If you are like many parents you were warned when your darling toddler was starting into some adorable defiance: “Just wait ‘til they’re teenagers!” You may have thought a problem teenager would never happen to you because you’re such an attentive, caring, thoughtful, amazing parent. You made your child good food, drove them to all …
Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program welcomes Psychiatrist Dr. Shelly Ham to its clinical and wellness team. Dr. Shelly Ham will have an integral role working with Pacific Quest’s treatment professionals where she will oversee and evaluate the psychiatric needs of all adolescent and young adult students enrolled at Pacific Quest’s wilderness programs. Suzanne McKinney, co-founder …
By Yvette Slagle, Outreach Assistant Pacific Quest is pleased to announce the movement of the young adult program to a brand new ocean front location at historical Reeds Bay. Several years ago, Pacific Quest was asked by a number of families and referring professionals to consider serving the needs of struggling young adults. Noted for …
By Yvette Slagle, Outreach Assistant Pacific Quest is pleased to announce the promotion of Hilary Moses as the new Clinical Director. Hilary is an LCSW with over 13 years of experience working with adolescents and families in a variety of settings. She earned her MSW from Bryn Mawr, Graduate School of Social Work and Social …
By Yvette Slagle, Outreach Assistant Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program is pleased to partner with Jen Murphy, M.Ed., LPC. Jen will offer Parent Coaching Services for families in need of individualized parent support, coaching and counseling. Pacific Quest recognizes the importance of family systems and dynamics in successfully treating adolescent and young adult clients. Parents …
By Travis Slagle, Horticulture Therapy Director In the past three weeks I had the opportunity to attend the annual conference for the American Horticultural Therapy Association, and co-present with Hilary Moses at the Wilderness Therapy Symposium sponsored by the Outdoor Behavioral Health Care Industry Council. Both organizations are dedicated to developing research and professional development …
Here is a great testimonial from a parent who came to Hawaii to reunite with her daughter during a recent Parent Workshop: The Pacific Quest parent weekend is a must for all parents of PQ students. For me, as a parent, it was equally painful, confusing and heart wrenching to live with and parent someone …
By Bridger Jensen, Therapist Recently, I met with the staff of Pacific Quest to talk with them about positive psychology and sustainable growth. It was no surprise to find them already aware of how positive psychology facilitates change. They even had personal experiences and examples of how using it daily with the students enhanced the …
By Katie Kasenchak, Therapist One of my favorite parts of working at Pacific Quest is having the opportunity to share meals with our students. Not only do I enjoy taking a moment to appreciate what our students have cultivated and nurtured in the garden and prepared in the camp kitchen with new found skill and …
By Travis Slagle, Horticulture Therapy Director Imagine what the world would be like if wilderness therapists of the future became organic farmers. What if the people entrusted to witness life’s most significant transitions traded in the more esoteric theories of eco-psychology and wilderness survival for a simple shovel and pitch fork? For many people, the …