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 …
By Jody St. Joseph, Adolescent Program Director It wasn’t two very large strangers who woke me in the middle of the night, but it was close enough. My alarm screamed me awake at about 4 am and before long I was at the airport about to leave behind my doggie, my home, and my family. …
Pacific Quest’s Dr. Lorraine Freedle and Travis Slagle will present at the 2014 NATSAP Conference in Henderson, NV. Title: “Ready, Set…Grow! A Horticultural Perspective of Integrative Health, Rites of Passage & Future Therapeutic Programs” Date: Thursday, February 6, 2014 Time: Session B4 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Location: La Luna Room at Green Valley Resort and Spa As an innovative …
Written through the voices of incoming Pacific Quest staff and their stories of arrival… (Through the lens of Kenny) As we fly into Hawaii the feeling of nostalgia wouldn’t wear off. I have left my family in the midst of winter to join a group of strangers in the field of troubled youth reform. There …
By Lori Armbruster, Communications Director In the Hawaiian culture, the word “Ohana” means family, which can be blood-related, adoptive or intentional. The concept emphasizes that families are bound together and members must cooperate and remember one another. When a young person enters Pacific Quest, they become part of a larger Ohana. As they discover the …
Pacific Quest is pleased to welcome Johnny Tock, LPC as a Primary Clinician. Johnny is a licensed Professional Counselor and holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling from Eastern Illinois University. He completed his undergraduate studies at Hanover College in Illinois. Johnny brings over twelve years of experience in a variety of therapeutic settings including …
By: Mike Sullivan, Primary Therapist & Lori Armbruster, Communications Director PQ staff members were honored and humbled by the overwhelming turnout of alumni, students and families who gathered at the San Francisco Children’s Garden in Golden Gate Park for an inspiring day of service to the community! PQ alumni spent the day working side by …
During a typical eight-week stay, Pacific Quest adolescent students have the opportunity to take six academic courses for a total of four academic credits. The courses include: Career and Technical Education – Horticulture Pathway (0.5 credit) Health Education – Health Education I & II (0.5 credits each = 1 credit) Language Arts – English and …
Dr. Lorraine R. Freedle is a board certified Pediatric and School Neuropsychologist with over 25 years experience in clinical practice and administration in children’s behavioral health. She has extensive experience treating young people and their families impacted by trauma, loss, substance abuse, ADHD, mood disturbances, TBI, and a variety of neurodevelopmental and learning disorders through …