Best Open Sky Wilderness Therapy Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 35: Co-Parenting with a Child in Treatment 23:45

1+ y ago23:45

23:45

PREVIEW: It's a challenging time to be a kid and a challenging time to be a parent, and it's even more challenging to parent a child when there is conflict and discord in the parenting relationship. In this episode of the SKYlights Podcast, Senior Clinical Therapist Kirsten Bolt, MED, LMFT helps us understand the effects of parent conflict on kids,…

1
Episode 34: Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Students in Wilderness 23:54

1+ y ago23:54

23:54

PREVIEW: The world is becoming more open when it comes to inclusivity surrounding gender and sexuality. At the same time, many young people in the LGBTQ+ community are still struggling with mental health issues; higher rates of suicide; and lack of acceptance among family, friends, and society. In this episode the SKYlights Podcast, Mariah Loftin, …

1
Episode 33: Understanding and Treating Disordered Eating | Kirsten Bolt 27:17

1+ y ago27:17

27:17

PREVIEW: Disordered eating—different from eating disorders—is a condition we're seeing more and more often at Open Sky. While eating disorders may be more commonly understood in our society, disordered eating is less well known. In this episode of the SKYlights Podcast, Senior Clinical Therapist Kirsten Bolt, MED, LMFT helps us better understand th…

1
Episode 32: Supporting Treatment Resistant Students in Wilderness 28:04

1+ y ago28:04

28:04

PREVIEW: Open Sky works with many teens and young adults who may be resistant to traditional talk therapy. In this episode of SKYlights, Clinical Therapist Mark Sobel, LCSW discusses what treatment resistance means, how it shows up in the students he works with, the power of wilderness therapy to help young people heal and grow, and what parents ca…

1
Episode 31: Treating the Unique Needs of Pre-Teens & Early Adolescents 28:22

1+ y ago28:22

28:22

PREVIEW: As early adolescents transition from childhood to adolescence, hormones emerge, body chemistry changes, and social and academic pressures increase.They might experience uncertainty about who they are and feel a natural desire to differentiate from their parents. Add the stressors of the modern world, and it's no wonder that so many early a…

1
Episode 30: College Athletes and Mental Health 27:55

1+ y ago27:55

27:55

PREVIEW: An athlete may be winning trophies and medals, but sometimes we don’t know that they can be losing a silent battle that they don’t even talk about. Some athletes live up to expectations placed by other people and get pressured to push harder or else everyone will be disappointed at them. But if they don’t prioritize their own mental health…

1
Episode 29: Somatic Mind Body Therapy in Wilderness 20:36

1+ y ago20:36

20:36

PREVIEW: Sometimes we keep emotions bottled up deep inside of us or are haunted by memories we cannot escape from. Physical activity can be an outlet for releasing uncomfortable emotions, tension, and stress from our bodies. In this episode of the SKYlights Podcast, Clinical Therapist Maura Nolan, LPC, ACMHC, NCC discusses somatic therapy; how she …

1
Episode 28: Young Adults, Anxiety, and the Pandemic 24:43

3y ago24:43

24:43

PREVIEW: It has now been more than a year since our lives changed drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we’ve learned to live with this new normal, the impacts on mental health and development have been significant. In this episode, clinical therapist Mariah Loftin discusses how the pandemic has affected mental health in young adults, how…

1
Episode 27: The Rise of Online Exploitation of Adolescent Girls 26:53

3+ y ago26:53

26:53

PREVIEW: With the closure of schools and the isolative nature of pandemic-life, the last year has clearly been challenging for teens, sometimes in unexpected ways. An emerging issue we’re seeing more and more is the online exploitation of teens online. Here to talk about the risks, signs, and prevention of online sexual exploitation is senior clini…

1
Episode 26: Where the Magic Begins: Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone 24:30

3+ y ago24:30

24:30

PREVIEW: We’ve all become familiar with our own personal comfort zones; where we operate and interact with the most ease and predictability. Some of us are more inclined than others to step outside of their comfort zones, and maybe even crave the feeling of pushing those limits. Others find it difficult and sometimes even debilitating. How is it he…

1
Episode 25: Parenting the Defiant Teen 27:53

3+ y ago27:53

27:53

PREVIEW: Defiance and opposition can be normal and even healthy signs of adolescence. When do these patterns become unhealthy? How can parents effectively respond to their teen’s defiant behavior? What are the best strategies for parents who are at their wit’s end during this phase of parenting? Here to help us answer some of these questions is Ope…

