Putting A Stop to Self-Harm
As parents, the first thing we want in the world is for our children to be safe. When they are babies, we strap them in car seats and research the best practices for care. When they are young children, we watch them ride a bicycle for the first time with a helmet, training wheels, and protective pads. It is our instinct to protect them, and
Wilderness Therapy Programs For Middle School Students
Adolescence is a significant period of emotional development, where the therapeutic needs of middle schoolers are different from the needs of high schoolers. Teachers understand this and apply different techniques in the classrooms, so why shouldn’t wilderness programs? Currently, Trails is the only wilderness therapy program for middle school students with single-gender middle school programming year-round in the country. We implement a variety of unique
Social Isolation in Teens: The Damaging Effects of Being Left Out
Teens are social creatures. Just pay attention next time you’re out with your daughter and her friends. If one of them has to go to the bathroom, they will likely all accompany her. Peer relationships are a vital part of your child’s development. So, if your son or daughter is experiencing social isolation, it needs to be addressed. Social isolation in teens can be a result
Limiting Screen Time for Teens with ADHD
More than half of teens ages 12-17 report trying to take steps to limit their personal screen time and 57% claim their parents have tried to limit their technology use in one way or another. Limiting screen time can be particularly challenging for teens with ADHD due to difficulties with self-monitoring and inattention. While they may struggle with paying attention in class, screens provide a
Having Fun While Healing: Therapeutic Activities for Teens
The wonderful part of therapy is that it is not a “one size fits all” practice. And while the word therapy often conjures images of couches or circles of people sitting in meeting rooms, there are actually many ways for teens to engage in therapeutic activities. Therapy doesn’t always have to involve a therapist and an individual sitting together discussing the person’s personal issues. Have you
Why Choose Wilderness Therapy For Teens on the Autism Spectrum: Trails Therapists Explain
Wilderness therapy can be extremely powerful for young people on the Autism Spectrum. The wilderness is a peaceful place, far away from the overstimulating environments many teens on the spectrum struggle with. Over the years, Trails Carolina has seen hundreds of teens on the spectrum experience positive transformations. Programming at Trails helps these teens become more confident in their ability to socialize with peers and
Wilderness Therapy Creates Positive Change in the Brain
Experiences in nature decrease negative thoughts In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers led by Gregory Bratman from Stanford University found a link between positive thinking and nature. It only took a 90-minute stroll through some greenery to elicit a change in the way people were thinking. Those who walked through the wilderness tended to focus less on negatives and had
How Wilderness Therapy Aids Youth Development
From the ages 10 to 17, your son or daughter will experience some of the most formative stages of youth development. Piaget’s cognitive development theory states this as a time when reasoning becomes focused and logical and teens begin to develop the ability to think abstractly. They will attempt to understand the world and themselves. These years will help determine their future selves, happiness and success.
Tips for Parenting Troubled Teens
Parenting troubled teens can be a difficult endeavor no matter who you are. Parenting a troubled teen, however, can present its own unique set of challenges. Before things get out of hand, here are a few warning signs that might indicate your teen is on a path for troubled behavior. Changes in mood and temperament Yes, teen’s moods can change quickly due to hormones and other physiological
Wilderness Therapy Programs Develop Teens Personally and Socially
In this day and age, there seems to be so much negativity surrounding teens and their use of technology. Study after study shows the decline in social skills and face-to-face interactions of today’s generation of teenagers. But, is their technology-driven communication really that bad for them? The positive aspects of technology New research points out that though teens might have fewer friends than previous generations, they show a