ADOLESCENTS

Pacific Quest: Teaching Sustainable Growth

Today, young people face a unique set of challenges. Pacific Quest’s integrative behavioral health program takes a strengths-based approach to help participants ages 13-17 boost their self-esteem, heal traumas, and get to the root of what holds them back—anxiety, depression, impulsivity, anger, and other challenges.

Growth Beyond Crisis

The Adolescent program is based out of our Reed’s Bay campus. Located on the Hilo Bay coastline, the site encompasses five acres of open spaces with botanical gardens, freshwater ponds, and Pacific ocean access. Our 8,000-square-foot facility has bunkrooms, a large kitchen, and recreational spaces for yoga, group sessions, and gathering.

The Pacific Quest Experience

Pacific Quest’s adolescent program operates on the east side of Hawaii’s Big Island. Each day, students participate in outdoor programming. Every evening they sleep in a secure dormitory monitored by awake staff.

Located on the Hilo Bay coastline, Reed’s Bay encompasses five acres of open spaces with botanical gardens, freshwater ponds, and Pacific Ocean access. Our 8,000 sq. ft. facility has bunkrooms, a large kitchen, and recreational spaces for yoga, group sessions, and gatherings.

Life at Pacific Quest is a community living experience. This provides students with opportunities to practice essential life skills in an educational and healing environment under the guidance of licensed therapists.

Each student has an individualized treatment plan and goals. However, our integrative behavioral health program includes self-care and hygiene, organic gardening, meal preparation, personal reflection, individual and adventure group therapy, group initiatives, peer communication, journaling, exercise and movement, academic coursework, goal development and evaluation, wellness education, and community service.

We specialize in:
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • OCD
  • Isolation
  • Adoption
  • Trauma
  • Somatic Symptoms
  • Technology Addiction
  • Family Conflict
  • Gender Identity
  • Learning Differences

PQ isn’t right for everyone:
  • Primary substance abuse/dependence
  • Aggression/violence
  • Running away
  • Thought disorders (psychosis)
  • Perpetrators of bullying
  • Acute mental health crisis
This process starts on day one.

When they first arrive, adolescents have time to learn self-care basics while adjusting to their new surroundings. They're given time and space to acclimate and reflect on the journey that brought them to Pacific Quest.

Once students master these skills, they begin setting and working towards personal and community goals.

Students are asked to consider their role in the community and how their actions impact the people around them. Highly experienced program staff guide students throughout this process, providing support, direction, and constructive feedback to address areas of challenge.

Throughout their stay at Pacific Quest, students progressively assume more responsibility.

They learn to independently manage their daily schedule—garden chores, exercise routines, nutrition, academic curriculum, and reflection time. While staff members remain present as mentors, they also create space to encourage self-sufficiency and growth.

Toward the end of their stay.

This is to honor their transition and celebrate their personal growth journey. Students participate in group activities and personal projects during this time to claim their growth, embrace their unique strengths, and honor challenges they will face as they continue to navigate adolescence.

Is Pacific Quest Right for Your Child?

Pacific Quest helps students gain a greater sense of awareness about themselves and the world as they learn to make better choices and gain the tools necessary to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Our program is ideal for those that need a sanctuary from the stress and overstimulation of daily life, but require the structure and resources of a residential treatment  program.

We are not the right choice for students experiencing psychosis, violence outside the home, or refusal to engage in the medical recommendations of treatment. We are also not an appropriate resource for students with conduct disorder, high levels of aggression, students going through detox or those who have a severe, unmedicated mental illness.

View our Diagnostic Guides for a more comprehensive list of issues and diagnoses we can help with.

Therapy Evolved

Today’s kids are living in an always-on, plugged-in world. Research has shown that this constant stimulation overload contributes to heightened anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues. Built on the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, Pacific Quest’s approach creates space for healing, self-reflection, and growth.

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Horticulture

Horticulture helps enhance social, cognitive, and physiological functioning with the primary goal of improving health and inspiring positive change. By asking your child to step into a caregiving role in the garden, we’re able to create an environment that’s growth-focused and life-affirming. The gardens are a living example of what growth looks like, leaving students with empowering life skills they can use outside the garden.

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Wellness Programs

There’s no one-size-fits-all blueprint for physical and mental health. This is why we take a highly personalized approach to each student’s wellness. By focusing on physical well-being (diet, exercise, and sleep habits) and mental, emotional, and social resilience, our integrated program takes a whole-person approach to wellness.

