August 24th, 2016

​Summer is winding down and it has been a wonderful summer of travel and learning. 
The travel began in Northern Utah.  Ogden was home base for a few days. 


​ I was able to visit with old friends and new friends.  Day one began with a tour of Viewpoint Center, 
a sub acute psychiatric program.  Neighboring Elevations and Seven Stars were lovely and 
gracious, opening up their campus for touring.  Day two began in Logan at Logan River 
Academy.  How wonderful to be able to spend the day with the Logan River family.
Then off to Solstice and The Journey Home to visit with the girls​. Thank you Kate for all that
you do!  For those that don't know she is simply a dynamo, very impressive.


Day three saw a change in geography and accommodations.  Waypoint Academy is located
in the foothills of the Snowbasin Ski area.  The vistas are breathtaking.  The program is warm and homey and the boys were open and forthcoming.  Next stop was Eva Carlston, after I ran late and got lost.  They were nothing but gracious at my own mistakes. Thank you Allison. There I found myself with a great clinical team and lovely young women.  I ended the day visiting with a student at Youth Care.

I moved locations toward the south and stayed in Provo.  I had the pleasure of touring the Discovery family of programs.  Discovery Academy, Discovery Connections and Discovery Ranch.  Each of these programs had a different feel and worked with a different type of student.  Thank you to the Discovery for such a great day.  I truly enjoyed my last day in Utah.  I toured The Heritage School and then New Haven Academy.  I loved my time at Heritage with Matt and Ian and learning about how they are becoming one of the most sensory sensitive program there is.   I also loved my time at New Haven.  There was such a vulnerability that the girls could share with me.  I feel honored and humbled to have had such a wonderful 
week touring. 

I always appreciate a good learning opportunity.  My next big trip was to Asheville, Black Mountain, more
specifically, for Expanding Recovery for Young Adults, Conference and Wellness Retreat.  After some bad
travel experiences, and finally getting there, I was honored to be learning from Noah Levine who founded
Refuge Recovery.  There were keynotes, mediation, break out sessions and a lesson
on Wilderness skills.  One member of our group got fire started with nothing but steel and a rock.  Others 
were spending time doing 12 Step Yoga.  What a fabulous event.  I can't wait to see what happens next year!
Thank you to Deara  Ball from SWUS.  SWUS was a sponser of this event. Deara is a bundle of energy and deserves
many kudos for putting on an amazing event. 

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Beautiful Lobby at Waypoint Academy