Aspiro Outdoor Advernture Therapy News

A Culinary Adventure

2010-01-04T09:46:00.001-07:00

By: Liz Stika, Land Use Coordinator

The Aspiro Diet was created with the belief that food is medicine and one of the foundations of a positive experience at Aspiro. With between 3200 and 3500 calories per day, and a variety of foods chosen for their exceptional nutritional value, immune boosting properties and outstanding flavor, the diet incorporates foods that promote the growth of healthy minds as well as healthy bodies. We believe we have created a healthy diet that other outdoor professionals would respect and enjoy. Aspiro believes that learning to prepare and cook delicious meals for oneself can be a rewarding and empowering experience that fits with Aspiro's self-efficacy based model.
The food bags the students receive every week are split into breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and trail mix, and rotate on a three-week schedule. Please see the complete menus for more specific details.

Here are a few testimonials from our students:

“I think the food is very good considering the circumstances under which it is consumed. It's nice to have some form of chocolate every week, and I think there are enough combinations of the food to keep everyone satisfied. I would enjoy more lemonade mix, but other than that the food seems to work well and is exceedingly nutritious.”

-Student

   “Every morning I wake up I get extremely excited for breakfast- it's so good! Plus I'm in love with the vegetarian chili. The food bags here are yummy, healthy and nutritious and I will definitely continue to eat the same foods when I return home."

-Student

The Sublime in Each Other

2009-10-13T16:22:00.006-06:00

By: Michael Escalante, Aspiro Group Program Director

Its early spring of 2003. I’m riding in the middle seat of an old suburban down bumpy unimproved roads in Arizona’s Tonto National forest. The moonlight peeks through pine trees and adds flavor and stark views to our mid night jolting ride. All the “trail walkers,” or field instructors, are talking about how great the week was and how we can’t wait to file into a 24 hour Mexican joint for a seemingly long awaited meal. I’ve just finished my first week on “the trail” and it was unforgettable. I had worked with a girls group. We had made natural fire, caught and ate crawdads and hiked through beautiful streams and canyons. Conversations were inspiring and I was high on life.

Throughout the next week many asked me why the trail was so powerful. I gave a lot of answers, few of which I remember well. None of my answers adequately described what happened on my trail experience.

2 years later I’m serving as a program director for an international service NGO called Mali Rising.

The organization built schools in Mali, West Africa and directed some education-based projects in Guatemala.

After directing a dozen volunteers through the experience of building homes for widowed mothers, I find myself again enjoying inspiring conversation on a bumpy dark plane with a handful of now very close friends.

The experience was unforgettable, even life changing.

I again meet with the question “why was the trip so powerful.”

A year later, while working in a residential treatment center, I find myself frustrated because I can’t seem to produce the same feelings and experiences that happened so freely and naturally on the trail and with my NGO.

I later learned about a concept discussed in the sciences called fractional sublimation. Fractional sublimation refers to the process of stripping away superficial layers of an object until the core, essence, or sublime nature of the object or organism is revealed. Upon hearing the phrase my mind instantly took me to a file of memories in which I felt that I saw the sublime in others as I did on the trail and in Guatemala.

I now lead the Parent Workshop for the Aspiro Group and I have done my best to set it up in a way that can strip its participants of superficial pretense to allow families to see, recognize and appreciate the sublime in each other.

It’s the first morning of the workshop. The parents are hurrying, some running, some walking quickly towards their children. I lean against a pillar under a large awning in St George Utah. The backdrop is incredible.

Tall red rock mesas meet bright blue sky. The Parents have caught children in their arms now and I watch the parents reunite with their children for the first time in their treatment journey. Most of our students come angry with their parents, and yet, most are sincerely happy to see their families.

After a short ice breaker game, I walk the group up to the conference room. The group suddenly seems a little bigger now that I’m front and center. After giving a run down of the day I invite the participants to try to focus on applying the content of the workshop to themselves rather than focusing on how the content applies to everyone else in the family. The remark is met with warm laughs, probably because the statement rings true.

The workshop begins by exploring the implications of accusing emotions. I share examples from my marriage, family, and work relationships to illustrate that whenever I engage in blaming my problems on others, I simultaneously excuse, justify, or perhaps, even blind myself to my own shortcomings. This predicament has devastating implications. Imagine a parent that attributes the majority of the familial tension to the decisions and behaviors of a spouse or child, while the same child focuses on his parents’ shortcomings and refuses to see how his actions compare in magnitude to the mistakes of his parents. These accusing emotions not only halt family progress, they also exacerbate any present problems as each individual continues to make worse and worse decisions while justifying them by focusing on the problems of the other.

Throughout the day families are broken into small groups and coached through the process of reviewing failed patterns of communication and other failed attempts to solve problems. These small breakout groups have the potential to be disastrous so I am sure to stress the importance of communicating honestly and sensitively with the intent to help and not to hurt. I personally believe that most often people rise to the level of expectation put upon them. This is certainly the case at the parent workshop. While most families struggle to engage in productive dialogue at the beginning of the day, I find that most families are really able to recognize their part in conflict and experience a desire to make things better by working on themselves. It is inspiring to watch the layers of blaming emotions peel away as families start to see more of the beauty in themselves and each other.

We end the day by preparing everyone for a rock climbing and rappelling trip the next day. A few eyes bulge as I talk about the following day’s activities and from the look on their faces I know I’m going to need a few minutes just with the parents. After parents and children say goodbye for the evening, I offer to address any questions or concerns. Most parents don’t hesitate to take me up on my offer, in fact a few make it known that they will not be participating in anything to do with a rope, a cliff and gravity. We talk about the value of acknowledging and facing fear. We discuss the value of stepping out of our comfort zones. I remind them that many of their children have said the same things and made the same faces at me. It clicks with a few.

Others look unconvinced and we say goodbye.

The morning of the second day I arise at 6:00am. After a rush to shower and get out the door, I head straight to the parking lot outside the conference room to await some anxious parents. They start to trickle in only minutes after I show up. There is often the couple that says nothing… asks nothing… and avoids eye contact with me. There is often the mother or father who asks question after question. “Again, how often do you check the ropes… and who is setting them up?... Do they really know what they are doing?” There is the eager parent, the stubborn parent, the friendly parent, all gathered together on an early weekend morning, in an unfamiliar place to climb and rappel some basalt-stone cliffs. Everyone is here now and we file in to our cars and make the drive to Crawdad Canyon.

We arrive and parents and children embrace over a light breakfast. A chorus of interesting, yet typical, side conversations compete for my attention as I spread the schmear on my jalapeno cheese bagel. Afterwards our field director Jodi leads everyone over to the cliff side for some climbing instruction. I’m familiar with her spiel… she talks about the strength of the equipment, the importance of the belayer/climber relationship and a little about the technique of climbing. The sound of her voice takes the background as I watch the faces of parents during Jodi’s instruction. There is inevitably a parent or two with the “you’re kidding me…” face.

Sometimes I even detect the “uh-uh… no way!” face. I laugh inside… I imagine inviting my own mother rock climbing and grin at her “my-son-the-idiot expression.” I love today. I love watching what comes next.

