News + Resources
Guidance for Families at Every Step
Student Reflection: An anonymous letter to Summit staff
Letter to Staff at Summit - written 2023 Dear Guide, Similar to my goodbye letter I have no clue where the hell to start. So I’ll start with my word: impact: the effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another. A medium to measure impact one has made...
What happens after Wilderness Therapy?
One of the most common things to come up during the admissions process for a therapeutic program like Summit Achievement is “what happens next?” Even before enrollment, both parents and students are rightfully concerned about where the student will go after...
Getting your teen on board with therapy
The mental health crisis in our country has reached new heights. Teenagers and young adults are among those most heavily impacted. Rates of anxiety in young people are growing, and we know from research that diagnoses like anxiety, depression, ADHD and learning...
Academics and Anxiety in Teens
Academics and Treatment for Adolescent Anxiety: An Integral Part of the Therapeutic Process Since 1996 Summit Achievement has incorporated school as an integral part of our program model. This was an intentional choice made by our founders, who had...
Adventure Therapy and Anxiety
Since 1996 Summit Achievement has helped young people and their families address the challenges of mental health issues. In the last decade of our operations, Summit has seen a surge in requests for help for young people struggling with anxiety and other related...
The Importance of Co-Parenting
Parenting is hard work. Sure, there are tons of joys in parenting and there are moments when our children can make us forget about all our struggles in raising them… but it is still hard work! Co-parenting is the shared responsibility of two parents, who are divorced,...
Meet Lily Jocham
Summit Achievement has a new Marketing Director! Lily Wilkinson Jocham has worked in outreach and admissions for therapeutic programs since graduating from college. She has collaborated with Summit’s leadership several times over the past few years on marketing...
Summer camp options for struggling teens
It makes sense that you are thinking about summer camp for your child, given that they have not had the best year in school. While they may eke by with passing grades, they are not thriving, and you are looking for an opportunity to put them in a better spot to...
Why I left Outpatient Therapy to be a therapist at a Residential Therapeutic Program.
By Mike Deluca, LCSW I am writing to preface this post by saying I was an outpatient therapist for four years and I loved it! I also deeply respect my fellow outpatient therapists and their critical role in the continuum of care for clients. This post is intended to...
Adventure Therapy at Summit Achievement
Summit Achievement is, first and foremost, a State of Maine Licensed residential treatment program that provides mental health and substance abuse treatment and has been operating since 1996. Summit is located on a 55-acre campus with a main lodge, academic...
Summit Achievement earns prestigious Academic Accreditation.
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has awarded Summit Achievement with its prestigious academic accreditation. Summit is one of the few treatment programs in the nation that has achieved this prestigious accreditation from NEASC, which has...
Student Reflection: A letter to the Summit community from a recent student
Dear Summit Achievement Staff, Guides, and Teachers, Thank you for creating this one-of-a-kind experience for me to help me grow and develop skills and tools to live a happier and healthier, more fulfilling life. This program is so unique and has so much to...
SUMMIT ACHIEVEMENT or OUTWARD BOUND?
What Parents Should Consider Many families are desperate to find enriching programs for their teens or young adults during the summer months as well as other times of the year. For over 50 years, Outward Bound has had a positive reputation for empowering young...
Student Reflection: What I gained from Summit Achievement
I was lucky enough to be a student of Summit Achievement in 2004. Looking back, this was one of my most important experiences to shape who I am today. I was 14 and had difficulty coping with all of my family and school changes, along with creating healthy...
The Summit Family Support Program
While your child is the primary client we work with at Summit Achievement, we believe that a strong family program is an integral part of the overall treatment process and plays a significant role in the success of our students after graduating. The innovative Summit...
Summit Renews AEE Accreditation
Summit Achievement has just successfully completed our third, vigorous re-accreditation process by the Association for Experiential Education for Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs and subsequently has been awarded accreditation for another six years! Summit...
Student Reflection: My time at Summit Achievement
It was 5 AM when the LOD (Leader of The Day), watch went off. My teammates were all sleeping, as were the guides. I woke up my guide, Whitney, who maybe was hoping I would sleep in. We packed day bags and headed up South Bald Face, almost running, so we could get to...
Safe Struggles at Summit Achievement
The following Summit Blog Post is the lightly edited transcripts of the Autism and Neurodiversity Podcast hosted by Jason and Debbie Grygla. This episode is with Nichol Ernst, our executive director, in which he talks about how Summit Achievement works...
Eight tips to help find the best Wilderness Therapy Program for your teen or young adult
by Will White, DA, LCSW, MLADC CSW, MLADC Over 25 years ago, I was part of the team that started Summit Achievement, the country’s first hybrid model wilderness therapy program. Before joining Summit, I practiced as a licensed mental...
Empowering Young Women: The benefits of Wilderness Therapy for teen girls
By Caitlyn Cook, LCPC, ATR-BC, Clinical Director of Summit Achievement Read the below blog post or watch this new video with Caitlyn talking about the benefits of wilderness therapy for teen girls....
Summit Achievement and Traverse-The Value of our Continuum OF Care Model
In this video Nichol Ernst, LCSW, Executive Director, Co-Owner of Summit Achievement reviews the value of our model. Watch the video or scroll below for a summary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUrrSkgBajA&t=22s We are an owner-operated residential...
Wilderness, A Catalyst for Change in Treatment
By Mike DeLuca, LCSW Since the days of vision quests in the wild by First Nation youth, or much later in the 1960s when the Colorado Outward Bound School first started using wilderness to foster resiliency, character, and compassion in American youth, humans have...
Self-Care for Parents: As Important as Caring for your Teen
By Mike DelucaLCSW, Therapist – Summit Achievement Ever since I entered the “helping profession” I have heard the mantra “You can’t adequately care for others if you haven’t cared for yourself.” I remember learning this mantra when I was 15 years old while...
Worried About Growing Anxiety and Depression in Your Teen?
Anxiety is challenging for young people and their families and Summit Achievement is here to help. We know that many productive, engaged, and happy children can become withdrawn and sullen to the point of not being able to leave their house or their rooms by the time...
Covid-19 Precautions & Protocals
Here is a resource outlining how we are handling program operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-evolving situation here at Summit Achievement. While our campus is quite isolated up here in Maine, we are very aware of the risk of COVID-19 finding its way...
Whether you’re exploring treatment options or looking for guidance along the way, you’ll find updates from Summit and resources designed to help families move forward with confidence and understanding.