Our Program

• Oppositional Behavior
• Substance Use or Abuse
• Impulsive Behavior
• Depression
• AD(H)D
• Anxiety
• Low Self-Esteem
• Family Discord
• School Failure/Expulsion
• Other Self-destructive Behaviors

During each students stay with Reality Trek they have the opportunity to "offer up" any unneeded items as they progress through the programs emotional growth "Rhythms" and learn new skills of self sufficiency. We offer a very strong emotional growth program, incorporating traditional therapeutic treatment and Native American traditions and philosophies. The outdoor setting in the West Desert of Utah, provides our participants with a setting free of typical distractions. These distractions are typically what cause them to lose sight of themselves and those around them..

Reality Trek believes that an outdoor program is a highly effective way to eliminate destructive behavior patterns. We use to our advantage the West Desert terrain that is free from the distractions that normally influence negative behavior in adolescents. Once in the desert our participants learn to respect the land and in turn learn the skills to respect others and themselves. Our program teaches its students how to survive in conjunction with nature while learning the skills to be self-sufficient and respectful.

First - We remove the participant from his or her comfortable surroundings and place them in an unfamiliar environment where they must learn to cooperate with others in their peer group. They also come to understand that advice and assistance from the leaders are a valuable resource. As they learn that cooperation and compliance to rules makes their lives more enjoyable they become receptive to the second element of the program.

Next - Each student begins to work through changes in attitudes towards family, authority and society as a whole. We find that in a very short time students can come to grips with past attitudes and actions that have been destructive elements in their lives. When the student reaches an understanding that his or her behavior is detrimental to his or her well being, he or she becomes amenable to counseling and therapy.

Therapy

Qualified therapists that meet the Utah State License regulations direct Reality Treks therapeutic program. Our therapists have specialized training and expertise in evaluating and treating adolescents that are accepted into the program.

The therapist manages individual caseloads and also supervises the field counselors. The therapists task with the student is to help the student understand, and apply, to his or her self the experiential aspects of the outdoor experience.

To help facilitate change, the therapist will contact the students family weekly to discuss family issues and formulate interventions that will most benefit the student and the entire family. Parental involvement is encouraged while the student is in the program. We have found that parents provide a great deal of insight when it comes to helping their child.

Psycho-Educational testing is available in the field. A highly qualified psychologist provides this service. The testing professional sets fees for Psycho-Educational testing and families will be billed accordingly. Please contact the admissions office for additional information regarding this service.

Our emotional growth "rythms" lead a student down the paths of self discovery from identifying past behaviors all the way to gaining and upholding a leadership position within their clan.

Finally, when a student has graduated from Reality Trek, our after care program is put to work. Phone calls are made weekly to the family/student to keep updated and give encouragement for the first two months. Then calls are made monthly for a year.