Over the next few hours something special and something authentic happens. Sometimes it happens while on a climb, or sometimes on a rappel. There comes a point in climbing when every move begins to feel hard, maybe too hard, and you don’t know what to do next. If you’re anything like me then you’ll find your mind racing, yet stuck on a small circular track formed of a few self-defeating thoughts. Suggestions are given from the ground.

“Relax and breathe deeply” or “there is another hold, a better hold, only inches from where you currently are”. I find it interesting that these suggestions are almost always met with a frustrated resistance; and all energies go into providing reasons why such feedback is irrelevant, unattainable, or otherwise not useful, rather than on bettering their current situation. Despite the awkward tension between climber and coaches during the charged exchange, I love these moments. I know what’s happening because I’ve been there before, the mind perceives an impasse. Yet something special happens when we pass over a perceived impasse.

We feel fresh, powerful, and yet surprisingly humble, fully aware that others witnessed our struggle. So it goes with the rock climbing. I watch the stuck climber fight through his self-defeating thoughts until he reluctantly listens to the advice offered. As he does so, his vantage point changes if but slightly. New solutions and new options come to light. Efficacy is built as he slowly and more confidently inches towards the top of the climb.

All the while peeling away layers of the superficial to arrive at the top, and then the bottom, a little more himself… more authentic.

Throughout the morning I watch children coaching and encouraging their parents. I see a lot of hugs, high fives, and pictures. That doesn’t mean there aren’t families that really struggle throughout the process, but it makes the workshop all the more dynamic and provides me and the clinical team with concrete scenarios to process and work with.

After a packed morning we head off to lunch. Families eat together and this is my time with staff to enjoy a good meal and some laughs.

After Lunch we head back to the conference room and I divide up the group: Moms in one group, Dads in another, students in another and guides and therapist in the last. Each group has some time to connect and they are asked to write and perform an entertaining skit that teaches/comments on some of the principles that have been learned over the last two days. The skits are great and its nice to see everyone goof around a little and yet share some of their personal insight on the content of the workshop.

We end with a slideshow comprised of pictures of the students throughout their stay at Aspiro… Pictures of rappelling arches, navigating slot canyons, mountain biking and rock climbing, and a few of the parent workshop taken that very morning. I find myself impressed at the end of each workshop at the journey these families go through.

Afterwards parents and children hug, maybe cry a little, maybe laugh a little and they go their separate ways.

It feels like I’ve known everyone a lot longer than two days.

As I reflect on what makes Aspiro a powerful experience many answers come to mind. But from my experience there is nothing as deeply moving and meaningful as the process of watching individuals and families strip away layers of the superficial to reveal something more fundamental and authentic. Families that see the sublime in each other invite and sustain the sublime in each other.

Aspiro has managed to grow and out- perform last year’s numbers

2009-05-31T16:42:00.005-06:00

Although this economy has been difficult, Aspiro has managed to grow and out- perform last year’s numbers.

2009 YTD admissions are up by 16% over 2008. We feel blessed to be in the position we are, and appreciate your confidence in our work. As a team, we wish to thank all of our many supporters and friends. We look forward to working with your families through the summer, and beyond.

Aspiro operates year-round and application for admission may take place at any time.

Appropriate candidates are adolescent males and females, ages 13-17, and young adults, ages 18 to 30 years of age, with a history of moderate to soft behavioral and emotional challenges and problems

ADMISSIONS - Please Call - 1-888-266-5136

Begin With The End in Mind

2009-03-30T10:33:00.003-06:00

By Justin Robinson, Aspiro Clinical Director

Recently I attended my grandfather’s funeral and while I was very saddened by his passing, my prevailing emotion surrounding his death was a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for his influence on me; Gratitude for the family traditions he helped established; Gratitude for his example; Gratitude for the legacy he left.

When the sadness crept in it was due to my realization that I could have done more to get to know him.

Listening to the speakers at his funeral, I was inspired and felt committed to better following his example.

My grandpa was a very respected orthodontist. People came from all over the world to consult, observe and learn the techniques he was pioneering which he freely shared at no cost with all who would come yet he avoided the spotlight and recognition for his accomplishments. My grandpa’s commitment was not to personal gain but rather on providing the best possible service to his patients. Through this commitment he was driven to find new and better ways to help his patients achieve what they wanted. His philosophy that guided his work and helped to shape his techniques was to begin with the end in mind.

Grandpa had a way of looking at people. He had a way of looking at the faces of his patients seeing beyond their immediate appearance regardless of how mangled the mouth or how crooked the teeth, and viewing the potential that lay within. By seeing the potential and not just the present problems or flaws, I believe it opened my grandpa’s eyes to the solutions. Grandpa was able to hold this vision in his mind’s eye as a guide in the work he was doing for them, even inspiring him to develop new techniques that were revolutionary in the field.

After the funeral as I pondered this philosophy I made the connection that grandpa’s legacy expands far beyond the field of orthodontia. As I reflected I realized that it is when I am living true to grandpa’s way of seeing people that I am most effective in my life. In my work as a therapist, when I successfully see beyond the current problems and hold a vision of the future, it helps guide my interactions with the individual. I believe the positive energy associated with that vision is at times felt by the individuals I am helping and helps them to believe and buy in to the interventions I am prescribing. I do believe that seeing others this way helps me to assist them in finding the solutions and paths that will help them overcome their problems and challenges to reach their potential.

All too often I encounter people discouraged, worn out, and frustrated by the trials they are facing.

The problems they are facing seem so large that at times it feels impossible to for them see anything but the problem. But if all we are seeing is the mangled mouth and the crooked teeth I believe we miss out on the insights that only come when we are looking at life from a very different perspective. I would like to challenge anyone desiring to invite change to apply my grandpa’s philosophy of beginning with the end in mind.

Reconnect with the good in that person, find the vision of future potential and hold onto it no matter how different the present reality may be. Trust that when you are seeing a person this way, they will feel a difference and likely respond differently to you. Trust that by holding this vision of the person in your heart and mind this future perspective will help you see more clearly how to interact in a way that will invite and create the changes you are hoping for.

Momentumby by Aspiro, Summer Program

2009-03-25T09:04:00.003-06:00

(Mt. Pleasant, UT) Momentum by Aspiro is a multi-element course that travels from the red rock canyons of Southern Utah to grand peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

This is a one-time, 28 day adventure for boys and girls ages 13-17, and begins on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 (In Salt Lake City).

Momentum by Aspiro is ideal for participants who have completed any outdoor program and are progressing well. Students must be willing to participate and will submit a short essay outlining why they want to participate in this extraordinary adventure. Momentum is for students who would benefit from a non-clinical program, high on adventure, leadership skills and strategies for further personal growth.

The Course includes canyoneering, technical canyoneering, rock climbing, kayaking or rafting, mountaineering, mountain biking and more.

"Students had a phenomenal experience last year, said Josh Watson, Admissions Director, we are excited to once again provide a powerful growth experience for appropriate participants.

