WIngate Wilderness Therapy Review

How do I assign stars to the people that saved my daughter's life? I can't even begin to think about where my daughter would be without Wingate. They are the most caring and advanced program and therapuetic model I have ever experienced. My daughter struggled with depression, PTSD and severe drug addiction. She ran away from home and was living on the streets at 16 years old. After a few short term stays in a locked mental health facility we knew she needed something else. We also knew she was a runner and feared her running away from anywhere we sent her. That's what turned us towards
wilderness therapy. We also knew she needed to be stripped of all distractions so that she could finally work on herself. That is exactly what we found at Wingate. When she arrived at the Wingate office in the cold January snow she was angry, bitter, convinced she was going to try to run and refusing to go out into the field. Walt was there with her and talked to her and cried with her until she decided to go out, she still talks about those first hours in the office with him. That interaction was just the beginning of staff showing my daughter just how valuable she was. Her therapist Erin was incredible and was able to work through trauma with my daughter the way no one else had been able to. She used somatic trauma therapy and also gave my daughter many books to read to understand herself and how her brain functioned. She had an addiction therapist and she studied NA and eventually helped lead NA groups. The most unique part of Wingate is the way these kids are treated, they eat, hike and live with their staff. The staff live just as they do. Nature creates the rules, there is no level system, everything has a natural consequence. They are also skilled in handling run risk kids.

If you are reading this you are likely where I was just 11 months ago, desperate to find help for my child. There are so many places on the Internet and I just didn't know where to turn and who to believe. Shayne reached out to me and I could tell above all else he wanted to help me and my daughter. I pushed all fear aside and decided to do what I had to do and I have never been more grateful of a decision I have made. My daughter was at Wingate for several months and is now in a therapuetic boarding school and will likely be home soon. I just got back from visiting her and she wanted to go back to visit everyone at Wingate- so we did! My daughter is counting down the months til she turns 18 so that she can work as a field staff.

If you are desperate for help and ready to experience genuine care and therapy like no other treatment program, choose Wingate!

Thank you Wingate- Shayne, Sheri, Walt, Erin and so many others for saving my daughter's life and showing us that there is hope!

I love Wingate Wilderness Therapy! They truly care about their students and have incredible therapists. They make sure the kids are well taken care of and do a great job at creating an environment where the students feel safe and can thrive and heal. Keep up the good work Wingate!

This was perhaps the most wonderful and life changing experience that our son and our family has ever had. Learning about the Arbinger principles, and how to effect positive change into the family dynamic has been wonderful. This was a truly transformative experience for our son. He loved it, and he told us that he thought that all of the staff people and therapists were "amazing"!

I am a former student of WinGate and being there really changed my life for the better. I find the wilderness to be therapeutic in itself and being out there 24/7 helped me alot. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who needs it.

Fantastic program! Wingate Wilderness does a wonderful job preparing their students to be successful. So much fun to visit and hear the insights their students gain.

I was a student at Wingate Wilderness Therapy in 2012. This program changed my life. It took me away from everything that I was dealing with at home. If you're really worried about your child, I would check out Wingate. The program is special because it's not a punishment based program (which is rare!). When I first got to Wingate, I didn't want to hike and I cried quite a lot. Instead of trying to punish me, they made me feel responsible for my behavior. This program taught me a valuable lesson: Your actions affect other people. When I was expressing my desires to not hike or be a part of my group, I put my group at risk. The only way we could get more fresh water was to hike to our next coordinates. We also wouldn't receive our new food if we weren't at our new campsites. Instead of there being a level system, which really doesn't work most of the time, it was a system of honesty. We developed close relationships with our counselors and other group members because we had to work together to make things happen. This program was all about survival and learning to work with other people. And most importantly: Doing things we didn't necessarily want to do. This experience changed my perspective on life because I was used to just simply saying "no" when it came to responsibilities back at home. One of the biggest problems young teens have today is understanding natural consequences for their behaviors. I promise Wingate can and will help your child much better than many of the other programs that are just based on levels and behavior. The problem with the "level system" is kids will focus on their level and how much longer it will be until they can get out instead of accepting every day as a new challenge. This program teaches students to work together and develop incredible skills they will use for the rest of their life. I know that it must be a really tough decision to find the right program, but I know Wingate won't disappoint! I will always hold my memories from Wingate close to my heart and I get excited just thinking about the differences they are continuing to make in troubled adolescents lives.

