Philosophy and Treatment of RedCliff Ascent

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By Steven DeMille, PhD, LCMHC 

Executive Director
RedCliff Ascent

If you find yourself reading this article, there is a good chance that you are struggling with your son or daughter in some way. Please know you are not alone. Teens and young adults are facing more and more pressure to excel with the knowledge that mistakes are instantly known about through social media. Relationships with parents also suffer as adolescents and young adults struggle with attachment, trauma, anxiety and depression issues. Sometimes a structured and deliberate time away can be helpful. 

RedCliff Ascent is a Wilderness Therapy Treatment Program or more accurately an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Program. Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare programming can be defined as the “prescriptive use of wilderness experiences by licensed mental health professionals to meet the therapeutic needs of clients.”

Mission Statement

With the wilderness as our catalyst, we reveal potential, inspire hope, and save lives.

We believe it...We live it."

Philosophy and Treatment Model

Treatment at RedCliff Ascent is based on an Integrative Care model.  This model focuses on viewing and treating a client holistically. This includes addressing a client’s general health, mental health and addictive behaviors that are impeding appropriate and healthy adolescent development.

Goals of Treatment

RedCliff Ascent has two therapeutic goals.

·        First, we disrupt a struggling teen’s current dysfunctional behavioral patterns.

·        Second, we help reintegrate the teen into the appropriate developmental level.

For wilderness therapy to be effective, the first goal must be accomplished before the second can be initiated.

Our Approach

We assist you, as the parent, to achieve your goal of a healthy relationship with your son or daughter. Students who attend Redcliff  develop insight and understanding through the intentional use of evidenced based treatments, wilderness living, interpersonal relationships, a robust curriculum, along with a healthy lifestyle (i.e. a healthy diet, sleep habits, work and exercise). The therapeutic interventions used at RedCliff Ascent are developmentally appropriate; strength based, and designed to foster resilience, thus improving a client's movement through the developmental tasks of adolescence and young adulthood. 

Who We Serve

RedCliff works with adolescents and young adults with emotional, relational, behavioral and addictive problems that are impeding appropriate adolescent and young adult development.

How Success is Measured 

1.      Re-engagement in the developmental progress of the client

2.      Improvements in a client’s physical well being, emotional health, interpersonal relationships and social engagement

3.      Mastery, a superior form of completion of the wilderness-based curriculum and mastery of the program structure

4.      Successful alignment with an appropriate level of aftercare services

Conclusion

Everyone employed at RedCliff Ascent plays an important part in achieving the Mission of RedCliff.  A clear understanding of the families we serve allows us the opportunity to work with you in successfully achieving our Mission: 

With the wilderness as our catalyst, we reveal potential, inspire hope, and save lives. We believe it...We live it.

Inquire now to explore options for your family! Call 801-921-8488