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School, work, after-school activities—the demands of modern-day life can easily decrease the time we spend together as a family. But sharing a meal with the entire family each evening is great for the mind, body and soul. Some busy parents may consider sitting down as a family for dinner a luxury but, many professionals consider …

Travis Slagle, M.A. Horticultural Therapy Director, Pacific Quest National Geographic recently published the article Gardens: The World’s Oldest Therapist, which describes the scientific inquiry behind nature informed treatment, and how the oldest therapists of the world are poised to become the newest ally in outdoor therapy. No matter how much the urban shuffle distracts us, …

  John Souza Jr., D.MFT Primary Therapist – Pacific Quest Several weeks ago my niece and nephew were visiting from Minnesota. I was so excited to show them all that Hawai’i had to offer. One day we decided to visit downtown Hilo, pulling into a parking stall in the packed lot of the bustling business district and excitedly gathered in …

Dear Pacific Quest Community- with a special shout out to Bridger and Jennifer (you two rock!), Mike Sullivan (Family Program Director extraordinaire!) and Lindsey (Buffalo gals!), What a great team. Mahalo a million times. Thank you for getting a true smile, sparkle, and enthusiasm into the moment and into the future. PQ has laid a foundation for our child.  Our …

Some teens might always be on the move while others may be parked on a living room couch – but all teens need physical exercise. The effects of exercise and physical activities on both teen’s bodies and mental wellness have been proven time again through a variety of scientific studies. However, as youth age, the …

As parents, we were really at a point (like many families) where we had exhausted what few resources we had available to us. Our son has learning differences but had never been diagnosed on the spectrum. We had always thought wilderness programs were for kids who were out of control, bad behavior, drugs and alcohol. …

Communication is a precious life skill, and teaching your teen how to effectively communicate will not only help them throughout their adolescence, but their entire adult life as well. However, preaching to, or nagging at, your teen to open up to you usually isn’t the best route. Common problems for teenagers, such as bullying, body …

June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, and here at Pacific Quest, we offer horticultural therapy as a form a therapy for clients who may be struggling with trauma and/or PTSD. Horticultural therapy has long been used to help people with these conditions. In the 1940s and 1950s, American war veterans — many of …

PQ was a life-changing experience for our family. As a family unit and as individuals we all grew through the program. One of the most important things we learned was that this wasn’t just about our son/stepson; it was about every single member of our family and how we fit together. The work we did …

Every adolescent faces countless changes and shifts throughout their teenage years, making anxiety management a main priority to obtain healthy day-to-day functioning. For most teens, anxiety acts as a gentle prod, pushing them forward through life in a productive way. But for some, anxiety can take over, becoming a chronic burden that stifles their academic …