to work out will be more easily brought out in an outdoor setting than in a counseling office.

3. Get More Accomplished with Less Time and Money

The Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 60(4), 275-281, claims that with wilderness therapy (OET) or experiential therapy more patients can be treated in a shorter timeframe with almost the same outcome. Thus, it is very cost-effective!

4. What the Experts Are Saying…

“Adventure counseling initiatives promote therapeutic gains due to the real-world nature of exposing clients to potential conflicts and problem solving tasks.” (Gillen) Therefore, we see that great benefits are attained just by getting out and taking part in the experience!

“In particular, the group process utilized in many outdoor experiential therapy programs facilitates socially favorable circumstances for group cooperation, team building, group contributions, and leadership. Two additional benefits associated with outdoor experiential therapy in a social context are group decision-making and effective communication. During outdoor experiential or group challenge activities, participants are compelled to learn the art of listening to others (emphasis added). They come to understand that they can offer their own opinion toward resolution of the group’s problems, but they must also accept that others in the group have convictions to which they must listen and evaluate, as well (Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliff, 1988).”

“In sum, it can be seen that given the structure and components usually present in outdoor experiential therapy programs, the benefits gleaned by involvement in these activities transcend a broad spectrum of physical, social, and psychological-based outcomes. Learning to express opinions and propose compromises are parts of a developmental process that plays a pivotal role in effective communication and decision-making within any group situation (emphasis added). Other studies have indicated increased levels of self-actualization and increased perceptions of personal change as a result of participation in an outdoor adventure program (Vogel, 1988/89).” (emphasis added)

This the just the beginning of the benefits to our experiential therapy program. So why don’t you see for yourself. Come and experience the difference!

References
– Alan W Ewert, Bryan P McCormick, & Alison E Voight. (2001). Outdoor experiential therapies: Implications for TR practice. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 35(2), 107. Retrieved November 22, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 79774488).
-Cammack, Eva. (1996, May). In-home recreation therapy care: A case study of Dillon. Parks & Recreation, 31(5), 66. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 9643719).
-Eikenæs, I., Gude, T., & Hoffart, A. (2006). Integrated wilderness therapy for avoidant personality disorder. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 60(4), 275-281. doi:10.1080/08039480600790093.
-Gillen, M., & Balkin, R. (2006). Adventure Counseling as an Adjunct to Group Counseling in Hospital and Clinical Settings. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 31(2), 153-164. doi:10.1080/01933920500493746.
-Harper, N., Russell, K., Cooley, R., & Cupples, J. (2007). Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions: An exploratory case study of adolescent wilderness therapy, family functioning, and the maintenance of change. Child & Youth Care Forum, 36(2-3), 111-129. doi:10.1007/s10566-007-9035-1.
-Hill, N. (2007). Wilderness therapy as a treatment modality for at-risk youth: A primer for mental health counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 29(4), 338-349. Retrieved from PsycINFO database.
-Russell, K. (2005). Two Years Later: A Qualitative Assessment of Youth Well-Being and the Role of Aftercare in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment. Child & Youth Care Forum, 34(3), 209-239. doi:10.1007/s10566-005-3470-7.