Therapeutic Curriculum

Phoenix Outdoor has developed a comprehensive curriculum intended to guide teens through the goals and objectives of their treatment plan. This innovative and unique curriculum features journaling exercises, therapeutic activities, topics for group discussions and exercises that help the students reflect on the impact drugs and alcohol have had on theirlives. The 12 Steps are introduced in the curriculum in order to increase knowledge and understanding of this valuable recovery tool.

Teens in our wilderness treatment program progress through phases that mirror the substance abuse recovery process.

Phase 1
Evaluation: In the initial phase of our teen wilderness camp, students and their parents participate in an extensive evaluation process. This includes substance abuse assessments, clinical assessments, a psycho-social assessment, and an evaluation of the family dynamics as well as the teen’s emotional and behavioral patterns.

Phase 2
Acceptance: This phase focuses on helping adolescents accept their placement in a wilderness program for troubled teens. We facilitate this process by utilizing Motivational Enhancement techniques to challenge denial and help students recognize that drugs and alcohol are having negative consequences in their lives. Students work on Step 1 of the 12 Steps in this phase and begin to work on Step 2. Parents also receive support as they work on exercises to help them accept that they can’t control their child’s substance abuse and to begin to understand what they can do to aid in their child’s recovery process.

Phase 3
Courage: The third phase of our wilderness program is often the hardest and longest phase. This is when the teens are challenged to begin making the changes necessary for their recovery. These changes include resolving old resentments, healing losses/grief issues, learning healthier relationship skills, taking accountability for past behaviors, practicing DBT skills, and exploring how they will make changes in their home environment. Students explore Steps 4 and 5 of the 12 Steps during this phase.

Parents will do similar work during this phase. Family sessions will focus on helping family members change their communication patterns and begin to establish healthy boundaries.

Phase 4
Wisdom: Teens will reach the fourth phase of our wilderness treatment program when they consistently demonstrate healthier communication patterns, relationship skills, emotional regulation and other recovery skills in their interactions with peers and staff as well as in family therapy sessions. The spiritual aspects of recovery take center stage during Phase 4. The focus of family sessions will be on relapse prevention plans and after-care arrangements for the teend and their families.

Phase 5
Phoenix Rising: The fifth and final phase of the Phoenix Outdoor teen wilderness camp is where students begin mentoring their peers, thereby giving back to their community as described in Step 12 of the 12 Steps. Teens have numerous leadership opportunities in this phase to help to solidify their recovery skills.