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If you are struggling with the right way to discipline your teenager, you are not alone. The teen years are particularly challenging for parents, especially if you have a strong-willed child. If you are too strict or harsh, you can count on rebellion. If you come down on the rebellion instead of listening to your …

At Pacific Quest, students learn that what you put in your body directly affects how you feel. The Pacific Quest diet has been developed to provide balanced and vital nutrition. We take advantage of locally grown foods in Hawaii so that food is always fresh and healthy. We are fortunate to have an incredible local …

You are all familiar with the famous quote: “That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.” It originated from the existential philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, and the meaning behind this simple phrase had a powerful impact on Viktor Frankl—in his endurance as a prisoner in concentrations camps and in his analysis of survival and the …

As many parents with teens know, staying close to a child during those formative years can be quite the feat. No matter what you do, your behavior seems to annoy, embarrass or even anger them to the point of no return. Understanding the teenage psyche can be daunting to the point of hopelessness. When it …

Janna earned her Master of Science in Special Education through the New York City Teaching Fellows Program at Pace University, as well as her MA in English from Texas Christian University. Before coming to Pacific Quest, Janna taught English at a high school for students with severe emotional issues in the Bronx. She also taught …

By Clementine Wilson, Field Manager Anyone who has worked as a wilderness therapy guide has probably struggled to answer the question: “what do you do for a living” or “what’s your job like?” As a former guide, I’ve certainly struggled to find the words to explain the incredibly unique and challenging role of the professional …

Did you know that Pacific Quest has a fully-accredited Academic curriculum? During a typical eight-week stay, Pacific Quest students have the opportunity to take six academic courses for a total of 3.5 academic credits in the following subject areas: Career and Technical Education – Horticulture Pathway (0.5 credits) Health Education – Health Education (0.5 credits) …

Mike Sullivan, MA, LMHC Family and Alumni Services Director mikesullivan@15.pacificquest.org Family involvement is critical to a child’s resilience and overall success. At Pacific Quest, family is heavily incorporated into the therapeutic process from the start through extensive communication, writing assignments and a parallel curriculum which compliments each child’s therapeutic plan.  Therapists introduce concepts related to …

After the completion of a rigorous accreditation process and site visit, Pacific Quest earned accreditation from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED. NCA CASI provides nationally-recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools …

On September 1, the clinical team at Pacific Quest began a year-long training process to achieve site certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics™ (NMT), an evidence-based practice developed by Dr. Bruce Perry. NMT is a developmentally sensitive, neurobiology-informed approach to clinical problem solving (www.childtrauma.org). NMT training will develop capacity for clinicians to assess students …