I 100% recommend this place. My son was going through some stuff. Brainwashed by a family member, lost his dad who was murdered. He suffered through ptsd, adhd and depression. Near the end he was running from cops, running away and much more. I decided to send my son here. There are escort services that can pick up your child and bring him, which is what I used. This program did amazing things for my boy. He graduated a year and a half ago and has been so much better. The things they taught him and what he learned! There are so many and it s so incredible. He has been a completely changed young man since returning home. There have been no more issues since, he is doing great. After thins experience it is his goal to work there someday and be a councilor and advocate for the troubled youth. Shortly after returning my grandpa asked my son a question and the answer shocked me. He said so if you had the choice, would you go back again? My son said yes, absolutely 100%. I was amazed at the response he had. Just this evening he asked me mom, can I go back? And I asked him if he meant to work as a driver or something and he said no, to go back and do the program. I told him absolutely but he cannot change his mind and quit and he said ok. So I m writing this review for the struggling parents. The ones like me that looked at and considered this place but felt as guilty and unsure as I did. I felt like I was abandoning my son by sending him. Giving up on him. I struggled with sending him. This was the best choice I have ever made to have him go. They will beg you to get them, guilt trip you, they will lose a bit of weight from the hiking, in the beginning. Keep forward and as many times as you re attempted to go rescue your baby, don t. He has told me multiple times how thankful he is that he went. He has learned so much about himself as well have I about how I am parenting and as a whole we have worked toward and learned and changed things. I cannot give this place the rating that it deserves, which is much more than 5 stars. Anyone (students and parents) that have horrible things to say about this place, did not work on themselves and neither did the students, as they should have. I recommend this place highly and with the upmost respect and admiration. Thank you for helping my lost and scared young man. You helped him find himself. You also helped me to realize any mistakes I was making and we fixed everything together. Please consider having your child go here if you re wanting to help him/her grow, find their way when lost, and heal their broken and lost selves. Trust me.

Thank you!
Today i was reminiscing on my journey at WinGate with a close friend I made there. We recalled times spent around the fire, long hikes, tough nights. We started to realize how much we missed this place, that when we look back every memory was sweet, even the really hard times. I learned so much through my time there. The staff was amazing and was growing with us and I could really relate to them. It is hard to live out there and you could really see how comfortable the staff was it was inspiring. I was in Coconino and they really became my family out there. I am so glad I got the opportunity even though its a tough reality. when I graduated i was happy to go back to my family but i was also sad to leave this new one behind. Thank you to everyone who was a part of my journey i am so grateful for this program the caring staff and of course my therapist Danielle! This place will be one of the most important events in my life it saved me from myself. Thank you! Thank you! - Shontae Duncan - life is good

Wingate saved my granddaughter's life! She was dying from a meth addiction and other self destructive behaviors. She had suffered severe trauma in her childhood that we were unaware of. She received top notch trauma therapy while in the wilderness with no distractions. She was safe and well cared for and describes wilderness as being extremely healing. Her therapist Erin and the rest of the staff are the best! We are incredibly thankful for this program and recommend it to anyone who has a child who is struggling. Don't wait until it's too late!

Best experience of my life. I went to Wingate as a young adult to confront my trauma. I ended up spending 12 weeks out in the Utah desert and I can confidently say it was the best decision my parents ever made for me. It not only helped me (and my family) overcome my past but it let me chose a better future for myself. Wingate has incredible staff and genuinely cares for each one of their students.

I went to Wingate over the summer, it has very good therapeutic values but also can be very traumatizing. I struggled with addiction and was the reason I went there, it honestly doesn't focus on that and I honestly didn't stay sober when I got out, It feels like you are living in a fantasy world so when you get out , you are so lost that sometimes you go back to into old habits, before sending your child here I would recommend a rehab or something less intense.

Worked there with many youth and I found it to be a very enlightening and humbling experience! Will be a wonderful place in my heart!

