Will My Troubled Teen Ever Grow Up?

By Meghan Vivo

They say that 30 is the new 20, and 40 is the new 30. While this may be comforting to those of us who are aging more quickly than we’d hoped, does that also mean that 20 is the new 10? To many parents, it may seem so.

Increasingly, young people in their late teens and twenties act and feel like kids, even though their post-puberty bodies tell a different story. Often, these young adults are too busy partying and playing video games – under their parents’ roof – to get jobs and take on the responsibilities of adulthood.
 
'Failure to Launch'

Although few parents want to “get rid” of their child who has “failed to launch,” we all want them to grow into independent, productive young adults. Young people stuck in early adolescence can get “unstuck” with a little help. In many cases, there are underlying emotional or behavioral problems that lead to rebellious, irresponsible behavior. These issues need to be addressed – along with the symptoms of these problems, such as substance abuse and drug addiction – to allow adolescents and young adults to transition into adulthood.

There are a number of options for young men and women at this stage of life. While some parents choose therapy or teen boot camps, and others hope their child will simply outgrow this prolonged adolescence, others have found the help they need in wilderness therapy programs.
 
Therapeutic wilderness programs appeal to the thrill-seeking risk taker  while offering intensive therapy for emotional and behavioral problems, substance abuse treatment and life skills training. For example, Four Circles Recovery Center in North Carolina offers a unique combination of wilderness therapy, substance abuse counseling and 12-step programming to young adults ages 18 to 28 who are struggling with addiction, substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues.

Helping Troubled Youth Transition Into Adulthood
 
Wilderness therapy is a unique form of therapy that has proven highly effective in treating troubled youth. Unlike other approaches, wilderness therapy isn’t all talk – it’s about hands-on learning in a positive, esteem-building environment. Just by nature of living in the wilderness, these therapeutic programs for teens and young adults grab a student’s attention and help them look at their life from a new perspective.

Wilderness programs are known for hiring a staff of field instructors and therapists that is approachable, relatable and understanding of the issues facing today’s youth. Not only are they “cool,” having themselves lived interesting lives and learned critical life lessons, but they are also skilled in breaking through to troubled youth.
 
Wilderness instructors enter the field of wilderness therapy because they are passionate about the healing power of nature and know they can make a difference in the lives of troubled youth. These are caring people who do this work not just for a paycheck but because they believe in it and see that it works.

“This kind of intensive immersion speeds up the healing process because the clients are receiving therapy 24 hours a day,” explained one Four Circles field instructor. “It’s rewarding when clients tell me they trust me more than the therapist they’ve seen for years at home.”
 
In addition to skilled field staff, Four Circles Recovery Center has a superb clinical team that consists of experienced therapists who specialize in a wide range of disciplines, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Psychodrama
• Transpersonal counseling
• Strength-based therapies
• Solution-focused therapy
• Family therapy

Each wilderness therapy student receives an individualized treatment plan that includes the therapies that work best for them. After being exposed to a variety of therapists and therapeutic approaches, Four Circles ensures that the student’s therapy is having a significant positive impact.

“Even without the therapy and introduction to the 12 steps, just being in the wilderness can be transformative,” said Four Circles field director, Todd Ransdell. “When you add in all of the counseling, peer support, and substance abuse treatment, you’ve got an intervention that really makes a difference.”
 
Getting Away from the Noise
 
When young people don’t feel prepared to confront difficult emotions or assume adult responsibilities, they have a lot of noise around to distract them. Television, video games, cell phones, negative peers, and drugs and alcohol are all ways young people can pass the days, months and years without truly evaluating their choices or setting goals.
 
“Young addicts, in particular, are really good at focusing away from what’s going on inside,” noted Ransdell. “When you take away the ability to distract yourself from the real issues, you have no choice but to take an honest look. That’s what wilderness does. You get back to basics – get up, eat, pack, hike, unpack, eat, go to sleep – and learn to take good care of yourself in the process.”
 
Learning Skills to Become an Independent Adult

At Four Circles Recovery Center, troubled youth learn the skills they need to get reinvested in their futures and make a healthy transition into the next stage of life. This learning comes in many forms:

• Daily life in the wilderness teaches the importance of self-care and hygiene, and helps young people understand the natural consequences of their actions.
• 12-Step meetings and assignments instill an approach to addiction recovery (and life) that is both logical and sustainable.
• Group therapy exposes troubled youth to feedback and insights from their peers.
• Individual therapy helps students focus on the thoughts and feelings they have ignored in the past, and that have prevented them from moving forward.
• Adventure trips teach the value of strategic risk-taking and expose troubled youth to the thrill of sober fun.
• Living with a group of peers provides daily opportunities to practice teamwork, conflict resolution and communication.

Wilderness therapy may be  the “wake-up call” your struggling youth needs to take the next steps. With due respect for young people’s need for fun and activity, wilderness therapy shows troubled youth the many rewards of becoming a dependable young adult.