Childhood is one of the most impactful stages in one’s life. Your experiences during childhood can shape the way you see and view the world. While many people view childhood as a light-hearted and happy time, many children also experience adverse childhood experiences, otherwise known as childhood trauma. These experiences are often unavoidable, such as …
With technology continually innovating, it has become an integral part of our society. Technology has allowed our society to advance in many ways, including advancements in communication, entertainment, information sharing, access to goods and services, and much more. Technology has taken over many sectors of our lives, in particular, youth are greatly affected by technologies …
Read more Wilderness Programs for Youth: Damaging Effect of Technology Addiction
Aside from sports, technology has become the most popular pastime for teenagers most notably, video gaming. Video games have become increasingly popular in adolescents, particularly teenage boys and while they can be a fun and interactive hobby, when do they become a problem? Video game addiction is more common than you might think, a study …
Read more Game Over: How to Help Teens with Gaming Disorders
What is Cyberbullying? Nowadays, more than 80% of American households have access to the internet via subscription. Even those who do not have access to the internet at home likely can still use the internet in public places such as libraries or schools. The internet and social media platforms have essentially taken over our lives. …
When you hear the term “wilderness therapy”, what comes to mind? Is it a boot camp style program? Are teens expected to be expert campers or rock climbers? The reality is that wilderness therapy is nothing like boot camp and that it is appropriate for teens with all levels of experience. blueFire Wilderness understands that …
Read more Is Wilderness Therapy Appropriate for Teens with Limited Outdoor Experience?
Physical activity has long been recommended as a way to keep physical health in check and to promote healthy growth and development, but research also indicates that physical activity is important for brain and learning health as well. Studies from 2013 suggest that increasing physical activities and physical fitness may improve academic performance and that …
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
Navigating through adolescence in today’s socioemotional landscape can be extremely difficult for teens. From mood swings to academic problems to more complicated mental health issues, it’s becoming increasingly common for teens to reach a level of distress where professional help can be beneficial. Research has shown that therapy can help teens in a variety of …
Read more How We Help: Individual Therapy in Wilderness Programs
For most teens, using a smartphone or tablet is a part of life they don’t even think about. They use technology for schoolwork, socialization, and entertainment. And while this technology use may be normal, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with it’s own set of issues. One of these issues can be technology addiction. …
Read more Tips for Helping Curb Smartphone Addiction in Teens
The benefits of nature on the human psyche have long been espoused, but in recent years researchers have discovered that nature therapy can be just as effective against depression and other mental health conditions as traditional therapy or medication. A study conducted in 2007 found that 90% of those struggling with depression reported higher self-esteem …