Updates

Health & Wellness Talk Show Features PQ

Dr. Kimo Alameda, Director of the Hawaii Department of Health interviewed three key professionals from Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program in a weekly wellness talk show on the Big Island of Hawaii.  The television program “Rise Above” invites speakers to share information on issues of importance related to health and wellness.  This week’s show focused

Depression In Teenagers

Do you have a teen that has bouts of irritability, angry outbursts or occasional mood swings? If yes, then you have a very typical teen moving through the transition from childhood to adulthood with a healthy dose of emotional growing pains. These types of benign behaviors are not depression. Depression is a clinical diagnosis that

The Flow State

By Mike Sullivan, Therapist This is fascinating – and you will likely be able to relate to this.  Mihály Csíkszentmihályi and colleagues in Italy pondered the mental state of artists while in the act of creating art.  Through phenomenological studies, Csíkszentmihályi, maintains that people can basically become absorbed into an activity and reach a particular

Options for a Troubled Teen

If you have struggled with how to manage and raise your troubled teenager, you may have had the discussion about where to get help outside your family circle and the community around you. Fortunately, there are specialized programs targeted at varying degrees of outcomes depending on the ultimate needs of your particular child. Whether you

Music Helps Relieve Stress

By Raylene Moses, HR Manager When you enter the HR office, music is probably the first thing you will hear. I love listening to music.  For me, music is a great stress reliever.  It really doesn’t take time away from my busy schedule.  Rather, it provides a backdrop to my own rich and fulfilling life.

Problem Teenager–But What’s the REAL Problem?

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

Gratitude: A Sustainable Life Choice

By Denise Westman, Outreach Director After spending many years working in this industry in a variety of treatment settings, meeting and working with some incredibly talented and gifted people, I am filled with gratitude to be at Pacific Quest.  PQ’s approach to embracing change and sustainable growth not only applies to our students and families,

PQ Welcomes Lori Armbruster

Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program is very pleased to welcome Lori Armbruster as Family Services Director. In this role, she will develop and provide a comprehensive range of services that will enhance the Pacific Quest Sustainable Growth experience for each family. Her expertise, creativity and diligence will serve Pacific Quest’s families and referral sources well.

PQ Welcomes Visitors From Australia

Pacific Quest Wilderness Therapy program recently hosted two key leaders from the Horticultural Therapy Association of Victoria, Australia. Karen and Paul Delamotte joined Pacific Quest’s Land Supervisor Travis Slagle for an interactive tour of the 8 acre wilderness program in Hawaii that has provided life changing experiences for hundreds of youth from around the world.

PQ Welcomes Dr. Shelly Ham

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