Trails Carolina – Transforming Lives with Wilderness Therapy

More about Trails: 

Trails Carolina’s wilderness program stands out from other programs due to several distinctive features. Firstly, their wilderness program model offers a comprehensive assessment and individualized treatment by utilizing multiple settings and professional perspectives from the Trails wilderness team.

The family involvement at Trails is unparalleled. The program provides fully integrated services and resources for families, including a mid-point parent workshop and an optional Common Ground experience, which work to improve the dynamics within the family system. Moreover, Trails also involves siblings in the process.

Transitioning from the program back to home is given special attention at Trails Carolina. They have honed this process through practice, preparation, and a multiple systems approach that helps predict how the student’s progress will continue post-graduation.

Unlike some programs where new students may feel isolated initially, Trails Carolina ensures that new students are welcomed into their groups on the very day they arrive, preventing any sense of isolation from peers and staff.

Families remain engaged while their child is at Trails, receiving ongoing support and communication. This includes weekly calls with other families for support, weekly calls with a Family Therapist to work on changing family dynamics, and updates on their child’s progress from the Primary Therapist.

Trails Carolina prioritizes academics, and each student has a full-time certified teacher working with them. The academic approach is aimed at empowering students to contribute actively to their future academic success, whether it’s improving classroom skills, earning credits, or continuing with coursework brought from home.

The effectiveness of the Trails wilderness program lies in its unique use of wilderness for assessment and intervention. Wilderness provides a transformative setting, allowing students to experience simplified circumstances and learn new ways of caring for themselves with the help of skilled therapists and experienced field staff.

The staff at Trails Carolina are highly experienced and dedicated to their work. The Executive Director & Founder, Graham Shannonhouse, has 20 years of experience in Wilderness Therapy, and the leadership team collectively boasts an average of 15+ years of experience working with students and their families in similar programs.

The first day at Trails is carefully planned for each student’s smooth transition, starting with outfitting them with gear and introducing them to their group and peers.

The majority of a student’s first month is spent on expeditions and backpacking through the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Approximately one week is dedicated to base camp activities, including academics and Equine Counseling, while the therapist joins the student for individual and group therapy sessions at least twice a week.

Trails wilderness therapy programs are organized into four segmented peer groups based on gender and age: girls 10-13, girls 14-17, boys 10-13, and boys 14-17. This segmentation allows for more focused and personalized care, and evidence shows it helps students build positive relationships with peers, easing their transition back to traditional school settings.

The “multiple systems approach” at Trails refers to how each student is assessed and practices skills in different settings. By exposing students to various environments such as wilderness, academic classrooms, and equine therapy, they have more opportunities for growth, successful transitions, and comprehensive assessment. This approach enhances their preparation and practice for life beyond the program.