1
Episode 24: How to Stay Grounded During Times of Stress 25:15

3+ y ago25:15

25:15

PREVIEW: Stress is something we humans cannot avoid. From being cut off in traffic on our way to work, to navigating a global pandemic, we all face it regularly to some degree. So, how do we respond to stress? How do we prevent our thoughts from spiraling, our emotions from taking control, and our actions from causing even more damage? Open Sky Cli…

1
Episode 23: How to Talk to Your Kids in a Way They Can Hear It with Clinical Therapist Nick Lenderking-Brill 25:21

3+ y ago25:21

25:21

PREVIEW: How often do we find ourselves in communication with someone where we realize we’re just missing each other? Where the person we’re talking to isn’t actually hearing what we’re trying to communicate? When it comes to parent-child communication, especially during the adolescent years, this can often become the norm. In this episode, Clinica…

1
Episode 22: How Can I Establish Boundaries When My Young Adult Child Is Struggling? with Clinical Therapist Mariah Loftin 29:10

3+ y ago29:10

29:10

PREVIEW: Many parents struggle with effective ways to set and maintain boundaries as their children transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Young adults are starting to seek more freedom and gain independence yet are still reliant on their parents in many ways. This dynamic can be particularly difficult to navigate when a young adult is str…

1
Episode 21: Strategies for Successful Transition Post-Treatment 31:30

4y ago31:30

31:30

PREVIEW: While your child is in wilderness therapy treatment, a big question mark can be: “what next?” The transition after wilderness looks different for every family. Whether transitioning home, to school, or to an aftercare program, how can parents foster a healthy environment for their child to continue thriving? On today’s episode, Clinical Th…

1
Episode 20: How to Support your Child in Wilderness Therapy Treatment with Clinical Therapist Mariah Loftin 27:07

4y ago27:07

27:07

PREVIEW: The first thing you can do after your child has enrolled in wilderness is BREATHE. Acknowledge this transition and the courage it took to get here. What next? In this episode, we give guidance on how to support yourself and your child while he or she is in wilderness therapy. We explain how both students and parents can cycle through the s…

1
Episode 19: How to Build a “Communication Toolbox” and Improve Family Relationships with Clinical Therapist Nick Lenderking-Brill 28:12

4y ago28:12

28:12

PREVIEW: A “communication toolbox”…it’s exactly what it sounds like! It is a set of skills and resources at our disposal to access at any moment to practice healthy communication and strengthen our relationships. These are tools to draw from when relationships get tense, confusing, or avoidant. They are also tools to practice regularly even when th…

1
Episode 18: Understanding the Link Between Trauma, the Nervous System, and Addiction with Clinical Therapist, Brian Leidal 26:07

4y ago26:07

26:07

PREVIEW: Clinical Therapist Brian Leidal walks us through his understanding, research, and expertise on the topic of trauma and addiction, and the link between. The foundation to any conversation or therapeutic work on trauma begins with a grounded nervous system and healthy connection: to others and to self. According to Dr. Dan Siegel, trauma is …

1
Episode 17: Heroes and Legends of the Field: A Conversation with Robin Wolthausen 29:22

4+ y ago29:22

29:22

PREVIEW: Starting as Field Guide, moving up to Assistant Field Director, and now as Family QuestTM Guide and Transition Mentor—Robin Wolthausen has been fortunate enough to know dozens of the personalities at Open Sky. He’s also as passionate as ever about wilderness therapy, wandering the land as humans amidst the wilderness and weaving the therap…

1
Episode 16: How Healthy Expression Fosters Healthy Masculinity with Adolescent Boys Therapist Morgan Seymour, LCSW 31:20

4+ y ago31:20

31:20

PREVIEW: Today we talk with Clinical Therapist Morgan Seymour about how societal expectations can discourage or prevent boys from developing emotional awareness, the skills to express emotions and feelings, or seeking help for depression, anxiety, social issues, or challenges at school. Additionally, Morgan explores how—in a new and unfamiliar envi…

1
Episode 15: Emerging Adults: Supporting the Unique Needs of 18-20 Year-Olds 34:24

4+ y ago34:24

34:24

PREVIEW: Turning 18 is one of the biggest milestones young people experience. Overnight, one goes from being labeled a child to an adult. However, the growth that occurs in that one day is not commensurate with the change in expectations, nor cognitive development. In this episode, clinical therapist Chris Blankenship discusses how Open Sky helps y…

1
Episode 14: “Winter Safety: Best Practices Promote Opportunities for Empowerment and Resilience in Wilderness Therapy” with Program Director Danny Frazer 31:40