My 15 year old son just spent almost 11weeks in this program & it truly saved his life & restored our family. After a year long struggle with drug addiction & treatment my son overdosed just one week before being taken to wingate & it was the hardest & best decision I ever made. It's not about behavior modification which has failed over & over again but changing their heart which changes them for life. My son is excited about his future, working hard at school, fixing his relationships with the family & friends & planning his future . Wingate works with the entire family, I've never met such an amazing group of people who have dedicated their lives to saving our loved ones. UPDATE 4 years later: My son is now at one of the best universities in Pennsylvania as an environmental studies major on a football scholarship & has an amazing future ahead of him. I thank God for Wingate & the amazing staff for saving his life . Below is a picture when I stayed overnight for the parent visit, although I m a city girl I & thought I would die it was life changing for our relationship.

Our family is so thankful and blessed by your entire staff, and our experience with Wingate Wilderness Therapy. We are thankful for you; we are encouraged by the hard work you do and your heart for hurting kids; we are blessed to have gained so much knowledge from you about life and relationships; and we will never forget you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Shayne, Sheri, Erin, Greg, and staff.

Our 15 year old daughter just spent 13 weeks and 3 (she made sure to say the exact time) in Wingate Wilderness program to deal with her childhood trauma that she endured from her biological parents. Erin, our daughters counselor (the wilderness whisper) and the parent workshop truly changed the trajectory of our family dynamics. We had our first real conversation ever. Just imagine not being able to hold a real conversation for 10 years. We promised that we would go all in and change our way of being and it started by us reading Anatomy at Peace and having weekly conversations with our daughters counselor. This allowed us as parents to reflect on our parenting skills. Many parents send their hurt/fragile child to a wilderness program to get the child fix, however, for my husband and I we got fixed. We used the time away from our sweet daughter to learn, to grow as her parents to listen and to embrace the pain that she endured for years. Taken our daughter to Wingate was the hardest but the best decision we ever made. Our daughter is excited about her future, her head space is clear and her conversation is genuine. Wingate, thank you for giving us a second chance to be the parents we always wanted to be, also thank you for giving our sweet daughter a second chance to rewrite her forever story. Wingate has an amazing group of people who have dedicated their lives to saving our loved ones. Look not further this is place for second chances BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO WANT IT (parents included)!

Much Love, The Blair Family

Wingate and the wilderness experience has impacted me so much. It has changed my life. It has helped give me a push in the right direction again. The philosophy in the Anatomy of Peace is astonishing and mind blowing. Lots of times I treated my parents great, but I ve now realized that even though the action was good the motive behind the action was bad. I ve learned that you can do ANY action in a good or bad way... with a heart at peace or at war. I ve learned that when I do good actions while my heart is at war, it invites others to have a heart of war towards me because they can sense that I don t have clean of healthy motives in the action. I have picked up on many collusion cycles that I have had in my family. Now, I am aware and can fix those cycles. I have been made aware of my attachment disruptions and can now tell when I am doing these unhealthy habits and I am able to fix them before they go to far. When my parents were going through a divorce, my mom got cancer, and I got sent to Wingate... I saw my family and life crashing before me, but with the help of Wingate and everyone (including the students at Wingate) my family and I are back on our feet and you could say we planted a seed, on new ground, and now that tree is growing. I have no clue what that tree is yet, but I know it will be beautiful. Wingate has changed my life. And I thank Wingate and of course the staff, therapists, and even students for the impact they have made on my family and I. Thank You

-Chloe Vinson

I was unsure about this option for my daughter when it was recommended to me by a therapeutic boarding school that I was placing my daughter at. Between her addiction and her trauma...and most importantly, her denial, she need time to "wake up". She was at WinGate for a little under 10 weeks and it created the right results. She became very open about what she had been doing to herself and to the family. She become open to the change needed now. While the idea of your daughter in the desert seems scary, it works. It is now a part of her story.

I graduated from WinGate this morning after being there 8 weeks. I went willingly, and it was the best decision I've ever made. I always assumed nothing would change my behaviors or my desire to live a reckless life, and I couldn't have been more wrong. Wingate truly changed my life. Walt is amazing, and so is my therapist in the program, Erin Grover. I was there for an unmanageable marijuana addiction and an inability to make healthy decisions for myself. I learned to respect myself and others, along with about a million other life lessons. The staff is truly indescribable. They are caring, compassionate, and helpful. The program is intense in terms of being away from home and living in the woods, truly "roughing it", but it's the best experience I've ever had. Your child will also have the opportunity to have a Parent Visit during their stay, and this is an opportunity to communicate with your child in a healthy way, as well as participating in a seminar that will truly change the way you see yourself, your child, and the world. WinGate is an amazing program, and your child will thank you for the opportunity to grow and change there. Thank you to Walt, Erin, Adam, Josh Chipman, Joseph Hardy, and many others. You changed my life, and I will be forever grateful.

