| Provo Canyon School a residential treatment facility | | | | The girls were able to see the result of being out of |
| owned and operated as a subsidiary of Universal | | | | sync in a group when you are part of a rhythm and |
| Health Services, Inc, one of the nation's leading hospital | | | | how at other times it is okay to strike out and be |
| management organization. Provo Canyon School | | | | different than other players, as in a solo that |
| specializes in treating teen boys and girls with | | | | compliments the harmony. The students came back to |
| emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties and have | | | | the campus feeling rejuvenated by the experience and |
| been unresponsive to outpatient counseling or previous | | | | were very grateful for the experience. There are |
| inpatient psychiatric or substance abuse programs. | | | | plans to do another retreat for the girls' campus again |
| Dr. Russ Gaede, another one of out dynamic | | | | in the summer of 2007. |
| therapists has done a great deal of work with youth | | | | Dr. Gaede has also been part of trips where he has |
| before coming to Provo Canyon School. He received | | | | taken his team of students up to the Provo Canyon |
| his Bachelor's Degree in psychology at University of | | | | Yurt for overnight retreats. Often, the students will |
| Utah and his Masters in mental health counseling at the | | | | snow shoe in for a mile and a half, gather wood, hike, |
| University of Phoenix. Dr. Gaede then went on to | | | | play in the snow and then settle for the evening |
| complete his Doctorate in clinical psychology from | | | | around a warm fire for a process group and dinner. |
| Forest Institute for psychology in Springfield, MI. He is | | | | On the last trip they went on the students found an |
| certified in marriage and family therapy and has | | | | igloo that someone had made, had therapy in the igloo |
| worked at residential treatment centers before coming | | | | and then set goals for themselves to see what they |
| and continues to teach at Utah Valley College in the | | | | wanted to work on. There were lots of positive |
| behavioral sciences department. Over the last four | | | | comments, "it's beautiful out here, I wish I could stay |
| year he has taught intro to counseling, abnormal | | | | longer," another student said, "I learned a lot over the |
| psychology, and theory of personality. | | | | last two days, learned a lot about my team and my |
| Dr. Gaede shared several highlights from the past year | | | | staff." One other student added, "I think what really |
| with us, particularly his trips with his team to various | | | | stuck out was that there was such a thing as sober |
| sites off campus. | | | | fun." For many of the students in his team it was an |
| On one of the trips to Heber valley campus last | | | | awakening to the power of sober fun and gleaning joy |
| August, Dr Gaede took 10 girls for a three day and | | | | and meaning from the elements of nature and |
| two night retreat. While the girls were there they did a | | | | connecting with others. |
| service project where they stacked wood for locals, | | | | Dr. Gaede also added that throughout the year him |
| they took part in making their own food over an open | | | | and his team go canoeing with the girls. The last trip |
| fire and were able to connect with the other girls in a | | | | they went about 2 miles down river, then had time to |
| deeper way with the added benefit of the great | | | | play in the water and have fun. It's a great opportunity |
| outdoors. They also took part in an art therapy project | | | | for the girls because they are learning to do new |
| where they were given materials to make their own | | | | things and actually work a canoe with two people, |
| journal. They decorated them with pieces of natural | | | | because when you are rowing as a team you need to |
| objects and were then given assignments to help | | | | figure out how to set a pace, rhythm and direction |
| them process their reactions and emotions from the | | | | together so that you can get to where you need to. |
| trip. They spent some of this exercise alone and other | | | | More recent they went hiking up to the big Y on the |
| pieces of it as a group. When this was finished they | | | | mountain right by Provo Canyon's Orem Campus. "It's |
| had their journals to keep and then formed into a drum | | | | a pretty steep hike and it took a while to get up there |
| circle. This exercise was especially important for them | | | | and we sat up there and talked about the view and |
| because they were able to learn about the importance | | | | they also realized that they have to work for it, both to |
| of rhythm and being in sync with those around you. | | | | get on the trip and to climb up the mountain. |