The teenage years are a period of enormous change and development for all youth, as their brains are continuing to develop and they forge new and independent identities. Adoption can add yet another layer of complexity to this developmental period, regardless of the age at which the child was adopted. Because chemical changes in the …
Read more Addressing Troubled Behavior Through Adoption Therapy
With an area the size of New England, the state of Idaho has all sorts of terrain and wilderness opportunities imaginable. From its beautiful mountains to the lush forests, Idaho is one of the most magical places in the entire United States. This picturesque environment, however, serves another purpose than to simply please the eye: …
Read more Gems in the Gem State: Tips for Finding Wilderness Therapy in Idaho
Building self esteem in teens begins at home. Only too many parents find themselves in a situation where they believe “tough love” strengthens their child’s spirit. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. In many ways, a child is a reflection of the parent. While a child builds their personality, they are affected by outside factors: their peers, …
Read more Looking Out for Number One (Your Child, That Is): Ways to Help Build Self Esteem in Teens
As any teenager can tell you, growing up isn’t easy. However, sometimes normal teenage problems swing out of control – whether a result of an underlying mental health issue, peer pressure, or some other factor – and become something that needs to be addressed. While raising a struggling teen may be difficult at times, there …
Horses and humans have had strong bonds for thousands of years. One of the reasons for this close relationship is the power of the horse to perceive and understand human emotion. Horses can tell if there’s been a change in their environment because of the way their brains are comprised. Because they are prey animals, …
Read more Horses Foster Growth: Four Benefits of Equine Therapy
Horses are powerful, emotional creatures. When you bring a struggling teen into a corral with such an emotive animal, change is bound to happen. For one teen, equine therapy saved his relationship with his family and brought him away from drug abuse. Canadian teen, Sam Butler, was using cocaine, had issues with defiance, and was …
Read more Kids and their Horses: Benefits of Equine Therapy for Teens
Struggling teens often find difficulty in creating relationships, trusting others, disciplining themselves, and communicating. Equine therapy gives them the chance to learn how to do all these things. Working with horses allows troubled youth to form meaningful connections, communications skills, and self-discipline. When combined with other therapy, positive results follow Equine therapy has been found …
Family members are meant to work together, love each other and provide support for one another. This isn’t always easy, though. If one member of the family pulls away and shuts others out, it can be difficult to do any of those things. In these cases, family therapy can intervene and help mend broken relationships. …
Read more Does Family Dinner Feel Like a Battlefield? Family Therapy Can Help
Are you feeling stressed? Losing focus? Experiencing sadness? Well, look no further … outdoor therapy can be just the answer. Take a 30-minute walk outside, look at the sky, the trees and the flowers, and then, see how you feel when you are done. You probably feel better don’t you? There’s a reason for that! When you walk, your …
Anxiety, though beneficial for every individual, can also wreck havoc on a teen’s life. Anxiety is our body’s natural way of letting us know we are in danger and can encourage intense focus on a given task. However, it can also lead to obsessive thoughts and physical pains that are nearly impossible to suppress without …
Read more Addressing Teen Anxiety Through Behavioral Therapy