For further information and a link to our application, please visit www.momentumadventure.org, or call Josh Watson at 888-266-5136

The Aspiro Group of programs are short-term Wilderness Adventure Therapy (WAT) programs for adolescents ages 13-17 and young adults (Aspiro, Kairos and Vantage Point). Programs meet the needs of a broad range of concerns and challenges. Please see our website www.aspiroprograms.com for further information.

Jessi Irvin Joins Aspiro Group

2009-03-24T22:52:00.004-06:00

For Immediate Release
March 24, 2009

(Mount Pleasant, UT) Aspiro is pleased to announce the hiring of Jessi Irvin as a therapist in our unique Wilderness Adventure Therapy (WAT) model.

Our management team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a respected, outstanding therapist, said Brian Church, Vice President, Business Development.

"Jessi will play a major role in our continued growth as a program, and is a wonderful addition to our clinical team."

"I felt very connected to and welcomed by everyone I met there," said Irvin. "I love the adventure component as a means for challenging kids to look at their patterns, while giving them an opportunity to increase their confidence and push themselves outside of their comfort zone. I'm excited to interact w/ students and share in their adventures. I like the structure, coupled with the flexibility in my role as a therapist to coordinate a student's program based on their needs and those of their family. I'm also excited about the strong parent involvement, which I've so come to appreciate in my work at Three Rivers Montana. It's important to have the support of parents while their kids are away and also necessary, I believe, to have them involved in doing their own work and work as a family if there is to be true, lasting change."

"I worked at Three Rivers for nearly three years and have loved working with kids and families in the wilderness," said Irvin. "I feel very comfortable in that role, along with the expectations related to working with consultants and attending conferences. I enjoy the opportunity to network and meet people face-to-face, since so much work is done over the phone. There's an intimacy that comes with this work we do in this industry that really fits for me. I've also maintained a very small private practice while at Three Rivers and have enjoyed working with adolescents and young adults in transition. Prior to working at Three Rivers, I was a therapist at a few local, community-based counseling clinics. While there, I worked with a broad spectrum of clients, including families, adults, couples, young children and adolescents facing a wide variety of challenges."

Jessi will be moving to Utah, from Montana, over the next month, and will begin taking on a case load the first week of May. Please join us in welcoming Jessi to Aspiro.

Business Office: (801) 349-2740 | Toll Free - 888-266-5136

Has your troubled teen recently changed to a negative peer group?

2009-03-22T15:36:00.004-06:00

Are they struggling with issues of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, or low self-esteem?

Aspiro can help.

Aspiro's solution-oriented, wilderness adventure therapy program works. We blend the best of adventure with effective and proven therapeutic processes.

Your troubled teen experiences the highest standards of safety and therapy in one of the most beautiful and powerful settings for real change.

Aspiro engages students in character development as well as working to resolve family and personal issues and preparing each student for the next best step.

Does your troubled teen need Aspiro? Read our student profile and then give us a call at 888-266-5136.

Aspiro serves young men and women ages 13 to 17 and young adults' ages 18 to 30 years old.

Please call to see if Aspiro is an appropriate program for your troubled teen or young adult.

Aspiro 1-888- 266-5136 or (801) 349-2740

Randy Oakley, CEO of Aspiro, will be a guest on "Answers for the Family" with Allen Cardoza

2009-03-08T11:34:00.004-06:00

Randy Oakley, CEO of Aspiro, will be a guest on "Answers for the Family" with Allen Cardoza

Coming up March 16th.

Aspiro is a solution-oriented, wilderness adventure therapy program for at-risk teens. Ever since Randy started working in the industry of "at-risk" teens, he has dreamed of founding a state-of-the-art program to help teenagers in need. Aspiro engages students in character development as well as working to resolve family and personal issues and preparing each student for the next best step.

Aspiro serves young men and women ages 13 to 17 and young adults' ages 18 to 30 years old.
LATalkRadio.com . "Answers for the Family" was born of a desire to help guide parents to professional resources as they face critical moments with their children. Aspiro 1-888- 266-5136 or (801) 349-2740

Self-Efficacy And Thinking Errors

2009-01-27T13:29:00.006-07:00

By Dan LeMaire, Assistant Field Director

“…Men of the modern world exist in continual and flagrant antagonism between their consciences and their way of life”. I have recently been swept into a great internal adventure as I study the lives of non-violent social reformers. It came as a surprise to me that reformers of the 20th century such as Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as many others, have a common history in their studies of Leo Tolstoy. Tolstoy is a novelist, philosopher and educational reformer who lived and worked in the late 1800s and it was he who penned the quote above. It was Tolstoy’s postulation that we live in a constant tension between what we know we should be, what we think we can be, and what we think we are.

Many of the friends I meet at Aspiro, in the form of peer guides and in the form of students arrive in this state.

In so many ways, I feel closer to them for it… because it is a way of being that I share. I do not think that living in this state indicates any sort of moral failure, at least not more than anyone else. The only way to truly be exactly what we think we should be at all times is if we are perfect. However, I have seen unhealthy and healthy ways of resolving this tension. It would stand to reason that if we feel a sense that we ought to be something better than what we are, that we ought to be more fit, more kind, more generous, more hard-working, etc., that this tension would make us uncomfortable. This discomfort can motivate us to excel and to become better, but it does not always. There are easier ways to resolve this tension. If we seek to close the gap between ‘how good’ we think we are, and ‘how good’ we think we ought to be, it is very difficult to simply be better. It is much easier to convince ourselves that the concept of ‘how good’ we ought to be is simply an illusion. If our moral sense is an illusion, then it absolves us of our responsibility to work toward it.

If we cannot bring our behavior up to the standard of our morals, then we will bring our morals down to the standard of our behavior. It can sometimes take years of dialogue with ourselves and crafty manipulation to convince ourselves that we need not be as great as we think we ought to be. This is where our third category comes from. It is the category of self-efficacy, or 'what we think we can be'. Before attempting any task of any kind, our minds will always go through a process of deciding if the task is worth the effort. If there is a high likelihood of success, and relatively small cost, we are likely to attempt the task. If there is either too high of a cost, or simply no belief that we can accomplish the task, we are unlikely to attempt the task.

Being an accomplished skier, I enjoy skiing very difficult and steep backcountry slopes. I must minimize the risks of avalanche, tumbles, and equipment failure in order to do this successfully. I will carefully measure snow stability across the span of months, carefully tune and prepare my equipment, choose my team or partner carefully, and spend hours picking my specific path down the mountain and committing it to memory.

Because I have done all these things so many times, and have been successful each time, I have little hesitation when I am standing on top of the slope, looking down, preparing to drop in. My wife, on the other hand, has skied only a few hours in her life. Simply standing on her skis on the gentlest of slopes without me nearby to help can immobilize her in terror. If she were to stand at the top of the same mountain that I was standing on, she would simply be unable to progress any further. She would be unwilling to accept the risk of failure. My self-efficacy is much stronger than her self-efficacy as it regards backcountry skiing.

