The Approach

Therapeutic Wellness for Young Adults

The Therapeutic Wellness Model

Inspiring and empowering students to identify positive choices and develop strategies for maintaining healthy relationships sets the cornerstone for a lifetime of success. Our team creates a safe and supportive environment that enables students to explore their personal strengths and skills while working to challenge limiting thoughts, behaviors and beliefs. Sophisticated clinical methods are combined with an emphasis on self-reflection and a variety of activities to help students develop proficiency in social, emotional, and independent living skills. Highly skilled support staff and experienced therapists are committed to caring and non-punitive approaches that encourage confidence and personal growth.

True North Students

True North young adults present with a multitude of strengths and talents in addition to challenging, unproductive, or risky behaviors. They are able to accept their enrollment in the program with encouragement and boundaries from their parents and our staff, and must express that commitment in a video interview with their therapist prior to enrollment. Diagnoses and presenting problems may include but are not limited to:

Mood Disorders

Mild to severe depression and bipolar disorders

Anxiety & Trauma

Mild to severe anxiety, OCD, social anxiety, grief, loss, and trauma

Avoidance

School refusal, social isolation, low motivation, lack of confidence

Substance Use

Mild to moderate marijuana or alcohol use or experimentation

Risky Behaviors

History of eating disordered behaviors, mild to moderate self-harm, overuse of internet and electronic devices

Relational Issues

Peer and parent relational issues, adjustment and attachment disorders, issues related to adoption

Cognitive Issues

Learning differences, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, academic decline

Oppositional Defiance

Disrespect, dishonesty, resistance to limits and boundaries

Therapeutic Process

True North is committed to highly individualized interventions and therapeutic support, which is why our student groups and therapist caseloads remain small. Therapists hold a minimum of a Master’s degree, and facilitate individual and group therapy multiple times per week for each student. Therapists direct individualized treatment plans and communicate regularly with the direct care staff about each student’s daily goals and experiences.

Collaboration with parents, students, consultants, and the entire True North team are essential to our inclusive and relational therapeutic approach.

Comprehensive Assessment

Engaging with students in our dynamic milieu allows us to generate a thorough understanding of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns that have contributed to the need for intervention. Therapy sessions, in vivo observation, interactions with parents and other professionals, and psycho-educational testing contribute to our intensive assessment process.

Collaborative Intervention

Therapists work hand in hand with our direct care staff to provide a team approach to in-the-moment daily support and authentic feedback that promotes successful emotional and interpersonal skills. Parent therapists and course leaders communicate regularly, deepening the therapeutic process for the whole family. Experienced clinical direction and close collaboration with referring and consulting professionals ensures strong team communication throughout each student’s stay.

Purposeful Transition

We help students and families determine the best way to capitalize on the gains they’ve made in the program and translate new skills as they move forward. Therapists provide recommendations and work closely with families and referring professionals to design a customized plan for each student in preparation for their transition from True North.

Daily Life

Experiential therapy is as much about supporting healthy families as it is about facilitating the change process in our students. We believe that the particular needs and concerns of families are a critical part of every student’s True North experience.

Family Involvement

Parent-Program Communication

Parents at True North will work closely with two therapists throughout their young adult’s stay. They participate in weekly calls with their child’s therapist who shares updates on their student’s progress in the program, explore emerging themes in the treatment process, and facilitate transition planning. They also speak weekly with their parent program facilitator who provides support for parents while guiding them through assignments in the parent curriculum, including a series of assignments that have been personalized to help them support their student’s progress and enrich family relationships.

Parent Workshop

Parents participate in an individualized two-day parent workshop on our campus part-way through their child’s stay. Each workshop is limited to two families and is an interactive and experiential opportunity to deepen awareness of family patterns and promote meaningful communication and connection. The workshop allows parents and students to integrate new skills and behaviors into the family dynamic while offering parents an opportunity to reconnect with their child prior to making transition plans.

Parent Program

Transition Support

Transition Preparation

True North Course Leaders and Guides work one-on-one with students throughout the final phase of the program with an emphasis on transition preparation. Students solidify learned strategies and skills and identify how skills will translate into their environment beyond True North.

Personal Portfolio

Each student designs an individual transition portfolio, which is a physical representation of their experience at True North that they can take with them and share with their family members and future support team. It includes personal reflections on each phase of the program and the experiences that have been most meaningful for them while at True North.

Graduation Ceremony

The final experience for each student is a graduation ceremony, which provides an opportunity to present their goals, outdoor living skills, and hopes for the future. With families, staff, and peers participating, students are able to share their achievements with pride and transition with a sense of accomplishment.

Meet the Team

Ty Maves, LCSW
Madhurii Barefoot, LCSW
Nate Hoff, BS
Kelly Webster, BA
Ally Barlow, BA
Evan Oppenheimer, LMHC, CCTP-II
Will Twombly, LMFT
Bill Cox, LMFT
Alex Szuba, BS
Melissa Dubroff, MD
Gregg Mason, BA
Tye Martin
Andy Chapman, MS