I was sent here by my parents at the age of 16. I had already been through multiple therapists and inpatient care programs. Nothing was working for me. I was suicidal and dealt with it through drugs, but Wingate was a turning point in my life. Their philosophy of using relationships to improve your way of being not only gave me my life back, but mended my broken relationship with my parents, improved my self-talk, and inspired my love for nature. Everybody who I have stayed in contact with from Wingate has had nothing but positive outcomes. If your child is struggling, this program provides a caring, family-focused approach to rehabilitation. I am now 18 and proud to say I am headed to college in the fall, in a loving relationship, and completely self-harm free!

Simply incredible people. Caring, compassionate, empathetic, and experienced professionals. The staff are well trained, and the professionals are experts. I love the fact that they are trained by the Arbinger Institute. As adventure therapy goes, there is no one better. As wilderness therapy goes, I must put Wingate into the top three therapeutic programs in the US.

It's hard to describe such an impactful and depth provoking experience. Being in the field as a guide for two years was an experience I'll never forget! The opportunity to make each day of each week in the field uniquely introspective, educational, development focussed and therapeutic is left to the dedicated and skilled individuals that make up the field team. Having worked for other therapeutic programs before and since I have come to appreciate the freedom of expression, creativity, and empowerment designed into the way fieldstaff work in the field. I loved leading kids through picturesque slot canyons, exploring each individual's unique sense of spirituality and religion through ceremony and group discussion, playing games like double ball and teaching primitive and soft skills. There was truly no end to the possibilities of our imagination within the field and the support from the front country by means of tools and materials was an amazing resource to call upon. More than anything the guidance from experienced industry professionals who were either my peers, mentors, direct supervisors or indirect supervisors proved invaluable both in my time working in the field and even after I left. I owe much of my love for the industry to the knowledge and teaching methods passed down to me from those mentors.

As for helping it doesnt do much when you are selected to be with random students who are nothing like you... Older then you... And potential Bullies. during my stay many students ran away and made it all 40 miles to kanab, along with multiple fights between students,and the staff are mostly not very caring. DO NOT RECCOMEND

Best experience for my son who was vaping and defiant. He was shocked to be there the first week but began to live being in the wilderness and says today that it changed him, in a positive way. He wants to go to school to be a chef because he was inspired by how he learned to create and be self sufficient there .

Do not send your loved one here. They just see everyone as a cash cow. Charging parents thousands upon thousands of dollars when insurance is willing to approve and pay yet they send families into debt and refuse to bill insurance even though they agreed to. It appears they have something to hide so they won t deal with the insurance companies and they they won t share their records despite numerous requests. My family is struggling even more now and that we went into debt to debt our loved one there and our loved one couldn t handle the guilt of that and is now worse than ever.

My daughter has been there almost 8 weeks. I get a weekly call from her therapist. I don't get mail from her as she still doesn't have positive feelings for me. I'm going to see her this weekend. So far, I only get what her therapist shares which is 'slow progress'. Part of the process of Wingate is self awareness and insight. Some kids get there sooner than others. 85% of kids go on to "Aftercare" vs return home. These kids require an ED Consultant and a Psychological testing both are $2-6K. My kid had the psych review but the therapist won't share it with me till after the visit It's hard to "trust the process" I'm not sure I do fully as I find I'm conflicted with their advice and keeping me at a distance from information about my child . She doesn't want me to be 'unduly influenced prior to my visit with her however I would prefer to know. Turning over custody to this program relinquishes your involvement with your child significantly be aware of that! I will let you know more when I return next week!

Kudos to the instructors, therapists and logistics:)

I went to Wingate It was amazing I got to explore gods land and myself Utah can really test you expecially in monsoon season it was such a fun and extreme adventure and I'm so glad I got to go and get help for myself

WinGate was recommended by my daughter's therapist to turn around her direction. It was remarkable and was a signature ingredient in my daughter's recover.

