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.
Program Overview
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
Cultivating Self-Sufficiency
At Pacific Quest, we understand that emotional and behavioral health are lifelong pursuits. Our goal is to provide students the tools to practice lifelong resilience and self-sufficiency.
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 Family?
Pacific Quest helps youth 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 clients experiencing psychosis, violence outside the home, or other externalized behavior. 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.
Our Approach
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.
Clinical Programs
Our residents 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.
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.
Day In The Life
Example Weekly Schedule
Photo Gallery
