The following characteristics, attributes and beliefs distinguish us from other wilderness programs and boot camps.

How is the Monarch Center Different?

1. Small and Privately Owned Company
2. Experienced Therapists
3. Family Week
4. Gestalt Therapy
5. Open Door Policy
6. Family Centered
7. Therapist / Student Ratio
8. How We Discipline
9. Wilderness Program Safety
10. Communication With Your Son / Daughter
11. The Difference Between Wilderness Therapy and Boot Camp

1. A Small and Privately Owned Company:

   
   At a time when the majority of wilderness therapy programs are operated by large corporations, the Monarch center has been family owned and operated from it's opening in 1996. The owners are passionate about running a program of the utmost integrity and efficacy and are intimately involved in the day-to-day functioning of the company. The owners believe the program will be most effective serving small numbers of clientele and giving those families an abundance of clinical resources. Therefore, the maximum number of students that the Monarch Center will admit at any given time is 20, with group sizes no bigger than ten.
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2. Experienced Therapists:

   
   The average age of our family therapists is 58 years old with over 30 years experience each. At Monarch, we understand that as a parent of an adolescent, it is important to know that the therapist you are working with has plenty of experience, both professionally and in the school of life. Our therapists have over 100 years combined experience practicing Gestalt Therapy.
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3. Family Week:

   
   To our knowledge, we offer more hours of direct family contact than any other program. Every third week of your child's treatment is with the family. This includes intensives, multiple family group workings, social events, parent discussion and education groups, community service and visits. This is the most clinically intensive portion of our program with an average of 15 hours per family week spent in therapeutic related activities. Families are invited for the whole week, but may just attend a portion of it depending on their schedules.
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4. Gestalt Therapy:

   
   Gestalt therapy is an experiential therapy that relies on the skill of the therapist and the relationship between therapist and client. It is especially effective and powerful with "therapy-wise" or manipulative clients. Gestalt emphasizes awareness, authentic contact, the present moment and the full expression of emotion.
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5. Open Door Policy:

   
   At Monarch, parents are always invited to join their child at any point of their stay. We believe that if a parent and child want to be together during this time of crisis in their relationship, the opportunity should be afforded with plenty of therapeutic support and guidance. Often times, and upon request, parents will go into the backcountry with their child and child's therapist.
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6. Family Centered:

   
   At Monarch, we understand that the entire family can grow in awareness and emotional health when a student is placed with us. We look at the larger family system with the knowledge that each family is unique and we customize a treatment plan from that understanding.
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7. Therapist / Student Ratio:

   
   Our staff includes Field Instructors, logistical staff, educational staff and clinical staff (our therapists). We pride ourselves on the quality and intensity of our therapeutic program and back it up with experience, quality and sheer numbers of therapists. We average one therapist on staff for every two students. It is commonplace to have two therapists in every family session, four or five in our multi family groups and two or three working with the students on their expeditions. This commitment to maintaining an abundance of highly qualified clinical staff in our program keeps our therapists fresh and sharp in their work and offers a powerful team approach to our students and families.
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8. How We Use Discipline:

   
   As much as possible, we aim to let the consequences of one's behavior do the teaching. These are called natural/logical consequences and they are especially abundant in the wilderness. Additionally, students may be grounded from certain activities; be separated from the group, or be put on a "special program" which specifically addresses certain behaviors. From time to time, a student may become physically out of control at which time our trained staff would use a "therapeutic hold" until that student regains control. Corporal punishment is NEVER an option at The Monarch Center for Family Healing.
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9. Wilderness Program Safety:

   
   The Monarch Center for Family Healing has an excellent safety record. In wilderness programs, risk is inherent. However, at Monarch we have many precautionary measures in place to minimize those risks. Our field instructors are highly qualified and at least one certified Wilderness First Responder or EMT will be with the group at all times. In addition, we have developed emergency and evacuation plans, bad weather policies, and menus that have been approved by a registered dietitian.
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10. Communication With Your Son / Daughter:

    
    The students in the field can receive mail as much as every 2-3 days. Additionally, every third week is Family Week in which parents and students reunite for visits, family therapy and group family therapy. We also extend an open invitation for family members to visit their child in the field.
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11. The Difference Between Wilderness Therapy and Boot Camp:

    
    It is important to distinguish the difference between wilderness therapy and wilderness boot camps. The Monarch Center for Family Healing does not use deprivation, exhaustion, or abuse in any of its' programs. Instead, we focus on working with the student to identify problems in his/her life. That therapy, combined with family therapy and the wilderness experience, fosters change in the students.
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