Therapeutic Services for Children and Adolescents

Throughout its history, Retreat Healthcare has recognized therapeutic services and their associated modalities of creative arts, recreation and adventure based therapy as important aspects of mental illness and addictions treatment. They are a significant and distinguishing feature of the Retreat’s treatment philosophy and integrated programming approach. Today, Retreat Healthcare continues to value these modalities, as well as talk and other therapies, believing that people respond to different methods of expression and learning.

Children and adolescents, developmentally, are often able to better express themselves through non-verbal means. Children are attuned to the expressive/creative arts of drawing, painting, sculpture, dancing, etc. It is non-threatening and relaxing. A child may not be able to tell you how they feel, but they can draw you a picture that will tell you more about how they feel than words could convey. At the same time, kids need to be physically active.

Adventure-based therapy includes use of the Retreat’s ropes course as well as many other outdoor recreational activities including: cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, snorkeling and rock climbing. These activities provide children and adolescents with a sense of challenge, the opportunity to determine what is safe for them and define their own limits. It also provides for peer and social interactions.

Therapeutic recreation offers children a variety of safe and supported activities, geared towards addressing developmental levels and noted delays. All of these therapy modalities become integral components of an individual’s treatment plan.

Child/Adolescent Inpatient Services

Arts and Crafts for the smaller children.
Traditional games for the smaller children.
Traditional sports for some of the older children.
*Completely outfitted fitness room with instruction.

Child and Adolescent Residential Services

Therapeutic Adventure Program (TAP) including such activities as climbing, ice skating, ropes course, canoeing. Extensive athletic equipment is available.
Community reintegration, including dance and gymnastics.
Activities for the inpatients noted above are also available on a regular basis for residential children and adolescents.

Therapeutic Adventure Program (TAP)

The Therapeutic Adventure Program is a distinct treatment modality that utilizes an innovative, highly structured counseling model. Based on the principles of experiential learning, it involves a process of experiencing the challenge activity, reflecting on what has been experienced, while applying increased self-awareness and new learning to other aspects of living. Many times the situation or activities in TAP groups become a metaphor for problems faced elsewhere, thus providing an opportunity to learn and practice new skills that have a direct application. The model involves a holistic approach, involving physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual aspects of experience.

Adventure based experiences may consist of games, group and individual initiatives, low and high challenge ropes courses, bouldering, rock climbing, rappelling, an indoor climbing wall, tyrolean traverse, orienteering, hiking, backpacking, camping, cross country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, canoeing, or swimming. These activities are adapted and applied as needed with different groups to insure safety and individualized treatment goals. TAP leaders and facilitators have received intensive training in the therapeutic use of these outdoor education/recreation techniques and group dynamics

There are several guiding principles for the Therapeutic Adventure Program. The first is safety, both physical and emotional; besides being a staff priority, group members are also asked to help take responsibility for their own safety and that of the group. Secondly, an attitude of respect for self and others is cultivated, where individual differences are welcomed and each person is given fair consideration. The idea of Challenge by Choice is also an integral part of the program. This means that group members are expected to challenge themselves during the group, but it is up to them to define what that challenge will be. No one is forced to do any particular activity, while each participant is asked to take responsibility for their choices. The effort involved in taking risks is emphasized over success at any particular task.

The potential benefits of this type of programming include developing self-confidence, trust, group support, cooperation, communication skills, the expression of feelings, compassion, camaraderie, leadership, positive relationships, the ability to commit to oneself and others, and physical fitness and agility. The modality itself can be intrinsically appealing, as most activities are fun and intriguing in their own right. This serves to increase patient motivation to participate and learn. For the Retreat, the Therapeutic Adventure Program provides a unique approach to treatment, one that adds depth and intensity to traditional methods.

For more information call 1.800.RETREAT