Frequently Asked Questions
What are the credentials of therapists working at Phoenix Outdoor?
Phoenix Outdoor provides the highest quality therapy to teens and their families. Phoenix therapists are licensed with master’s and doctoral level degrees and have a particular specialty in working with adolescents. Our staff includes professionals who are certified as addictions counselors both on the state and national level.
How does the therapist work with my child?
The therapist works quickly to build a positive relationship with your child and begin helping your child understand how his or her decisions led to placement at Phoenix. Therapists will often emphasize appropriate responsibility for choices, making amends to those who have been hurt, developing honest communication with parents, and setting future goals. Phoenix Outdoor therapists strive to help adolescents resolve conflicts in their lives so they can move forward with meaningful goals and aspirations. The therapist also spends time with field instructors each week to receive specific feedback about your child's progress and to give further direction in order to meet specified treatment goals.
What is a treatment plan?
When an adolescent comes to Phoenix Outdoor, the therapist spends a substantial amount of time meeting with them in order to create an individualized treatment plan just for that student. The treatment plan contains agreed upon goals for progress in the program and a mechanism to monitor how students are progressing toward those goals.
How often will I get to talk to my child's therapist?
You will have a weekly scheduled call with your assigned therapist. Teleconferencing is available when both parents cannot be in the same location for their designated call time. Although it is beneficial to have both parents participate together in the weekly call, updates from the therapist can be arranged individually. The therapist will discuss your child's progress and help you take the appropriate steps to create a successful aftercare plan. You will also have access to your therapist's email address and cell phone for questions or concerns that arise throughout the week.
How will I know that my child is ready to graduate from Phoenix Outdoor?
With your assistance, the therapist develops specific and realistic goals for your child at the start of the program. Regular evaluation of your child's progress toward these goals helps determine the length of stay necessary. Students typically graduate within five to seven weeks, although length of stay varies.
What happens in the event of inclement weather?
Wilderness living in western North Carolina is made easier by the mild climate. Inclement weather occasionally impacts our groups in the field. The leadership of the field instructors coupled with high-quality outdoor clothing and equipment makes for a safe experience. We can evacuate our students quickly to base camp in the event of severe weather emergencies. Field instructors are equipped with satellite phones and receive twice daily weather updates and trail condition reports.
Where does my child sleep at night?
At predetermined campsites, students sleep in weatherproof expedition tents using high-quality sleeping bags and ground mats. Groups are outfitted with tarps that can be used to keep wet weather out.
What type of clothing and camping equipment will my child use?
Students are provided sleeping bags, ground pads, an internal frame backpack for treks, and a lightweight pack for day hikes. Though outfitting differs from season to season, our students have top-quality fleece and wool clothing for insulation and waterproof tops and bottoms for raingear. They also receive high-quality hiking boots and camp shoes. Each week, the students receive clean socks and underwear and have their laundry cleaned during their stay at base camp.
How are emergency situations handled?
Our wilderness therapy program is governed by a rigorous risk management policy, and our staff is certified in wilderness medicine and trained in emergency protocols. Contingency plans for evacuation routes and communications difficulties are in place, along with contacts from local agencies that can assist in the event of a field emergency. Our field instructors are equipped with medical supplies to handle field illness and injury, and most have advanced medical certifications.
How do groups in the field communicate with the program staff?
The field instructors are equipped with cell phones, radios, and spare batteries. Instructors can contact our field headquarters at any time. Field instructors are required to make contact with our base camp twice a day, providing reports on student health, group location, and supply needs. The field headquarters' 24-hour dispatch relays vital information to groups such as weather reports.
What type of diet do students have?
How is food delivered to the groups? A certified nutritionist has developed a balanced menu for our groups in the field. Students eat staples of healthy camping foods such as oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly, rice and beans, and pasta. Plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and protein sources are provided weekly. Students are taught how to plan and prepare their own meals, and share the responsibility of cooking for the entire group. Field instructors cook and eat meals with the students and work closely with our Logistics Director to ensure that the food is fresh and amply supplied.
May I visit my child in the field?
Teens do not visit with their families while they are in the field. Phoenix Outdoor believes a brief separation allows students and parents the time necessary to gain a healthier perspective in order to move toward the future. Parents have the opportunity to communicate with their child through letters, an effective way to engage in meaningful discussions. In the event of an emergency or any circumstance that would dictate family involvement, Phoenix will coordinate with parents.
What are the field instructors' qualifications?
Our field instructors have wilderness experience and a history of working with adolescents. All field instructors are trained in first aid and CPR, and our head instructors, who supervise the care of the students, are certified at the Wilderness First Responder or EMT level. The field instructors undergo a rigorous, multi-week training program conducted by the field and clinical departments, ensuring their ability to offer a high quality of service and care to students. They are required to complete criminal background checks and drug screenings prior to employment.
How do I apply?
We suggest that you call the Phoenix Outdoor admissions office and have a conversation with an admissions counselor as the first step. Once we get a preliminary indication that your teenager is an appropriate candidate for the program, we will direct you to fill out the online application.
Alternatively, you may also download the Phoenix Outdoor Student Application Package, fill it out, and email or fax it back to our office for processing.
What information is needed?
In addition to basic family information, Phoenix Outdoor will need to know about the specific behavior(s) your child has exhibited that led you to investigate a wilderness therapy program. A full medical checklist will be given so we can determine your child's fitness for an outdoor environment. Any insight you can provide will help Phoenix Outdoor make an informed decision about what is in the best interests of your child.
When can my teenager be admitted?
Phoenix Outdoor operates year-round, seven days a week. We are prepared to accept students Monday through Friday at our North Carolina base camp, and can also arrange to admit your student on Saturday or Sunday, if needed.
When will I know if my child is accepted into the program?
Phoenix Outdoor realizes there is usually a strong sense of urgency surrounding the placement of a child into our program. Once the application is received, we commit to providing you an answer in most cases within 24 hours or sooner.
Who will be my key contact at Phoenix?
Phoenix Outdoor assigns a Parent Coordinator to answer your questions about the program, handle routine inquiries such as billing and getting medications to your child, and offer support throughout the program. Additionally, the student's therapist will contact parents weekly to give a progress report on their child.
What is the best way to contact Phoenix?
Parent Coordinators can be reached from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM eastern time by calling (877) 305-0904. After hours, Parent Coordinators can be reached via a toll-free RELAY number that will simultaneously call their cell phone and home phone. Therapists work in the North Carolina base camp office and can be reached by dialing (877) 305-0904. Each contact person on the Phoenix team has an email address for routine, non-emergency questions or concerns.
What type of information is in the Parent Guide?
The Parent Guide contains detailed information about all aspects of the Phoenix Outdoor wilderness therapy program for troubled teens. This includes details about the
wilderness experience, equipment for students, the safety design, the dietary plan, our communication process, and a description of daily activities and the therapeutic process. The guide sets expectations for parents about how their child will react to being at Phoenix, what they can expect to experience as parents, and how they will need to communicate with family and friends.
What about the parent support group?
Most families find that the challenges they face in raising their teenager are similar to those in other families. We provide opportunities to discuss those challenges via weekly teleconference sessions that are easily accessed from any location. If you would like to contact one or more of these families for private conversations, Phoenix Outdoor will be happy to facilitate this connection.
How do I access the Parent Connection?
When your student arrives at Phoenix Outdoor, the Parent Coordinator will send information about how to access the Parent Connection portal. From the Phoenix Outdoor website, select "login" and enter the user ID and pass code provided by the Parent Coordinator. You can then see your student's weekly reports, letters, pictures, and treatment plans. The portal is updated weekly with new information.
