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We view every teen as a unique individual with specific treatment needs. By offering an individualized treatment program for teens ages 13-17, we are able to help with a variety of teenage problems, including video game addiction, depression, anxiety, and defiance.
Each of our students meets individually with his or her therapist to discuss progress and opportunities for personal growth. After each therapy session, parents receive a phone call from their child’s therapist to discuss the student’s progress, goals, and future treatment plans. The result is a truly individualized teen therapy program for each student and family.
If you’re concerned that your child has a video game or internet addiction, you aren’t alone. In fact, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation, eight-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to electronic entertainment media during a typical day. That comes to more than 53 hours a week. Teens are especially susceptible to the appeal of electronic media. In fact, according to Harris Interactive, the average teenager’s day includes:
When it comes to treating the problems of the typical modern teenager, the wilderness is our most effective tool. Teens are free to shed their “image” and connect with themselves in a deeper way when they leave behind the distractions of computers, television and negative peers. Teens who attend Outback Therapeutic Expeditions for video game or internet addiction treatment are completely cut-off from technology.
At Outback, we combine traditional therapy services with wilderness therapy. With this approach, we are able to more actively engage our teen participants in their therapy. As their struggles with teenage problems begin to surface, teens will have 24-hour support from field guides and therapists, who will encourage them to begin replacing negative thoughts and habits with positive ones. This around-the-clock help allows the participants to confront their issues in a natural setting.
Independent outcome studies confirm that wilderness teen therapy programs like Outback Therapeutic Expeditions are highly effective. Research shows that adolescents make significant improvements in academic performance, substance abuse, defiance, impulsivity, aggression, interpersonal relationships, and various other areas. Additionally, therapeutic gains are generally retained for long periods of time after completing the wilderness teen therapy program.
Teenagers are heavily influenced by their peers in both positive and negative ways. In single-gender groups of six to nine students, teens at Outback therapeutic expeditions begin to form a “wilderness family.” Forming close relationships with other teens who are facing similar difficulties aids in the healing process.
Daily group sessions provide a forum for addressing group dynamics, individual character development, and specific treatment goals. Students also mentor new arrivals, which provides support to new students and helps more senior students embrace personal responsibility and gain new insights.
