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The holiday season can be one of the most joyous times of the year, but also the most stressful. For teens who have recently completed treatment at Trails and have returned home for the holidays, the holiday season should continue to have structure and be intentional. In previous blogs, I have discussed the ways in…

The holidays can be a difficult time for parents and siblings of teens who are away receiving treatment. The holiday season often brings a flood of emotions which are confusing for many families to work through.   At Trails, our family programming provides the emotional support many families need to get through this time of year.…

One of the most powerful things about being out in the wilderness is its ability to bring us back to our roots. During the holiday season, being out in nature helps students look at the value or intention behind the holidays and traditions their families celebrate. In many ways, wilderness therapy can be a great…

Seasonal affective disorder in teens is not something that just affects adults. In fact, it can be just as devastating to teenagers as it can be to adults, especially because most teenagers spend just as much time (if not more), inside, in artificial light, during the winter months. Without ample exposure to natural light, the…

At Trails Carolina, we believe that family support plays an important role in creating lasting change. Female students in particular may need this family support in order to experience personal growth and empowerment. For girls, wilderness therapy provides a healthy outlet and helps them learn skills they never thought possible before attending our program. Trails…

It’s widely accepted that boys and girls respond to their environments in very different ways. When it comes to wilderness therapy, a therapeutic approach that has been in use for decades, many programs are designed with the therapeutic needs of boys in mind rather than girls. There is a growing number of female students in…

As a program that offers wilderness treatment for teens, we understand that technology poses a unique opportunity for learning and connection for adolescents. Through technology, teens have the ability to speak and communicate with each other thousands of miles apart. They have access to information and learning tools not previously available to their parents. We…

Using nature as a source for healing has been in practice since before recorded history–but now we have actual researched, scientific evidence to support it. Recently, a Japanese practice from the 1980s that utilizes nature has caught popularity in not just Japan, but several other countries–and as a wilderness treatment program, we like to stay…

Teenagers are a volatile and hormonal bunch–it’s normal for a teen to be angsty, right? While teen angst is relatively normal, it can be difficult for a parent to discern between regular angst and real signs of mental health issues, like oppositional defiant disorder. You’re not alone in your confusion, many parents find it hard…

October is National Bullying Awareness Month. What is bullying? StopBullying.com says: “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.” Social media and technology are making it easier for teens to bullying one another from behind a keyboard, so it’s no wonder that parents and educators are…