4+ y ago31:40

31:40

PREVIEW: Program Director Danny Frazer discusses Open Sky’s winter course area in Utah. He describes what the winter climate is like, explains how our base camp infrastructure enhances the student and family experience, and talks about the training our field staff receive prior to and throughout the winter season. Danny details the winter gear our …

1
Episode 13: Understanding EMDR with Clinical Therapist for Adolescent Girls, Kirsten Bolt, M.Ed., LMFT. 34:22

4+ y ago34:22

34:22

PREVIEW: Today we talk with Clinical Therapist Kirsten Bolt about the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is a treatment that has been used to address a wide variety of clinical issues and the underlying negative core beliefs about oneself. EMDR is a helpful way for people to reprocess experiences and…

1
Episode 12: “Nature-based Expressive Arts Therapy” with Clinical Therapist and Education Director Melia Snyder, PhD, LPC, REAT 37:35

4+ y ago37:35

37:35

PREVIEW: Today we talk to Clinical Therapist and Education Director Melia Snyder, who’s not only an expert on nature-based expressive arts therapy, she wrote the book on it! In our conversation with Melia, we discuss how her background led her to therapy and education, her fascination with nature-based expressive arts therapy—and what it is—how thi…

1
Episode 11: A Conversation with Open Sky Clinical Director and Therapist, Sebastiaan Zuidweg, MA, LPC 37:31

4+ y ago37:31

37:31

PREVIEW: SEBASTIAAN ZUIDWEG, MA, LPC Sebastiaan Zuidweg knew early on that his calling was a life of being in service to others. Sebastiaan believes in Open Sky’s holistic family systems approach as a catalyst for change, and the power of the wilderness as an effective medium for therapeutic work. His clinical approach is rooted in the belief that …

1
Episode 10: Understanding Self-Harm and Treating It in Wilderness with Kirsten Bolt, M.Ed., Lmft 24:10

5y ago24:10

24:10

PREVIEW: Clinical therapist Kirsten Bolt explores the reasons people self- harm and the steps involved in treating self-harm. With assessment and reassessment, we start to understand the history, severity, circumstances, and intentions surrounding the behavior, allowing us to help students to develop the skills to regulate emotions and communicate …

1
Episode 9: Supporting Young Adults with Gender and Sexual Issues with Senior Clinical Therapist, Mariah Loftin, MA, LPC 26:22

5y ago26:22

26:22

PREVIEW: Senior Clinical Therapist, Mariah Loftin, MA, LPC explores the often-misunderstood differences between gender and sexuality, including sexual orientation and gender identity; how unaddressed gender and sexual issues can result in health risks to young adults; and how families can best support children navigating these issues. See omnystudi…

1
Episode 8: 20-Minute Guided Meditation with Norman Elizondo, BS 23:39

5y ago23:39

23:39

PREVIEW: In this episode of the Open Sky Wilderness Therapy podcast, Family Wellness Counselor Norman Elizondo will guide you through 20 minutes of meditation. The premise of meditation is learning to have a healthy mind, and research shows that this happens. Neuroscientific studies have documented anatomical and physiological changes in the brain …

1
Episode 7: Preparing the Child for the Road (Not the Road for the Child): How Challenge Cultivates Resilience in Young People with Jonathan Mitchell, MA, LPC 28:48

5y ago28:48

28:48

PREVIEW: We hear a lot of buzz terms today: “lawnmower parenting”; “helicopter parenting”; or even “bubble wrap” parenting. At the route of these terms, the common theme is a parent-child relationship in which parents aren’t allowing their kids to think for themselves or develop a sense of self-confidence. In this episode of the Open Sky Wilderness…

1
Episode 6: How will Wilderness Therapy benefit me? 22:10

5y ago22:10

22:10

PREVIEW: Clinical therapist Mariah Loftin explains the benefits of therapy conducted outdoors. Among them, with wilderness therapy, instead of returning after a therapy session to the same ruts and patterns in your life, you are immersed in a supportive and healthy environment—the wilderness—which leads to lasting change. See omnystudio.com/listene…

1
Episode 5: Deconstructing Motivation with Aaron Wallis 30:17

5y ago30:17

30:17

PREVIEW: One of the most common frustrations expressed by Open Sky clients and their families is the struggle to understand and “fix” a lack of motivation. In this episode of SKYlights, Dr. Aaron Wallis brings some clarity to the concept of motivation and an understanding of the neurological influences that affect our ability to turn desire into ac…

