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Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program recently hosted a group of 17 educational consultants from around the nation for a two day visit to allow referring professionals an opportunity to see our program from the inside out. Highlights included student guided garden tours, lots of time for students to share their insights and experiences while at …

By Pacific Quest The word “diet” may throw people at first. We’re all on a diet because a diet is composed of whatever a person habitually eats. So for some, their diet is one of lots of cookies, soda and pizza. For others their diet is one of lots of meat and bread. Others only …

Pacific Quest’s own Land Supervisor, Travis Slagle, was recently featured in the National Public Radio’s food blog The Salt. The story titled Can Gardening Help Troubled Minds Heal focused on the growing evidence that horticultural therapy can be an effective tool in the treatment of individuals with mental health conditions. Troubled minds maybe a broad …

Recent results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index ranked Hawaii as the number one state for overall well-being. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/28/happiest-state-well-being-united-states-gallup_n_1304448.html The categories that were considered in the index include emotional health, life evaluation, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors, and basic access to necessities. The Aloha State ranked highest in emotional health and healthy behaviors, including exercise …

  By Travis Slagle, Land Supervisor Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program announces it has been awarded a registered trademark for Sustainable GrowthTM from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Pacific Quest has received international recognition for innovative treatment for youth and families in crisis and the recent trademark only confirms its ongoing leadership in …

By Katie Kasenchak, Therapist The women of Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program made a strong showing at the 2012 NATSAP conference in Orlando, Florida.  The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, known as NATSAP for short, was founded in 1999 and provides annual research in the field of therapeutic programing for youth and a …

By Britta Zimmer, Medical Director Every week at Pacific Quest wilderness therapy program we discuss and engage in the five pillars of health. This week we discussed the pillars of health and how they contribute to strengthening the immune system. The pillars of health are: 1. Diet/ Nutrition 2. Mind/ Body Connection 3. Sleep 4. …

You may have heard of boot camps, and if so, there may be a lot of questions swirling around about what boot camp really is. Is boot camp right for my troubled teen? Can girls go to boot camp? Is boot camp the same as wilderness therapy? We’ll take a closer look at the above …

Ever wonder what is really going on in the life of your teenager? Especially when it comes to a young adult on the verge of being labeled a troubled teen? While it is advised to go and ask your teen about what’s going on in their life, we have a little sneak peek before you …

By Denise Westman, Outreach Director Imagine: You’re feeling so depressed that you visit your doctor and request a prescription for a mood elevator. Instead of writing you a prescription for Prozac or a similar antidepressant, she advises you to get dirty. While you consider changing doctors, she describes how getting dirty changes your brain chemistry. …