Blog

How do you view Troubled Teens change at Summit Achievement?

Summit Achievement finds the Stages of Change Model as a beneficial way to look at the change process for troubled teens and young adults.   The Stages of Change Model, technically referred to as the Transtheoretical Model of Change, was first developed in 1977 by Dr. James Prochoska at the University of Rhode Island.  The premise is […]

Why Does Summit Achievement have an Academic Component when other Wilderness Therapy Programs do not?

Summit Achievement has had an academic component since it started operations in 1996. The impetus, at that time, was that one of the co-founders was working as a psychotherapist at a Northeast Boarding School and counseled many students who had gone to wilderness programs before enrolling at the school. He observed that many of those […]

Does Summit Achievement work with Troubled Teens by Using a “Scared Straight” Model of Intervention?

Summit Achievement has achieved being one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious accredited programs for struggling teens by providing our students and their families with high-quality treatment, challenging academics, and outdoor experiences. At times we are asked if we “scare straight troubled teens.”  We use the term “struggling teens“ versus “troubled teens” as we […]

Why we recommend hiring a Therapeutic Educational Consultant

WHAT ARE THERAPEUTIC EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS? Therapeutic Educational Consultants are professionals who assist parents. They assist in finding the right therapeutic and/or academic setting for their adolescent or young adults before, and after, Summit Achievement. We recommend parents hire a consultant. We want parents to have access to the most up-to-date information about schools and programs […]

Is Summit Achievement like Outward Bound?

On a regular bases the Summit admissions team is asked, “Are you like Outward Bound?” Our response is “Yes and no”. HOW SUMMIT ACHIEVEMENT AND OUTWARD BOUND ARE SIMILAR We respond “Yes” as Outward Bound and Summit Achievement combine experiential education and outdoor education programs to help young people create change in their lives. Both organizations are […]

How to Receive Insurance Reimbursement for Summit Achievement Treatment Services

We receive insurance type questions quite often at Summit Achievement. While Summit does not have direct contracts with any insurance companies, some parents have been able to get reimbursed for part, or all of their child’s stay in the program. It is best to call your insurance company first before enrolling into the program if […]

Tips for Parents with Teens who are Refusing and/or Anxious about going to Summit Achievement

Summit has been providing wilderness therapy and education at our residential facility in the mountains of western Maine since 1996. Summit is unique in the field as 99% of our students come with their parents for enrollment. The other 1% come with family members or family friends. We do not enroll students via transport companies. One […]

Summit Achievement Re-Accredited as an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Program

SUMMIT ACHIEVEMENT IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF ONLY TWO WILDERNESS THERAPY PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE COMPLETED THIS VIGOROUS RE-ACCREDITATION PROCESS. We, at Summit Achievement, have just completed the vigorous re-accreditation process by the Association for Experiential Education for Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs. By completing this process, Summit Achievement has been awarded accreditation for […]