Whether the task is skiing, homework, business, making friends, quitting smoking, or interacting positively with parents, we will only choose to accept the challenge and engage in the task if we believe we can be successful. If the cost is too high for us, we will simply choose to believe that we cannot possibly accomplish the task. There is a constant tension between what we think we ought to be, what we think we can be, and what we think we are. An unhealthy way of resolving this tension is to simply lower the standards or 'what we think we ought to be', or to lower the standards of 'what we think we can be', to match 'what we think we are'.

I have heard students at Aspiro tell me that they simply cannot get along with their parents, that they would rather live on the streets. Because they do not believe in the possibility of success, they choose to believe that the only option they have left is to live on the streets, to give up.

There are more academic ways of describing these conditions. 'What we think we ought to be' is called morality, spirituality, or ambition. 'What we think we can be' is called our self-efficacy. 'What we think we are' is known as our self-concept. Thinking errors in each of these areas are addressed at Aspiro, and I believe this is one of our many keys to success.

When a student lacks ambition, or ignores moral impulses they have, there can be a lot of shame and sadness associated with it. One can begin to look pretty cold, hard, and cruel pretty quickly in this state. Bridges are often burned in the family and and it is hard even to have the motivation to like each other or continue trying.

Yet, the environment can become so surreal, so magical, so difficult sometimes at Aspiro, that all the rules change. Things that seemed distasteful before now seem desirable. Relationships that seemed lost begin to feel missed. We journal, we talk, we have community, and we share great epic adventures together until suddenly we find ourselves wanting to be better than we ever have before. Where before we felt no desire to overcome, to be better, to do whatever it takes to love, accomplish, and to grow, suddenly we begin to Aspire.

This is what it means to experience Aspiro.

When a student lacks confidence, there is a deep sadness and feelings of failure associated with it.

Sometimes it feels like one can never be good enough. Often because of learning disabilities, difficult family situations, loss, or negative peer groups, a student comes to us feeling as if they have never succeeded at anything. Sometimes they feel as if they never can succeed, that they are born destined to be unhappy and destined to feel distant and left out of their families and communities. It is difficult to feel this way for long at Aspiro. The community is supportive and goes to great lengths to notice and reward every success. We are confronted with challenges such as rock climbing, river rafting, skiing, and rappelling that change us in deep and powerful ways. Once we have completed that one difficult climb, that one scary rappel, that one roaring rapid, it is hard to ignore the feeling of power and success that comes as a result of that. It is hard to continue believing that we are destined to be unhappy or destined to be unsuccessful. Where before we had no confidence, no belief that we could accomplish great things, suddenly we begin to aspire. This is what it means to experience Aspiro.

When a student sees themselves different than they truly are, when they make choices that reflect a lack of understanding of the world around them, or lack of empathy, there can be enormous frustration associated with it. It can feel like they are trying very hard but going nowhere. Many of the tactics they try do not turn out as they expect. Sometimes a student will perceive themselves as less valuable, less loved, less important than they truly are. Other times they will see themselves as the center of attention, as the only one of value in the room, the only one worthy of notice. At Aspiro we have a culture of unconditional love that trickles from staff to students and their peers. But this unconditional love does not mean unconditional attention.

Our students learn to understand that we love them deeply regardless of their past and are only interested in their success and growth. However, they are not the center of the universe and others have needs as relevant, real, and pressing as their own. When we can feel unconditionally loved, but redirected to focus on serving others around us, it is my belief that we are freed then to act in love and to see ourselves as we really are. Where before we had a misdirected sense of how to get the attention we need, or an underestimated sense of value about ourselves, we begin to grow a new respect for our power, our influence, and our ability to sacrifice for others. We learn that we are capable of so much more, capable of changing the world, capable of growing our families and communities. We learn to aspire. This is the Aspiro experience.

Awesome Quote

2009-01-27T09:14:00.003-07:00

By: Brian Church, V.P. Business Development

A very good friend of mine passed this quote along a couple of weeks ago. I love it because it is so descriptive of what students and employees experience at all of the Aspiro programs. This quote is a perfect precursor to our next blog entry by Dan LeMaire which will be posted later today or tomorrow. I thought I would share it with all for your enjoyment:

"Everest is a pressure cooker that forces us into rigorous self-examination. Part of Everest's magic rests in the painful reality we find inside us. Everest exposes things about ourselves we often successfully hide at more reasonable altitudes."

"The larger question is ultimately, will we hide from our new self-knowledge, or will we change and grow from it? Most searingly difficult experiences are like this. They are characterized by pain and loss, achievement and gain. The only guarantee of failure comes from our refusal to grow from our new self knowledge."

--Alan Hobsen

A Shifting Paradigm

2009-01-20T09:00:00.003-07:00

By: Josh Watson, LMSW

“Change” seems to be the nation’s mantra as we welcome a new year with open arms. We are a nation that is constantly evolving based on several factors associated with things like technology, environment, family dynamics, disease, political decisions, and economic conditions. These are obviously just a few examples of issues that trigger change and require adaptation on more of a global scale. However, as a therapist in the private treatment sector I must not ignore best practice methods that are consistently changing to meet the needs of struggling teens and families.

More specifically, I am a therapist by trade, but I am also a minority owner and Director of Admissions for the Aspiro Group of Programs. Aspiro is a very innovative and clinically sophisticated, outdoor program that provides a strong emphasis on adventure therapy to targeted groups of adolescents and young adults. One of the primary reasons we created Aspiro was to address the ongoing needs that are constantly changing for teens and families. These needs are a direct reflection of the issues we deal with on a global scale that I made reference to earlier. One of our mantras at Aspiro has been to “think outside of the box.”

This is not only something our staff does internally, we also teach our students and families to do the same thing. Rigid thinking patterns often create frustration and power struggles, even between individuals that care for each other.

Traditional outdoor treatment programs or “wilderness programs” have been around for many years.

Focusing on primitive living skills, behavioral modification, and self-reflection, these programs have been successful in changing the individual behavior of adolescents. However, at Aspiro, we do not believe that is good enough to address the issues we face in today’s society. When Aspiro was created over three years ago it was determined that new treatment modalities needed to be implemented to not only address the individual student behavior, but also the behavior of the entire family system. In essence, a paradigm shift was created in the private sector of outdoor treatment programs. Yes, I understand that families have had some interaction, primarily after eight or twelve weeks of separation from their child, in traditional outdoor programs, however, we feel it is important to consistently involve the family throughout the entire process.

At Aspiro, we also understand the value of family separation for a period of time. However, family reunification and/or relationship cohesion is the ultimate goal whenever possible. By ignoring the family system throughout the outdoor treatment process we are actually doing harm to the child. Research on family development shows that changes in family life-cycle patterns have escalated dramatically over the last decade. According to two family system’s experts, Betty Carter and Monica McGoldrick, we can attribute this family developmental change to factors such as lower birth rate, longer life expectancy, the changing role of women, very high divorce and remarriage rates, the rise of unmarried motherhood, unmarried couples, single-parent adoptions, the increased visibility of gay and lesbian couples and families, and the increase in two paycheck marriages to the point where they are the American norm. We must not ignore these changes that are occurring in families all over the country and we must address them accordingly.

