Pacific Quest

Praise From a Parent

Our son attended PQ from late 2017 through Spring of 2018. When we were first choosing a place for him we consulted with a specialist who was able to recommend several programs. As we did online research of the programs we noticed multiple conflicting reviews on the sites which hosted these reviews.  It was a challenge to get

I Found My Own Superpower

When I was sent to Pacific Quest, I had to really accept that there is no fairy tale ending. A handsome prince won’t come take me a away and solve all my problems. Being bullied into isolation left me with only books, video games, and TV. All were perfect examples of an ideal world where

Planting seeds of Horticulture Therapy in the Community

Kumu Carrie’s 6th grade class gathered at 8am for their usual attendance, announcements, and oli to start off their Ho’okele class. However, today there was a change in scenery. The desks were pushed aside and in the middle of the room lay a tray of soil, bunches of mint and oregano cuttings, and an assortment

CLINICAL SPOTLIGHT: THERESA HASTING, LMHC, SP

Theresa Hasting received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from McMurry University in 2003 and earned her Masters of Arts degree in Family Psychology from Hardin Simmons University in 2005. She is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Theresa has extensive training in trauma informed care; examining the

Clinical Spotlight: Mark White, LMHC, MAC

In addition to his extensive clinical background prior to his work at Pacific Quest, Mark served as Director of Clinical Quality for an integrated healthcare agency. Mark also holds a masters degree in School Counseling and has a breath of professional experience as a teacher, school counselor and Head of School. Mark holds a deep

Keep Planting

I love the idea of “Farm to Table.”  Eating at restaurants that take this approach is so satisfying – food right from the garden, even better when the food is organic.   There is nothing quite like the crunch from a raw green bean that has been harvested that morning! While this dining option appears to

The Corrective Relational Experience: Improving Family Functioning with Emerging Adults

Dr. John Souza, Jr., LMFT, DMFT Introduction Outcomes studies on wilderness therapy/outdoor behavioral healthcare (WT/OBH) programs serving youth ages 12-17 have demonstrated that family involvement in treatment increases the likelihood of long-term maintenance of individual students’ gains from such programs. This same body of research has linked caregiver participation in family activities to an increase

Going for the Gold!

Written by: Ashley Cipponeri We are celebrating another year as a Gold Status Research Designated Program! The Pacific Quest team is dedicated to ongoing research efforts put forth by the University of New Hampshire and the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP). Gold Status is the highest status granted by the NATSAP research

Sustainable Growth! A must read alumna testimony!

Three years ago I was known for running away from Pacific Quest on several occasions. Now I look back and see how far I’ve come. I attended Pacific Quest at a very rough point in my life. I was suffering with several mental health issues as well as the aftermath of severe emotional trauma from