True North is a strong advocate for human rights in all aspects of our clients’ lives. As a licensed residential treatment program, AEE certified program, and recognized independent school, we strongly believe in treatment program accountability, under the supervision of state licensing boards and other accrediting bodies. Recent social media trends and messaging on the web surrounding the abuses of #wildernesstherapy and #residentialtreatment are unrelenting, and our hearts go out to those who have been negatively impacted. Learn more about True North’s supportive approach.
Concurrently, we also believe in fair and true information. The thousands of students and their families who were positively transformed by their treatment experiences are living evidence of the efficacy of our field. They have moved on, focusing on meaningful and fulfilling paths forward and should not be expected to dive into the online debates about the safety of the treatment programs that saved their lives. This has contributed to an uneven representation in the media, where the voices of the aggrieved are amplified and the stories of the successful and grateful are quieter.
Blanket statements and fear mongering about treatment programs can paralyze people who are seeking mental health services, and create a barrier to getting help. This practice is dangerous and hurtful. As a leader in providing sophisticated therapeutic care, True North encourages families to do their research and know that we operate with complete transparency about the care that we provide. Visit our website and photo gallery, speak with Kelly in admissions, and connect directly with alumni who can tell you exactly what it’s like to attend our program. Further, check with the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, accrediting bodies (Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council/Association of Experiential Education), or the many professionals who have become familiar with our evidence-based treatment approaches. Take a look at the large body of research about the effectiveness and the safety of wilderness therapy. Seek out the narratives of hope and success like those collected here on Thrivingnow.Me.
Safe and quality help exists here. We do this work because we care about providing nurturing, effective, sophisticated mental health treatment for young people.