This paradigm shift to increase family involvement throughout the outdoor treatment process was not met without some criticism. However, all changing paradigms are confronted with questions and concern…as they should be. The most repetitive concern that was expressed on multiple occasions was that “students will manipulate their parents into withdrawing them early from the program.”

Aspiro has served over 500 families in three years. Out of those families, only one has withdrawn their child due to manipulation prior to treatment termination. Based on ongoing success and positive feedback from families and relevant professionals, treating the whole family is necessary in today’s society. The paradigm shift has been increasingly embraced by other private programs in the outdoor treatment sector.

However many programs and treating professionals still base their approach to struggling teens on old mythological patterns of the traditional family system. Carter and McGoldrick go on to say that it is absolutely imperative that therapists and treating professionals at least recognize the extent of change and variations in the norm that are now widespread and that we help families to stop comparing their structure and life-cycle course with that of the family of the 1950’s.

While relationship patterns and family themes may continue to sound familiar, the structure, ages, stages, and culture of the American family have changed radically. It is time for us professionals to give up our attachments to the old ideals and to put a more positive, conceptual frame around what has become evident in today’s society.

Inviting Openness

2009-01-08T16:33:00.003-07:00

By: Mike Escalante, Program Director

I started working for a wilderness therapy program in 2003. When I began, I think only the “wilderness” part of wilderness therapy had caught my attention. I instantly fell in love with the job as it entailed hanging out with a bunch of guys in a beautiful Arizona mountain landscape. As time went on, I worked for other programs and became more and more aware of the “therapy” side. I became introduced to a variety of therapeutic theories and intervention modalities focused on facilitating change. Some of these theories interested me and others felt hokey or even oppressive.

By the time I worked for my third program, I honestly felt flooded in a sea of information and theories about “change” that oftentimes seemed to miss the mark. One theory seemed to contradict another while others seemed to be a lexical reorganization of yet other theories. After years of working with youth and implementing a whole gamut of interventions, I discovered a fundamental and necessary component of “change”. Stated simply, I learned that seeds of growth can only take root in a person when he is open to the idea of growth. I realized that each student I work with had to come to a place in their heart and mind where they were at peace with a successful outcome. When students found this open place, seeds of change could be planted and cultivated.

After making my long overdue discovery, a few things became apparent. When at war emotionally with others, we excuse ourselves from our negative behaviors. Therefore, accusing is almost always accompanied with excusing. In other words, if a student is focused on how she has been wronged by her parents and program staff than she will naturally accuse others of warped perception and excuse her actions in the interplay. Terry Warner eloquently explains this paradigm in his masterpiece The Bonds That Make us Free.

These realizations fostered a significant change in the way I viewed my role. As a caregiver, mentor or guide, my greatest challenge and responsibility was to invite my students to an open place. Openness, I have found, is the only foundation that supports the weight of lasting change. Of course my realization was not accompanied by a universal equation for eliciting openness. Rather, my realization has helped me develop a new focus and realize that my invitation must come from a place of personal openness and peace.

Fortunately, I found Aspiro, or Aspiro found me.

Aspiro is an organization that actively seeks to instill a sense of openness in its employees and students.

Furthermore, Aspiro explicitly invites openness with our students’ families during our family workshop.

It has been awesome to see parents and children drop their accusing and excusing emotions and hence regain the ability to see themselves and others clearly.

Now, as the program director for Aspiro, I get to work closely with guides and clinicians in training and program development. I am constantly astounded at the simple ways our field guides and clinical staff touch the lives of the students we work with.Throughout the years I have studied many therapeutic theories that have appropriate application to our work, yet none of them have the power to foster change if the person most in need of change is at war with the idea. My invitation to all of my employees, as well as to anyone who works in our important industry, is to free ourselves as much as we can from accusing and excusing emotions so that we can invite the same in our students.

Why We Still Work for Aspiro...

2009-01-04T19:52:00.003-07:00

By Jodi Escalante, Assistant Program Director

I never would have guessed that my husband, Michael and I would still be working at Aspiro. When we first heard about Aspiro, we had only been married about 6 months. We were both attending college and thought this would be a fun summer job, where we would get to work together. We had both worked in traditional wilderness programs before, but never together.

And just to sound cliché, we started an adventure that we’ve yet to end.

That first summer was truly amazing: canoeing on beautiful Lake Powell, exploring the majestic slot canyons of Central and Southern Utah, exploring caves and rappelling, rock climbing all across the state, and hiking through the most beautiful areas that I never knew existed.

In the fall, we returned to school to finish our undergraduate studies, but every weekend we traveled out to our groups and trained the newer guides.

When Michael and I graduated (April 2007), we returned to Aspiro full time because we were hooked.

As noted earlier, we had both worked for primitive model wilderness programs. However, after working at Aspiro neither of us could imagine working at a wilderness program without the ADVENTURE. We pushed our students harder, faster, and farther than either of us had previously experienced.

Since that first summer at Aspiro I have embarked on so many beautiful and amazing adventures and have built some unforgettable relationships with students.

I guess that’s my other favorite thing about Aspiro we emphasize stronger relationships than the norm.

Given the high impact adventures, we have an amazing opportunity to help someone through a physically or emotionally challenging experience, to push them beyond their comfort zone to higher ground. And when the dust settles and the high fives and hugs are done, and they’ve overcome their seemingly impassible struggles, we learn from the metaphors; teacher and student alike.

Philosophy of Bouldering - The Project

2008-12-29T12:32:00.005-07:00

One of the experiences that Aspiro provides year-round for its participants is the sport of bouldering.

Bouldering is a form of rock climbing where the athlete climbs only as high as it is safe to fall, but does not use a rope. Instead, guides and peers use gymnastic ‘spotting’ techniques and specially-designed ‘crash pads’ to keep the athletes safe. Boulderers typically climb on boulders instead of cliffs, eliminating the risk of rock fall from above, and adding the reward of being able to stand on top of the ‘conquered’ climb and rest.

Routes that boulderers climb are called ‘problems’ and usually consist of only a few (usually 6-12) moves that are much more challenging than typical rock climbing, and often much more gymnastic. Bouldering can be at once frustrating and engaging, overwhelming and peaceful, painful and comforting, social and individual.

The glory of bouldering is that the greatest experiences are intimately related to the worst experiences.

The highs depend on the lows. In bouldering, a successful climb is simply not rewarding unless it is a successful climb that was fought for. The more difficult a problem is for a boulderer, the more she must fight for the climb, and the more she fights for the climb, the greater the thrill when she stands on top of the boulder, basking in the overwhelming sensations of victory. Of course to achieve this reward, she must outlast a wilderness of despair, as she second-guesses and doubts her strength at every fall, fall after fall.

The blessing and the curse of such a sport, is that no problem is impossible, but nearly every problem is improbable. At Aspiro, we seek to engage every staff and student in the ‘Project Experience’. Boulderers of all levels, when they arrive at a new area, use guidebooks, ratings, and word of mouth to find the problems that seem most appropriate for their skill level. Much of their time is spent familiarizing themselves with the style of climbing in the area, and the relative scale of difficulty ratings. In every case, however, what the climber is really seeking is “The Project”.

