The decision to get help for your teen can be very difficult. Most parents who read this page are struggling with a range of emotions: fear, pain, hope, anger, and perhaps guilt. To complicate matters, there are dozens of choices – both wilderness-based and more traditional. Making the right choice can be immensely difficult, but there is no one better than you to assess and decide. Thank you for considering our program. I greatly respect your decision to seek help.

      I worked in field staff and therapist roles in other programs before starting InnerRoads in 2001, and have had the honor of working and collaborating with professionals and programs from all over North America. Below are questions that may be helpful for you to ask when evaluating programs. I wish you the best in this process. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Michael Hudson, LCPC staff and youth build relationship
Program Director
406.541.1651

1) Is it time for an intervention as intense as wilderness therapy? Have you exhausted home and community-based options? Admissions staff at any program should explore this with you early in the application progress.

2) What is the program’s philosophy (why do they believe positive change happens in their clients)? Different programs approach the healing process differently; choose a program whose philosophy matches yours and it will likely be more effective for your family.

3) What is the level of training and experience that the therapist who will be working with your child have? Is he or she licensed as a mental health professional?

4) Is the program licensed as an outdoor-based therapy program by the Department of Health and Human Welfare of  the state(s) in which they operate? While there are good, safe, programs which may not be licensed, licensure helps insure a minimum level of safety through regular inspections by third parties and a standardized safety protocol.

5) What percent of the program’s graduates return home immediately after the wilderness program, and what percent make it at home for at least a year? Some programs work to get kids back home quickly, and some believe that their graduates need long term out-of-home care in order to be successful. Select the program that best meets your needs and hopes. I strongly believe that the vast majority of youth we work with are capable of returning home and being successful immediately after graduation – especially when their parents are willing to actively engage in thewildernees camp cooking on openfire treatment process and are able to implement some changes at home.

6) What is the staff to student ratio on a typical day in the field? While rare, some programs will inflate their staff to student ratio by including office based staff. If a program states in its philosophy that it uses a relationship-based approach, then be skeptical if the ratio seems low.

7) How many field days experience does the particular field staff who will be directly caring for your child have? Measuring experience in years can be misleading as many staff work seasonally – field days is a better indicator of experience and, therefore, safety.