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Clinical Programs

Our integrative behavioral health program is certified and built around the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). Our students benefit from a highly collaborative clinical environment where therapists meet weekly to staff cases, share clinical knowledge, and develop effective interventions. Our team of Masters and Doctoral-level clinicians bring expertise in a variety of therapeutic methods including: behavioral therapies, somatic experiencing, addictions, family systems, neuroscience, traumatology, mind-body, and expressive art therapies. 

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Experiential Learning

Our clinical model provides students myriad opportunities to learn through personal and group experiences. Not only do these structured experiences teach them valuable life skills in a controlled environment, but they also teach them the depth of their strengths and capabilities. Experiential learning includes our accredited academics course, Rites of Passage, and community outings in beautiful Hawaii.

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Rise and shine!

7AM to 8:30AM

Wake up and make your bed

Circle up with group to check in and plan the day

Morning meditation, yoga, or sensory activity

Breakfast with the group and post-meal clean up

Morning medication distribution and self care routine

Get ready for the day ahead!

10:15AM Snack Time

10:30AM to 1:30PM

Experiential learning activities

Student or guide led groups

Team-building activities and initiatives

Lunch and meal clean-up

One hour of exercise: circuits, yoga, or games

1:45PM Snack Time
Back at the House

4PM to 6:30PM

Time for chores, showers, study hall, and student or guide-led group activities

Staff check-ins and goal check-in

Group dinner and community meeting time

Evening medication distribution, meal clean up

Time for performances, games, stories, music, and theme-based discussions

Transition ceremonies, welcoming ceremonies, and appreciation ceremonies

9AM to 10:15AM

Because our integrative care plans are personalized for each student, no two days will be the same. But, in general, daily activities include:

Activities like planting, weeding, and harvesting

Individual and group therapy sessions

Academic lessons and study hall

Psychiatric appointments and wellness checks

Lunch prep or outing prep

An outing—volcano, forest trails, or ocean adventure

2PM to 4PM

Working on individual projects

Letter writing time

Ceremonies, lessons, or group activities

Winding Down

6:30PM to 8PM

Circle down. Evening meditation and stretching, music, sensory activity, emotional check-in

Nightly self care routine

Bunk time: Reading, journaling, regulating activities

Lights out

Rise and shine!

7AM to 8:30AM

Wake up and make your bed

Circle up with group to check in and plan the day

Morning meditation, yoga, or sensory activity

Breakfast with the group and post-meal clean up

Morning medication distribution and self care routine

Get ready for the day ahead!

9AM to 10:15AM

Because our integrative care plans are personalized for each student, no two days will be the same. But, in general, daily activities include:

Activities like planting, weeding, and harvesting

Individual and group therapy sessions

Academic lessons and study hall

Psychiatric appointments and wellness checks

Lunch prep or outing prep

An outing—volcano, forest trails, or ocean adventure

10:30AM to 1:30PM

Experiential learning activities

Student or guide led groups

Team-building activities and initiatives

Lunch and meal clean-up

One hour of exercise: circuits, yoga, or games

2PM to 4PM

Working on individual projects

Letter writing time

Ceremonies, lessons, or group activities

Back at the House

4PM to 6:30PM

Time for chores, showers, study hall, and student or guide-led group activities

Staff check-ins and goal check-in

Group dinner and community meeting time

Evening medication distribution, meal clean up

Time for performances, games, stories, music, and theme-based discussions

Transition ceremonies, welcoming ceremonies, and appreciation ceremonies

Winding Down

6:30PM to 8PM

Circle down. Evening meditation and stretching, music, sensory activity, emotional check-in

Nightly self care routine

Bunk time: Reading, journaling, regulating activities

Lights out

Our daughter went to Pacific Quest (PQ) in the spring of 2018. She suffered from depression and anxiety. Regular therapy at home was not enough and we heard about PQ. We were very reluctant to send her away from home. However, the staff made us feel better about the decision. Now, we know it was the best decision we could have made. It changed her life! The healthy living made a huge difference. The on-going therapy with Andrew Vispo (who was absolutely fantastic) helped her immensely and helped us. We will be forever grateful to PQ, Andrew and the rest of the staff.

-Kerrie H