The Project is the one climb that he cannot climb the first day, the first week, or even the first month. When he feels the first holds, he believes it is impossible. Yet there is a beauty to this problem- it calls out to him and invites him in. At first he tries it and it confirms to him that he will need to return another time, 3 years maybe, 5 years maybe, to climb it. It confirms to him that he is simply not strong enough, determined enough, or resilient enough to attempt it yet. Maybe later.

As he climbs other problems around it, he successfully completes the easier problems in 1, 2 or even 5 tries.

It feels good, and he is proud of himself, but still the Project calls to him. Eventually he cannot ignore it and he gives it his first real attempt. Rejection!! Further confirmation that this climb is not possible for him, he is not good enough, not ready. He is conflicted inside, he does not want to experience rejection again, but he wants to climb the project. He throws himself at the project again, despite his conflicting feelings. A cycle of enthusiastic attempts and disheartening rejections follows until finally, the climber tries the first move, and it feels different… he understands it differently.

“If I only squeeze this muscle this way, balance on my toe this way, and throw my body skyward exactly this way… perhaps it is possible,” he thinks to himself.

And then success comes. He can do the first move. Thrilled over such an accomplishment, the climber invites her friends to come watch, throws herself at the project and the project dismisses her once again.

She is finally beginning to understand the curse of a sport that seemed so fun and so relaxing just an hour ago.

No matter how much effort she puts into the first move of a problem, and even when she finally figures it out and understands it, she must still climb that first move and put all the same energy into it every time she gets on the problem, if she ever wants a chance to climb the second move. It does not become suddenly easy because you succeeded once. Likewise, it does not become suddenly harder because you have failed once.

The rock is constant, we are the ones who change. To overcome the problem, we must not change the problem without- that is never enough. We must change the problem within. The cycles of overwhelming success and victory, and crushing defeat are very normal in the sport of bouldering. As professional boulderers exist in all sizes and shapes, one can guess that external strength, height, weight, age, or natural abilities do not determine a successful climber, or how much one falls in love with the sport. It seems obvious with even a little experience, that success is determined by strength of heart, not strength of arm. It is what is inside that counts. It is the climber’s ability to accept any failure as temporary, to accept failure as little more than a stepping stone to her goals that determines whether or not she will succeed. As guides at Aspiro, we strive to make this process happen at least once for every student, staff, and visitor in the field. It is more than a hope, it is an expectation. One can watch professional climbers work projects for years before success.

This resolve is a quality that we admire at Aspiro. We hope to build a community and an environment that supports opens doors- a place where we can test our resolve and even grow it.

As staff and students at Aspiro, we share a unique season of therapy. It is a season of challenge, frustration, overwhelming accomplishment, and deep respect for each other’s struggles. It is a therapy we share.

Staff refuse to be ‘teachers’ who have all the answers that the students must absorb. Staff instead become teachers who inspire passion, craft experiences, and share burdens. We grow to love and hate bouldering as it begins to represent both our victories, and our unfinished projects.

We return with excitement and trepidation. We learn to guide each other through the experience, provide the community of support, and be the invisible force that helps each other to succeed. And of course, we all have the opportunity to see ourselves overcome, to engage in a contest that is both against ourselves and greater than ourselves, and to experience the ultimate rush, the goal of all boulderers, The Project.

Dan LeMaire

Seventh shave completing The Seven Shaves Of Christmas

2008-12-25T09:32:00.007-07:00

Attached is Justin’s seventh shave completing The Seven Shaves Of Christmas. It is worth seeing both pictures as Justin wanted to finish with a bang and we bet no one is expecting this.

Be sure to join in the festivities next year so begin growing your beards at least by the day after Thanksgiving – shaving of the head is optional.

Have a very Merry Christmas

The Shave of Christmas Continues

2008-12-24T12:08:00.009-07:00

On the fifth day of Christmas Justin gave to his kids, wife, co-workers and friends .......

And ...... For those of you who are staying true to the cause ... I thought I would give you a break and include some background in this one. If you don't recognize the backdrop it is Delicate Arch in Arches National Park where we visited with the students yesterday and enjoyed a fun holiday party.

The Fourth Shave of Christmas

2008-12-22T16:22:00.002-07:00

If you think going to the Christmas party produced a lot of strange looks, you can only imagine what it was like going to church yesterday. With only four shaves left it will only get better. News of Justin’s holiday tradition is spreading. Please feel free to post both supportive comments for me or mocking comments for Justin.

On the third shave of Christmas my true love went with me to our children’s Christmas party...."

2008-12-21T15:24:00.002-07:00

Look at the photo and then imagine if you will going to the children’s Christmas party with him. Many of those in attendance are only acquaintances who by the looks on their faces clearly notice the oddity of Justin’s facial hair but are unsure what to say about it so they try (many unsuccessfully) to divert their stares, ignoring the elephant in the room.

Finally one of my friends comments, “Justin sure has a unique beard.” I think that was a polite way to say it is just ... ummmmm!!

The Seven Shaves of Christmas - Day Two

2008-12-21T15:19:00.003-07:00

We appreciate all the comments and empathy. The saga continues with day two - The Second Shave of Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

The Seven Shaves of Christmas

2008-12-21T15:08:00.009-07:00

Last year after sporting a beard for over a year, Justin decided he was ready to go back to being a good clean shaven boy but was not ready to go cold turkey. So between Christmas and New Years he shaved it off one step at a time, making it very uncomfortable for family and anyone else seen in public with him. This year, for reasons I can’t seem to grasp, Justin decided to make this torturous experience part of his holiday tradition.

Due to overspending on our home’s remodel, and my fall down the stairs which caused us to cancel our photo shoot (no worries, I am fine now) rather than having a nice Christmas card with a professional done family photo, our gift to you is sharing this week of “The Seven Shaves of Christmas.”

With some hesitancy I share Justin’s invitation for others to join him in this tradition next year. With a little support he believes this could become a world wide phenomenon and special part of many families’ holiday traditions for years to come. Please feel free to respond with any suggestions for the next day’s shave.

Merry Christmas from the Robinsons

Spotlight: Clinical Director, Justin Robinson

2008-12-18T16:52:00.005-07:00

Justin has been with Aspiro since its inception in April of 2006. Justin brought with him a wealth of experience.

His undergraduate degree is in Recreation Therapy and his Masters Degree is in Social Work. Justin has been working with adolescents for about twelve years in a variety of settings and capacities.

Justin started in the field as a live-in counselor at a Therapeutic Boarding School.

Shortly after getting married Justin and his wife spent a year working as home parents in a group home. He then worked as a Recreation Therapist in an RTC.

From there, Justin spent a short time leading psycho-educational groups in the Utah state prison. While working at the prison he was asked to develop a Recreation Therapy program to work in conjunction with the existing psycho-educational classes.

Justin has also facilitated adolescent outpatient therapy, but the majority of his experience as a therapist has been working with adolescents and their families in a Therapeutic Boarding School.