1
Episode 4: 10-Minute Guided Meditation with Family Wellness Counselor, Norman Elizondo. 14:19

5y ago14:19

14:19

PREVIEW: Family Wellness Counselor, Norman Elizondo leads us in an extended 10 minute embodied mindfulness meditation that provides us with tools to help us be present, disrupt repetitive thoughts, use breathing exercises for mental calmness and rewire our brains and nervous systems for greater emotional resilience. See omnystudio.com/listener for …

1
Episode 3: 5-Minute Guided Meditation with Family Wellness Counselor, Norman Elizondo. 9:31

5y ago9:31

9:31

PREVIEW: Family Wellness Counselor, Norman Elizondo leads us in a 5 minute embodied mindfulness meditation that provides us with tools to help us be present, disrupt repetitive thoughts, use breathing exercises for mental calmness and rewire our brains and nervous systems for greater emotional resilience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf…

1
Episode 2: Mindfulness, Meditation, and other Superpowers! 20:00

5y ago20:00

20:00

PREVIEW: The premise of meditation is learning how to have a healthy mind. Studies have shown that this can occur even on a biological level, recording the physical healing of the brain. In this episode, certified meditation teacher and Family Wellness Counselor, Norman Elizondo, explains how, as we develop mental strength (and other superpowers!) …

1
Episode 1: Game Changer: Utilizing Wilderness Therapy to Treat Adolescent Gaming Disorder With Open Sky Wilderness Therapy Clinical Therapist Morgan Seymour, LCSW 29:23

5y ago29:23

29:23

PREVIEW: As electronic screens become ever more pervasive, researchers and parents wonder: How much is too much? Studies show that adolescents who use screens excessively experience an increase in impulsivity, distractibility, and relationship struggles, and a decrease in self-worth and well-being. In this episode, Clinical Therapist Morgan Seymour…

1
Welcome to SKYlights 1:20

5y ago1:20

1:20

Welcome to the new podcast from Open Sky Therapy! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Open Sky Wilderness Therapy

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Wilderness Therapy Tour Highlights 36:12

8y ago36:12

36:12

Tips on how therapeutic schools and treatment programs can work better with wilderness therapy programs to improve the continuity of care for their clients. The podcast includes discussions with Aspiro, Evoke, Open Sky, RedCliff Ascent, Second Nature and Wingate Wilderness Therapy programs.By InnerChange

1
Second Nature Wilderness Program 18:02

8y ago18:02

18:02

InnerChange staff enjoyed our time with the team at Second Nature Wilderness Program. We learned about their program and discussed their therapeutic work with clients and families. We also are grateful for their concrete tips about ways we can improve the transition of clients to the "next step." "Turning troubled lives around and restoring familie…

1
Aspiro Adventure Therapy 15:29

8y ago15:29

15:29

InnerChange staff enjoyed our time with the Aspiro Adventure Team as we learned about their program healing clients and families. We also are grateful for their concrete tips about ways we can improve the transition of clients to the "next step." "Aspiro Wilderness Therapy is the nation’s premier adolescent and young adult therapeutic wilderness pr…

1
Open Sky Wilderness Therapy 11:54

8y ago11:54

11:54

InnerChange staff enjoyed our time with the team at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy. We learned about their program and their work with clients and families. We also are grateful for their concrete tips about ways we can improve the transition of clients to the "next step." "At Open Sky, we assist teens, young adults and families struggling with diffic…

1
Redcliff Ascent 41:37

8y ago41:37

41:37

InnerChange staff enjoyed our time with educational consultant Dana Dean Doering and the RedCliff Ascent Team as we learned from them about their work with clients and families. We also are grateful for their concrete tips about ways we can improve the transition of clients to the "next step." Here is a little more about Dana Dean Doering: "Our tea…

1
Evoke at Entratda Therapy Programs 39:14

8y ago39:14

39:14

InnerChange staff enjoyed our time with the Evoke at Entratda Clinical Team as we learned from them about their work with clients and families. We also are grateful for their concrete tips about ways we can improve the transition of clients to the "next step." Evoke Wilderness Therapy's website states, "We specialize in Wilderness Therapy, which is…

1
Shayne Gallagher, Founder and Executive Director of Wingate Wilderness Therapy 18:47

8y ago18:47

18:47

"For more than 22 years, Shayne Gallagher has provided healing wilderness experiences for adolescents, young adults, and families. With his deep understanding of the innate therapeutic effects of a wilderness experience on the healing of young people, Shayne has become a recognized leader in teen and young adult treatment." "WinGate Wilderness Ther…

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Open Sky Wilderness Therapy Podcasts

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