Pacific Quest outdoor therapy program is setting new standards in quality care and integrative whole-person wellness for struggling teens and young adults. Currently, Pacific Quest is the only behavioral healthcare program of its kind with two full time Naturopathic Doctors on staff. Medical Director and Naturopathic Doctor, Britta Zimmer and Maile Green, ND, LAc, RN …
By Taylor Schultz, Ka’u Program Supervisor Students recently had the opportunity to visit Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau, a National Historical Park that preserves parts of traditional Hawaiian life. The park sits in Hōnaunau Bay which is a popular snorkeling destination today. This bay once provided a sheltered canoe landing and fresh drinking water for the ali’i …
By Yvette Slagle, Outreach Assistant On Saturday, September 7, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Pacific Quest’s Clinical Director, Hilary Moses, LCSW and Horticultural Therapy Director, Travis Slagle will present “Horticultural Therapy: A Growing Edge In Outdoor Treatment” at the annual Wilderness Therapy Symposium in Boulder, Colorado. As a world renowned therapeutic program for struggling adolescents …
Has your child, someone you know or yourself ever been bullied? Do you ever wonder why bullies do what they do? Do you see a pattern of perpetual bullying in our society or in your own personal life? These are questions many children, adolescents, young adults, parents and professionals are faced with everyday. Bullying has …
We received this letter from an airline passenger who was seated by a Pacific Quest student who recently completed the program. It’s a good reminder of how even brief encounters can leave lasting impressions. I was in Hawaii until yesterday and had the profound pleasure of sitting next to one of your recent graduates. Please …
By Mike Sullivan, Therapist “Belay on!” shouts Johnny, whose legs are shaking and hands trembling as he prepares to climb his first route of the day at the Hangar 18 rock climbing gym in Los Angeles. Moments before this, Johnny had pulled me aside and said, “Mike, I wasn’t kidding when I told you and …
Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program is pleased to welcome Christine Riley, LMFT as a Primary Clinician. Christine received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from State University of New York in Plattsburgh and her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2003. Prior to joining the Pacific Quest clinical team, Christine served as …
A group of students recently had the opportunity to visit Papakolea Beach, also known as Mahana Beach or Green Sand Beach. This infamous beach is located in the district of Ka’u on the Big Island, not too far from Pacific Quest. Papakolea is one of only four green sand beaches in the world–the others being …
By Bridger Jensen, Therapist Each morning, our newly-arrived Nalu and Kuleana adolescent students and staff travel from our sleeping quarters up the mountainside of the great volcano Mauna Kea. The short trip to our day camp is performed in silence to aid in self-reflection. From these historic, rolling hills through which we travel, sugar cane …
By Tess Barnes Dunn, Academic Coordinator Recently, I had an opportunity to spend a day working with my new Pacific Quest colleagues in the area of our garden set aside for our Rites of Passage ceremony, known as Huli Ka’e. A rite of passage is an important event that serves to mark the passage from …