peter ellis

Review of Red Cliff Ascent

When our son became impossible to manage, our ther...

When our son became impossible to manage, our therapist recommended "Wilderness Therapy" a brand new term to us. We are so happy to have discovered RedCliffAscent. We were initially attracted by its report of positive one year outcomes, its long tradition, and no frills "nomadic" hiking. Other camps advertised more experiential skills-building that we thought our son could manipulate. He learned to carry his own pack, work hard, receive feedback from peers, journal, and avoid electronics, a huge impediment to interacting with his parents. Real changes that came incrementally over 3 months. With guidance from competent staff, ie field leaders who camp directly with students and dedicated counselors, our son mustered the resilience to complete his 8+ weeks of "phase work": completing reflective exercises such as writing autobiographical statements, reading weekly "parent narratives" on themes such as honesty, trust, love, group sharing exercises and rituals, and learning active outdoorsmanship skills such as fire building). The program staff supported us through complex issues such as payment, insurance, safe transport (against his will), and "aftercare" ie transition to therapeutic boarding school. Our son's counselor was especially gifted, professional, and dedicated. He expertly guided our son, as well as ourselves through a delicate program of reading, self reflection, honesty, and exchange of heartfelt letters. After 3 months, we find our son is more mature, more receptive to feedback, more reflective (coming from zero!) and more willing to be "parented". We strongly recommend RedCliffAscent, an excellent "wilderness therapy" program!