Children and teenagers as they grow up can often struggle to cope with life’s demands. Their phones become an increasing source of distraction and influence while the stress associated with modern living can take its toll on mental wellbeing.
Trails Carolina can help to break down these barriers by offering transformative experiences in nature, giving youth a chance to reconnect with themselves while learning skills to manage anxiety and depression.
Program Overview
Trails Carolina “Investigation” believes therapy should occur beyond traditional residential treatment centers. Their program takes your child out of their routine and into nature for them to gain new skills that can assist them upon returning home.
Outdoor lessons provide young people with resilience and adaptability building lessons, aiming to combat low self-esteem that often causes negative behaviors in them. Furthermore, they foster healthy communication and self-advocacy skills in an encouraging and safe environment.
Though controversial, this well-known wilderness treatment program remains dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of their participants. They have cooperated with ongoing investigations while continuously making changes that meet participants’ needs; according to an independent study they conducted, their program had an overwhelmingly positive effect on students and families; in addition, Sky’s The Limit offers funds that assist teenagers who cannot afford wilderness therapy services with paying the costs involved in therapy sessions.
Staff
Trails Carolina staff is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for its students. Together they work towards helping these young people turn their lives around while also encouraging personal development and healing.
The program emphasizes education and holistic treatments. Each student receives one full-time certified teacher who works closely with them throughout their stay in wilderness camp, to ensure positive educational experiences and address concerns or complaints that arise; additionally they may prepare discharge summaries or final transcripts alongside school house staff.
Recently, allegations of abuse and neglect against several wilderness therapy programs, including Trails Carolina. These disturbing accounts have raised regulatory issues while drawing attention to the need for greater oversight. Trails Carolina responded by promising to alter its practices following these allegations.
Involvement of Parents
At Trails Carolina, we recognize that parents are an essential component of their teen’s healing. With this in mind, we offer various means for families to stay involved during treatment of their child, such as weekly Family Calls with their therapist or mindfulness classes for parents – as well as parent workshops – so as not to alienate themselves or the young person being treated.
These touchpoints have been carefully tailored to facilitate familial growth and communication among parents and students, as well as lay a firm foundation for your teen to apply their newly gained skills once back from our wilderness therapy program.
Trails Carolina boasts an extensive network of alumni parents and former students who can serve as mentors to current students. Many speak at our parent workshops to share how wilderness treatment helped them overcome life challenges and find hope for the future, offering comfort and support to struggling parents.
Alumni Support
Families’ primary objective should be ensuring the gains made at Trails Carolina continue post-graduation. A great way to do that is utilizing alumni mentor programs as support mechanisms and reinforce skills learned during wilderness therapy programs like Trails Carolina.
Alumni support of the program includes bi-monthly calls with parents for discussing any queries or concerns that arise, offering families the chance to connect with like-minded peers who can offer guidance. It helps families stay on track.
Greg Garrison is an enthusiastic supporter of UNC Asheville soccer teams. Additionally, he volunteers at their Math Assistance Center where he has helped many students with their studies. Due to his devotion, UNC Asheville appointed him their Social Media Manager of their Mathematics Lab – in addition to being a college soccer coach.