Should I Enroll My Child in a Wilderness Therapy Program?
Should I Enroll My Child in a Wilderness Therapy Program?
If your child is struggling with a substance use disorder, you may not know how to best handle it. Should you send them to rehab? Maybe an outpatient treatment program? You also may have heard of wilderness therapy and how it can be helpful in removing your child from their current environment and exposing them to nature.
But which option is best for your child? And are there other options available you may not have considered?
What is Wilderness Therapy? Is It Effective?
Wilderness Therapy is a form of treatment that involves patients spending time out in the forest, where they can connect with the world around them, their peers (also enrolled in the program), and themselves.
Wilderness therapy programs often involve the help of a trained therapist to work with the children and help them to process their emotions and work through the underlying issues leading to their substance use. Wilderness therapy also exposes patients to nature, which is great for their physical, emotional, and mental health.
With all of these benefits, it seems like wilderness therapy is the best option for treatment, right? Well, not necessarily…
Wilderness therapy is often better than “treatment as usual,” which involves inpatient or outpatient treatment at a center, but it is still lacking in a few ways.
One issue is many treatment centers are only 18 and up. This leaves teens with very few options. Another issue is the disruption of the child’s life. They will either be taken out of school or spend their summer break away from family, friends, and any at-home obligations. Finally—and this is very important—wilderness therapy does not address the family dynamic. Once your child completes their therapy, they will return home to the same environment they left. This transition can be extremely difficult and may trigger strong emotions (which can lead to a relapse).
Why In-Home Treatment is a Better Option
In-home treatment allows your child to receive all of the same care they would from a rehabilitation center or wilderness therapy program from the comfort of their own home. This has a few benefits…
The first benefit is the ability for your child to receive care where they live and in their current environment. There is no need to disrupt their schooling, family engagements, and even sports or social activities. Instead, your child can continue to live their life while also getting the care they need for their substance use disorder.
Another benefit is family-focused treatment. You need to maintain a healthy and harmonious household for your child to succeed. By removing your child from the household and not providing family treatment, they will simply re-enter the same environment and dynamic. Family therapy is an important part of your child’s recovery, and in-home treatment makes it easy.
Finally, your child can receive the ongoing care they need. Most programs only last a few weeks or months. The in-home treatment provided by Front Door Health is long-term—ensuring your child receives the care they need until they are ready to graduate from the program.
Paul Getzendanner, CEO of Front Door Health, sums up the benefits by saying:
“Our in-home treatment provides psychiatry, therapy, coaching, personal training, medication, family therapy…all while not disrupting your kid’s life, so they won't fall behind in school or socially! There are no issues with reintegrating back into family life and school because, with FDH, recovery happens in the real world. We've had success working with schools' internal counseling departments and administrators to keep kids in school with their peers while improving their academic and social performance.”
Front Door Health Offers In-Home, Family-Focused Recovery
Front Door Health provides judgment-free in-home treatment for patients when they need it. We take an evidence-based approach to treatment, and we create custom treatment plans for our patients to increase their chances of success. Our treatment process is client-focused and individualized. This means no group sessions with strangers and no “treatment as usual” approach. Your child is unique and the treatment plan we create for them is designed to meet them where they are along their journey.
We understand that it can be difficult to put your child’s life on hold and take them out of school for an extended period of time. Our in-home treatment allows your child to continue to meet their school, family, and other obligations while receiving the treatment they deserve.
If you would like to learn more about in-home treatment, contact Front Door Health today. We’re happy to answer any questions and provide your child with the help they need.
info@frontdoorhealthcenter.com