With his background in recreation, Justin has always been drawn to experiential learning.

“While working in residential treatment, I found I could accomplish more with a student in a week in the outdoors than I could in months of therapy in the office. When I saw what Aspiro was doing, I jumped at the opportunity to be involved,” said Robinson

Justin grew up in Utah, however, he has also lived in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. Justin is married and has four kids. In addition to raising four children, Justin and his wife have also (until recently) been temporary foster parents to adolescents transitioning from treatment. In total they have had over a dozen teens living with their family.

Director of Clinical Services - Justin Robinson, LCSW

Choosing Aspiro - By Brad Carpenter, Psy.D.

2008-12-15T17:42:00.011-07:00

Perhaps you as a parent or an educational consultant are considering the same thing. I was about a year and a half ago.

Mine is a different story, however, which began about 14 years ago at a military base in Atlanta, Georgia. This was my introduction to therapy and needed transition from an academic knowledge of psychology to reality.

My first client, a 40 year old African American woman suffering from depression, left the session somewhat exasperated and remarked that she couldn’t believe that “Donnie Osmond” was her new therapist.This was precisely when I began wearing suspenders and a tie to work every day in an effort to achieve age and credibility. My second client was a couple who came for marital therapy and promptly asked if I was married or had any children. Quick witted, I replied something to the effect that I didn’t need to be shot to know that it would hurt!

This, my valiant attempt to explain that it was not necessary to have first hand knowledge of their situation to be a good therapist, a message understandably obscured by the comparison of marriage to a mortal injury.

Needless to say, I learned to button up more than my oxford after this and listen.

My third client was a bright 15 year old girl who was seen because of oppositional behaviors and underachievement. Having problems getting her to speak I decided to join her in silence, a technique I learned from Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting, not my graduate psychotherapy course.

Instead of paving the way for the dramatic break through, she yelled at me and told her parents I wouldn’t even talk in therapy. They were naturally concerned.

Almost a decade and a half later, armed with wisdom, experience and a receding hair line I was lucky enough to have a choice as to the direction of my career. Over the years I had specialized as a diagnostician, performing psychological neuropsychological assessment with a secondary role as a therapist. I was moonlighting as an adjunct professor of psychology for a local college when I was asked to teach an introductory therapy course to graduate counselors. For a while I was a back to where I started, rediscovering my roots as a therapist, joking with my students about my pop star past and preparing them for what’s to come. What I have learned over the years is that therapy is an art and while there are some who would disagree with this statement as is, they may not disagree with the assertion that adolescent therapy is an art. I could say this with some certainty after working in the therapeutic boarding industry for almost three years while contracting with an adolescent wilderness therapy program. I was particularly intrigued by the prospect of the adolescent wilderness experience and heard the buzz that some colleagues had taken this concept a step further, creating a high adventure therapy program called Aspiro.

Disillusioned by the status quo and the primitive wilderness model, I was excited to hear that the industry was evolving. Fortunately, I had many choices, but realized after a brief visit that I had found my dream job and quickly made the decision to move across country to join the group.

Aspiro has taken the successful elements of traditional wilderness therapy and raised the bar significantly.

When I refer to a “primitive” wilderness therapy model, I don’t mean to discount the effectiveness or inherent sophistication of a model which has helped countless numbers of adolescents in beginning to turn their lives around. I simply refer to an outdated traditional model in which adolescents learn basic skills (breaking a fire) while backpacking around a restricted area, sometimes far away from civilization.

Aspiro’s adventure therapy model combines the benefits of the traditional wilderness experience with overwhelming mastery experiences - climbing 200 feet off the ground, free rappelling a 150 foot arch, paddling a class 4 rapid, summiting a 13,000 foot peak, building ice caves, skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking.

And best of all, I’m right there with them.

My first therapy experience at Aspiro was paddling a 25 mile stretch with a student who had recently become involved in drugs, an intelligent young man who I had seen a hundred times before in a different setting.

It was here though, floating down the Green River that I knew I had shed my suspenders for good, in this place without walls, florescent lighting or plaques. I was no longer just an authoritarian but a participant, paddle in hand. It was in this place and many others since that I noticed the resistance I had encountered in a traditional setting was no longer there or significantly diminished. Suddenly the clients were negotiating their way through tricky situations, ones I didn’t read about in an intake report but was observing in the moment.

They were there, right before my eyes, pushing themselves, interacting with other students and all the time humbled by nature. Not only were we collaborating in therapy but together we had accomplished something significant by days end. The students were building confidence and learning real skills through mastery experiences. They were more alert and receptive from the adventure and the novelty of the environment, a benefit also shared by myself. Every week I knew that when I saw my student, he/she would have a story to tell me, a story of struggle and accomplishment. This was the same story I heard a year later from the student I shared a paddle with my first day. He had continued his adventure in Costa Rica, drug free, now a high school graduate and using the same skills he had learned a year earlier at Aspiro.

So choose wisely as I did. Every student and family situation is unique and every therapist has a different calling. I found mine here in Utah. In the past year, Aspiro bought out its parent company and is now independently owned by its therapists and the original founders who have a personal stake in its success. We have grown, refined our model and adapted to the needs of our students, families and consultants.

This is by far the coolest place I have ever worked and I appreciate all the support I have received from our staff, my students and the many parents and consultants I have worked with since joining Aspiro.

Dr. Brad Carpenter - Psy.D.

Spotlight: Aspiro Admissions Director - Josh Watson, LCSW

2008-12-15T11:24:00.006-07:00

The unique vision of Aspiro convinced Josh that he needed to make a move from the Southeast all the way to the beautiful state of Utah. After spending several months learning about Aspiro’s innovative approach through high-impact adventure therapy, Josh and his family decided to join the Aspiro team back in October of 2006.

“After doing my research it wasn’t hard for Brian Church, a former colleague of mine, and now the Director of Business Development for Aspiro, to convince me that Aspiro would be the pioneer for a new and more effective outdoor therapy model,” said Watson.

Josh has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and over seven years of experience working with adolescents and families in crisis.

Over the past several years he has been a therapist and an admissions officer for a therapeutic boarding school.

As the Director of Admissions, Josh will be working diligently with consultants and families on assessment, communication, and quality control. His clinical experience is rich with diversity and he has a genuine desire to help others.

“Aspiro has managed to exceed all of my expectations. It is a breath of fresh air for me to see students smiling as they achieve success on a very high level. I am privileged to work with such a dynamic team that is truly committed, authentic, and unified in their approach.”

Please feel free to contact Josh directly to learn more about his personal journey, and to find out more details about Aspiro.

jwatson@aspiroadventure.com.

Admissions: 888-266-5136 www.wherehealingstarts.com

Judith E. Bessette, EdD, Visit October 25, 2006

2008-11-28T14:34:00.007-07:00

Since the writing of this original article in October 2006, Proficio Management, Inc. and Aspiro Inc. jointly announced the acquisition of Aspiro, Inc. as of Friday, 14 March, 2008 by Aspiro's current leadership team and clinicians. The purchase, in which the entire executive team and all Aspiro clinicians participated, will ensure continued delivery of high quality services to troubled youth and families in an innovative format for years to come.

