Outdoor Adventures and Healing: Liahona’s Wilderness Therapy

Liahona Academy provides a unique program that utilizes outdoor adventures and activities to facilitate healing and growth for troubled teen boys. Located in Utah, Liahona Academy offers teens a long-term residential treatment option that goes beyond short-term wilderness experiences to create lasting change. This post will explore how Liahona Academy uses outdoor adventures, what to expect at their residential facility, the mental health services provided, and the sexual behavior support offered.

How Liahona Academy Utilizes Outdoor Adventures and Healing

Liahona Academy utilizes outdoor adventures and activities as a critical part of its holistic approach to treating troubled teens.  Activities like hiking, camping, rappelling, and ropes courses provide therapeutic benefits by building confidence, developing teamwork and leadership skills, and pushing teens outside their comfort zones. Spending time outdoors exposes teens to the healing power of nature while disconnecting them from negative influences. These experiences facilitate growth, self-awareness, and relationship-building. The outdoor component is fully integrated into Liahona Academy's overall treatment program. Licensed therapists process experiences with students to reinforce lessons learned. Outdoor adventures enable teens to practice new behaviors in a safe environment. The positive emotions and accomplishments teens experience in nature are applied back on campus through therapy. This programming targets transformation across emotional, physical, and spiritual domains.

Benefits of the Program

Liahona Academy's long-term residential program offers life-changing results by providing a highly structured and supportive environment focused on creating internal change. While short-term wilderness programs offer temporary change of scenery, Liahona Academy treats the root causes of deeply personal issues over 12-18 months. Their holistic approach integrates individual, group, and family therapy with academic, spiritual, and recreational programming tailored to each student's needs. This consistent immersive treatment facilitates deep healing of underlying trauma and the development of healthy coping skills teens can apply to all areas of life. Liahona Academy's individualized level system empowers teens to take ownership of their growth. Their multi-disciplinary team engages the family in the treatment process. These key advantages make Liahona Academy's residential program more effective for lasting change than other options. Parents can feel confident placing their child into the structured care of qualified staff. Teens build the skills and mindset to successfully transition home and avoid the recidivism common among short-term programs.

Overview of Residential Treatment Centers

Each year, thousands of teens from across the country are sent by their parents to residential treatment centers in Utah. The state has become a hub for struggling youth seeking help away from adverse home environments. Staff must undergo background checks, and facilities must be inspected annually.  What to Expect at Liahona Academy Students at Liahona Academy can expect a highly structured environment focused on their treatment and growth. The weekday schedule maintains consistency with times for therapies, school, recreation, chores, meals, and hygiene.  Students participate in individual and group therapy sessions and family therapy. Recreational therapy teaches essential life skills through cooking, budgeting, and outdoor adventures. Liahona Academy is accredited to issue high school diplomas and provides college prep courses. The dedicated staff focuses on counseling on behavior modification and building social skills. Daily routines, positive reinforcement, and level systems empower students to implement changes.

Level of Care Provided by Liahona Academy

Liahona Academy provides a high level of individualized care and support. Their residential program can be classified as a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, providing hospital-level care in a stable environment. Treatment is tailored to each teen based on assessments by a multidisciplinary team, including therapists, pediatricians, and psychiatrists. Some students require constant supervision and care, while others progress to more independence. Family therapy ensures continued progress after discharge. Liahona Academy collaborates with all stakeholders to ensure teens acquire the coping skills and motivation to transition back home successfully.

Types of Mental Health Conditions Treated at Liahona Academy

Liahona Academy treats a wide variety of mental health conditions, including substance abuse, self-harm/suicidal behaviors, depression, attachment disorder, ADHD, anger issues, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and autism spectrum disorders. Their experienced clinical team tailors treatment plans to address each child's unique symptoms using research-based modalities. Licensed therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists oversee programs integrating individual, group, and family counseling. Some specializations include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, trauma treatment, and medication management. Students receive customized mental health care to create lasting change.

Programs Offered to Treat Mental Health Conditions

Liahona Academy offers a complete range of clinical programs to holistically treat mental health conditions, including individual counseling, group therapy, and family therapy.  Individual sessions with licensed therapists target diagnosis-specific symptoms and trauma using approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Group sessions address issues like substance abuse and anger management through various techniques like CBT and art therapy. Multi-family therapy allows teens and parents to heal relationships and establish new patterns. With this comprehensive clinical programming, Liahona Academy is equipped to meet the needs of students with diverse mental health struggles.

Qualified Staff for Mental Health Treatment at Liahona Academy

Liahona Academy employs a highly qualified clinical team to treat students' mental health needs. Their psychologists, therapists, and mental health nurses hold advanced degrees and certifications in psychology, social work, addiction counseling, and psychiatric nursing. The clinical director is a PhD-level licensed psychologist. Consulting psychiatrists oversee medication management. This interdisciplinary team works collaboratively to assess and care for each child's individual needs. Their expertise provides teens struggling with complex mental health issues with the specialized treatment necessary for lasting wellness.

Types of Sexual Behaviors Treated in the Program

Liahona Academy offers specialized services to treat a range of concerning sexual behaviors in teens, including inappropriate sexual language/jokes, excessive pornography use, inappropriate touching/groping, exhibitionism, and boundary violations.  Their sexual behavior program provides therapy utilizing modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy and the ARC treatment framework to address trauma and develop victim empathy and coping skills. Liahona Academy's licensed clinical team works to uncover risk factors driving inappropriate sexual behaviors and replace those with healthy coping mechanisms.  To rehabilitate problematic sexual behaviors in teens, Liahona Academy utilizes prevention education and specialized therapy.  Psychoeducational courses educate students about healthy sexuality, boundaries, and the legal consequences of sexual misconduct. Individual therapy addresses trauma, attachment wounds, victim empathy, and thought patterns contributing to unhealthy behaviors.  Group counseling focuses on relapse prevention skills and healthy relationships. Family therapy mends relationships and establishes new patterns. Liahona Academy's multidimensional approach promotes sexual health and responsible conduct.

Liahona's Wilderness Therapy Program

Liahona Academy provides a holistic residential treatment program that utilizes the healing power of nature combined with intensive mental health support—their experienced clinical staff and individualized programming work to treat the root causes of teens' issues.  Through outdoor adventures, academics, spirituality, and family work, Liahona Academy strives to facilitate deep and lasting transformation. By equipping students with healthy coping skills, this program empowers troubled youth to successfully manage their conditions, avoid recidivism, and have fulfilling lives at home.