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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 …

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 …

Jeremy Nunnelley, LPC, NCC PQ Therapist Anxiety is an increasingly common problem for adolescents and young adults. The worry and fear associated with anxiety disorders can result in self-doubt, irritability, difficulty focusing, and feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks. In addition to these primary symptoms, other issues can worsen and be made more resistant to treatment …

The transition from high school to college life is an exciting one for many young adults. But as with every transition, it is one full of change and stress.

  Tom Jameson, MS, NCC PQ Therapist Many of the students who come to PQ present with anxiety, depression, impulsivity, emotional regulation issues, and may have difficulty distinguishing between thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness practices teach students to begin to slow down their busy minds, see the difference between thoughts and emotions, and pause before reacting …

Technology is changing the world we live in, forcing an evolution in how all of us communicate. Smartphones are altering the way we interact with friends and loved ones, how we receive our news, and how we access entertainment. It’s powerful, ubiquitous, and unfortunately highly addicting for some individuals. Before the widespread use of cell …

PQ Therapist, Theresa Hasting, LPC-S, LCPAA During the formative years of adolescence the development of the self is a primary focus. As teens learn to navigate social relationships and attempt to differentiate from their parents, attachment difficulties may become pronounced and interfere with healthy identity development. Young people who have experienced adoption, relational trauma, stressful relationships …

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 …