Proficio formed and founded Aspiro with Randy Oakley in April of 2006.

The sale by Proficio to the leadership team of Aspiro allows Proficio to focus on other exciting ventures while enabling the Aspiro Team the flexibility that direct ownership provides to ensure quality, manage growth, and effectively respond to client needs.

That being said .........

Judith E. Bessette, EdD

When I first read about Aspiro, a wilderness program that opened last spring in Utah near Park City, and read their description of the program as cutting-edge, I was skeptical.

I thought, "Aren't they all cutting edge, new and different?" And, I thought, do we really need another wilderness program?

But the more I read and the more I learned about the talent Aspiro had gathered together, the more I knew I needed to visit and see what it was all about, first-hand. Meeting Randy Oakley and his wife, Christina, at a regional NATSAP meeting just fueled my interest in visiting. Randy is the founder of the program and Christine wears two hats there. She's in charge of Business Operations but loves getting out with the kids in her role as a Lead Guide.

In October, Linda Cain and I met Brian Church at Utah Olympic Park, built in Park City for the Winter Olympics in 2002. Brian is the Director of Business Development. It was a gorgeous, crisp, sunshine-filled day and the ride to Hanna, where Aspiro's base camp is located, was beautiful.

As we came up to the top of a hill, the base camp came into view, set in front of an unusual formation of red rock.

And, a river runs through it - a lovely stretch of the Duchesne.

We sat down with Randy and watched an amazing video. It was amazing on several levels - not the least of which was the footage of various adventure activities including whitewater river rafting and canoeing, skiing, snowboarding, top-rope rock climbing, caving (in slot canyons, mind you) , mountain-biking, horseback riding and the like - but also because the video captured the sense of accomplishment of the students in the program. One of the hallmarks of Aspiro's program is taking kids to the highest of highs in their outdoor experiences and you could see the results of that approach. When we learned that this video was a creation of one of the students, it made it even more remarkable.

We had the opportunity to meet Ken Betts, Program Director, Justin Robinson, the Director of Clinical Services as well as Farrah and Bridger Jensen, both Field Directors for Aspiro. Their combined years in the wilderness, working with troubled teens are impressive. I was struck by the fact that each of these individuals articulated the same mission and vision of the organization. Each talked about the importance of genuine relationships, of developing self-efficacy and about the true meaning of wilderness therapy versus offering therapy in the wilderness.

Randy has dreamed of running a program like Aspiro - which means to achieve, aspire or infuse with spirit - since 1988. At an IECA Conference in 2004, Randy (who was then at West Ridge Academy) participated in a brainstorming session with other West Ridge staff focused on "what a wilderness program might look like if you were designing it for your own kids."

At the conclusion of the conversation, Ken Allen, the head of West Ridge (and a strong financial backer of both programs) asked Randy to figure out what he needed to get the program off the ground…and Aspiro took its first students in April of 2006.

While a number of their first students were kids having trouble at West Ridge, those students are no longer the majority of the students at Aspiro. In addition to taking referrals from educational consultants, Aspiro is also working with students from other residential facilities who have fallen off their track and need to refocus.

Aspiro invites that school or facility to play an active role on the treatment team so when the student returns to the facility that sent him or her to Aspiro, every one is on the same page.

Using a rolling admissions approach, appropriate candidates are males and females, ages 13-17, and young adults, ages 18 to 30 years of age, with a history of moderate emotional and behavioral problems, low self-esteem, academic underachievement, substance abuse and family conflict. On a consulting basis, Aspiro is served by Leroy Anderson, MD, a child/adolescent psychiatrist who has a quite a reputation in the canyoneering world. Matt Eschler, LMFT, provides parenting workshops and aftercare services as needed and Chris McRoberts, PhD supervises a team of psychologists who test kids out on the trail. We were impressed with the kids who visited with us just before leaving base camp for a several day trek in Moab.

We talked with kids who'd been there for several weeks as well as one who had arrived only a few days earlier. They were complimentary about the staff - especially in regard to feeling respected and heard when they talked. They were excited about the trip and looking forward to the challenges ahead. One or two said the food could be better - but after all, they are teenagers!

Aspiro really is new and different - and here are several reasons why. This relationship-based program treats kids with an uncommon degree of respect for who they are and the strengths they bring with them to base camp and out on the trail. A recent visitor who sat in on an intake interview likened the experience to watching a high school student transfer from one school to another. Aspiro uses a solution-focused therapy model combined with adventure therapy to build self-efficacy and discover new coping strategies for dealing with old issues. There are several credentialed recreation therapists on staff who are always looking for the accommodations that will allow every student to get the most out of the program. Aspiro looks for the best and the brightest in its staff - and is open to each and every staff member owning a piece of the program.

This philosophy should create stability in the staff at all levels - not just at the top.

And, Aspiro takes some other chances that set them apart. We learned about a seriously overweight kid who prospered there - and began loosing weight. We learned about their ability to handle kids with diabetes - a real challenge in the wild. We also learned that the admissions team has the ability to work with families who are stretched financially - an unusual circumstance for so new a program but yet another example of what makes Aspiro genuinely new, different and cutting-edge.

Josh Watson, LCSW, Dir. Of Admissions
801-979-6308
jwatson@aspiroadventure.com
www.aspiro-inc.com

Judith E. Bessette, EdD, Visit October 25, 2006
(414) 581-9146

Aspiro new base camp offers amazing views

2008-11-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

Aspiro Group, Inc. is excited to announce the move from our former (leased) base camp to our new facilities to the south of Salt Lake in Mount Pleasant (near Wasatch Academy).

Compared to our former home, our newly purchased facilities are equidistant from the Salt Lake International Airport in good weather seasons, and 30 minutes closer during the winter months. The move took place two weeks ago.

“Accessibility was an important reason,” said Brian Church, Aspiro Director of Business Development, “but numerous other factors played into the equation. Because we make use of many pristine areas throughout the state of Utah, our new facilities are much more central and will create significant savings in time, fuel, and other expenses. We were also able to secure the perfect scenario with respect to our office/warehouse, and base camp acreage.”

We have a 7,600 square foot facility which is ideal for many purposes including staff offices and conference areas with a cozy fireplace. Within the building is a 4,000 square foot warehouse.

Additionally, we have a 2,100 square foot space for future family workshops and staff trainings.

Within a 12 minute drive from our offices, Aspiro has acquired 120 acres of spectacular land, bordering the National Forest. Our new base camp offers amazing views at its’ higher elevations, and a blank slate for master planned growth well into the future.

As with our old property, students will be at base camp one day every other week, at a minimum (Vantage Point by Aspiro will use base camp 2-4 days/week on avg).

As always, we thank you for your support in this cutting edge high adventure model. We look forward to future consultant visits and sharing the new tools we have at our disposal. We know that this move will assist greatly in the work we love.

Aspiro 1-888- 266-5136 or (801) 349-2740