How Wilderness Therapy Is Unique

Parent Choices for Struggling Teens discussed on the weekly talk radio show the unique effectiveness of wilderness therapy.  Katherine Eastlake, clinical director of Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy program spoke about this on LATalkRadio.

“The effectiveness of wilderness therapy comes largely from fully immersing the children in a unique natural environment,” Katherine Eastlake said on Lon Woodbury’s Internet Talk Radio Show, “Parent Choices for Struggling Teens” September 12, 2011 on LATalkRadio, co-hosted by Larry Stednitz Ph.D..

“Taking a child out of their zone of comfort at home, eliminating distractions like electronic gadgets, teaching them how to survive in comfort in a wilderness environment, and forcing them into a situation where they have to learn how to relate positively with other adults and children,” Eastlake continued, “provides numerous opportunities to teach accountability, responsibility for themselves, and enhances their self-confidence.”

“Numerous Outcome Studies and other research show this nurturing and peer support approach is effective,” Eastlake continued, “and is the exact opposite of the punishment oriented and harsh Boot Camp approach.” 

“Working with children in the wilderness allows a rebuilding of parent-child-sibling relationships,” Eastlake concluded “through multi-family meetings, letter writing and having the parents go through a parallel program at home preparing them for a more healthy relationship with their child.” 

To listen to the full interview, go to http://www.latalkradio.com/Lon.php. 

Lon Woodbury, MA, IECA, CEP is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com.   He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984, and is the Host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens.

Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Program, Oregon, was founded by Rob Cooley PhD. in 1988 and is licensed as a Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program and is JCAHO accredited. 

Parent Choices for Struggling Teensis an internet talk radio show hosted by Lon Woodbury on www.LATalkRadio.comevery Monday noon PST. Each show has a guest(s) who is working on cutting edge methods and ideas to help struggling young people and their families. The archive of all the shows can be found at www.latalkradio.com/Lon.php.

Woodbury Reportswas founded in November 1989, by Lon Woodbury, MA, IECA, CEP, as an Independent Educational Consulting firm to help parents of teens making poor decisions select a private, parent choice program that would help return the family to normalcy.  Through interviews with parents, communication with professionals who know your child well, and then thoroughly researching viable options, we can help parents make the right choices that will help your child get back on the right path.  For more information about Woodbury Reports Inc., call 208-267-5550, or email to [email protected], or visit the web site www.strugglingteens.com.