elements traverse parent portal

Your son will have an incredible experience

Wilderness is the purest setting for your son to drop his defenses, find his purpose, and a way back to his family and health. The best way to optimize each minute of the journey is to keep that journey intact.

Family is the most important part of this process

We provide opportunities for families to be involved along every step of the way, and provide an extensive menu of opportunities for families to join their boys in person and forge a new future together.

Your family will feel at home with us

Wilderness therapy is most effective when run by a small, owner-operated system. We truly love what we do. You will have access to us on every level.

Your son will gain skills

We work hard to help your son maximize his potential, ensuring that every activity is not only therapeutic, but also transferable to life outside the wilderness. Insight alone is not enough. Our boys need actual skills to cope with life’s stressors. The same principle applies to your entire family.

Your son will get a path forward

Our job is to interrupt maladaptive and self-destructive behaviors, help our boys develop a new path forward, and provide everyone in the picture a real assessment of his needs so the next steps can be planned accordingly.

Who develops an individualized treatment plan collaboratively with the student and parents?

The therapist develops an individualized treatment plan collaboratively with the student and parents

What is the responsibility of elements?

Our primary responsibility is to ensure the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of our students at all times. Higher order change can only occur when a person is not concerned for their immediate safety. This is why Elements is not a boot camp, and does not employ any form of deprivation as a means to force compliance. Of all the research we have investigated and performed, the idea of “breaking students down to build them up” has been disproven time and again. This is also why our staff are trained exhaustively and have several redundant forms of communication so that they can always access all the same emergency services that one could find in civilization.

Why is nature important for students?

Rather, nature rewards effort, perseverance, and patience and discourages impulsive problem solving. Students naturally gain confidence and self esteem as they master various outdoor living skills. Nature provides a setting free of distractions where students can easily gain insight and clarity into themselves and others. Living in nature often inspires students to define and connect with the spiritual aspects of their recovery.

How do students gain self esteem?

They have gained confidence and self-esteem from mastering the art of living outdoors. Students have also begun the process of re-evaluating their self-image and begin to have a healthier understanding of their individuality. During this phase students begin to take on a leadership role in the group and actively mentor new students.

Does Elements offer credit?

We are proud to offer academic credit to our students while supporting those vital pillars of our clinical program without taking time out to distract from them. Elements partners with an AdvancED accredited program that can see the value in the work our clients already do, and helps us offer credit to our clients for that work.

Is Elements a boot camp?

This is why Elements is not a boot camp, and does not employ any form of deprivation as a means to force compliance. Of all the research we have investigated and performed, the idea of “breaking students down to build them up” has been disproven time and again.

Is element therapy licensed?

*Elements is a Utah state licensed outdoor therapeutic program and the clinical staff are appropriately licensed by the state of Utah in their respective fields.