I would never ever leavey child there to be bullied picked on by older people in charge no one tells my child they don't have a choice it makes me sick thinking of all the people trusted you with their children life

Three years ago I was enrolled at Wingate and was given the absolute best experience of my life. Never does a day go by that I regret my time in the woods, and as a matter of fact, I still after all these years wish I could go back and relive my experience. The program is masterfully designed and I would recommend WinGate to anybody, no matter the situation, no matter the circumstances.

To any parent considering enrolling your child here, please reach out to WinGate to hear what this program is all about. I promise you will have no regrets.

no doubt in my mind, 5/5 stars.

Amazing wonderful people at Wingate. Very effective treatment!!!

It is a good place to go if you need serious help but I recommend you try normal a therapist first before this I went there with no serious problems did it help yes but it could have be done with a normal therapist

I would recommend this program to anyone. I was so nervous to send my son but it ended up being a fantastic experience for him and the entire family. Every single therapist there is very well trained in dealing with all types of teens and their various issues and traumas. My son did very well there and looks back at his experience with great fondness. He was there in the middle of winter when it was dark and cold and was even there through Christmas but he still loved it. He is now at a therapeutic boarding school and is doing well. I think wingate will always be a part of him.

Wingate Wilderness Therapy is a First Class Program. My daughter was there from December 2018-March 2019. She went there after struggling emotionally regulating herself at an RTC. They came to meet her at the RTC to present the opportunity to her. She immediately connected to Erin Grover the Clinical Director, who eventually became her individual therapist. My Daughter was tough from the beginning, but Wingate and Erin did not give up on her. Halfway through her stay she had an awakening and the changes began to happen. She came out of the wilderness a different person. Erin Grover taught my daughter things about herself that she still talks about today. She endured things and conquered obstacles. There is something about living the simple life that humbles you. Coming back into society is tough. My daughter's relationship with Erin is so special. All the staff there were so helpful. For my Daughter, she once journaled that Erin's name shouldn't be Erin Grover, it should be Erin God. She has struggled since she has come back home. Life is not easy, I am hoping that one day she will be able to return to Wingate to help others and give back to a program that gave her hope and courage.

Mildly better than the rest of the child re-education camps incompetent parents can steal their children away to. Still a traumatic and unnecessary experience no child should have to endure. Especially those with mental illness and substance abuse issues that are targeted for programs like these. I nearly died on a hike when administration sent the wrong coordinates to my groups field staff and we were sent up a cliff-face we were in no way prepared for. I m still mentally ill and still struggle with substance abuse issues. The only difference is I now have a crippling fear of heights I didn t have before WinGate, and my mom s about 40 grand in debt.

Wingate wilderness and my therapist saved my life. That s the simplest way of putting it.

If you are reading this, more than likely you are a concerned parent at the end of your rope. You have no where to turn and you desperately need help. Around mid March 2016 I was in your shoes. My daughter had a history of trauma, add/adhd, generalized anxiety, defiance behavior, parent-child conflict and emerging borderline characteristics. This eventually culminated in substance abuse and dangerous, self-harming behaviors in her teen years. After years of individual therapy and partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient services, we had no where else to turn. I found Wingate on Dr. Phil's website in a period of desperation as I scrambled to find solutions to our out of control problems. Wingate was a GOD SEND! It opened the door to solutions beyond anything I could have ever imagined. It is the definitely the hardest, most difficult decision you'll ever make as a parent. But for most teens/pre-teens who are not responding to all efforts at home, it is absolutely essential to begin the healing process and the road to recovery! It is the only way a kiddo can detach from the distractions of their everyday life and take a hard look at themselves, their issues, and the way it is impacting their family system.

The Wingate staff are my angels. My daughter, wife and I connected with our daughter's therapist, KJ, at such a deep level. She is modest and says the wilderness did it. But I think it's both, the wilderness and the top notch staff Wingate hires. I've heard similar stories from other parents in the tremendous support system you will inherit if you join the Wingate Family. Wingate is just that, from the bottom of my heart, Family.

I can go on an write pages upon pages in this review. I'm just so grateful for this experience and how it has changed the life of my daughter and our family.

Thank you Wingate for everything you do. God bless you!

Experienced staff and great outcomes. Love WinGate Wilderness Therapy