Wilderness therapy is as much about supporting healthy families as it is about facilitating the change process in our students. We believe that the particular needs and concerns of families are a critical part of every student’s wilderness experience. Therefore, we have developed a comprehensive family program to ensure that our families receive professional guidance and support throughout their child’s stay at True North.
Our family program includes
- The opportunity to complete parent curriculum assignments customized for each family
- Weekly phone conferences and email communication with both the child’s supervising therapist as well as our Parent Program Coordinator
- Structured correspondence with your child supported by a True North therapist
- The opportunity to participate in a two day Parent Workshop during your child’s stay
- A family session designed to support an optimal transition from the program facilitated by True North staff at the end of your child’s stay in the program.
The optional parent workshop is an interactive and experiential opportunity that will allow parents to deepen their awareness of family patterns and work with their child to integrate new skills and behaviors into the family dynamic. Our Parent Program Coordinator is a Master’s level therapist committed to supporting parents throughout their child’s stay. Our parent curriculum has been designed to help parents understand their child’s therapeutic experience while creating connections and enhancing understanding in the parent-child relationship. True North parents will be guided through a series of assignments that have been personalized to help them address the needs and concerns of their child.
Parents who enroll their children in the True North program
- explore and increase awareness of family dynamics
- learn new skills for improving communication, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation
- hone skills related to healthy boundaries and goal-setting
- collaborate with our clinical team to identify recommendations for the future and plan for a successful transition
At the end of each child’s stay in the program, parents will have the opportunity to reunite with their child and spend some valuable time as a family with the support of our staff. Renewing and strengthening family relationships and establishing a shared understanding of ongoing goals and objectives supports students and their families as they move forward. Bringing the family and student experiences together solidifies new skills, clarifies ongoing concerns, and prepares families for transition.
