who we are
Passages To Recovery has been in full swing for seven years. Clinical experts within the field of recovery saw the need and efficacy of merging the 12 Step process with outdoor rites of passage experiences for young adults. There was significant support from the industry which continues today as we carry this legacy forward. We remain current and knowledgeable regarding evidence-based practices in the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse and chemical dependency and remain viable partners with many recovery professionals. Our programming continues to be responsive to developments within the field. Our staff seek continued training and education to deliver optimum primary care for young adults.
Passages To Recovery’s clinical team are Master’s level therapists trained in motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy and human patterning. Their clinical emphases and strengths complement the counseling and teaching of the residential staff and Field Guides, bringing clarity to our students’ understanding of the neuro-biological cycle of chemical dependency and a balanced approach to recovery and increased well-being. Our clinicians’ expertise in addressing the underlying mental health problems co-occurring with substance abuse and chemical dependency issues are the axis upon which Passages To Recovery’s success turns.
The outdoor portion of Passages To Recovery is a 5-week expedition through some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring country in the West. In order to operate in these open lands, our staff are thoroughly and continually trained to be familiar with the terrain and the seasonal weather patterns. They receive support 24 hours a day from our Field, Medical and Logistics departments. We outfit all our students with state-of-the-art all-season gear to maximize their comfort and safety. Our Senior Field Guides are all Wilderness First Responder certified, as required by Aspen’s Outdoor Best Practices, and our staff to student ratio is quite high at 1:3. Because of this rigor, Passages To Recovery has an immaculate safety record. Our groups are small enough to support strong rapport between staff and clientele, thus making the expedition powerfully positive for all involved. The majority of our Field Guides are in personal recovery and are Licensed Substance Abuse Counselors in the State of Utah. Our Guides are typically in their thirties and forties and understand the dynamics of early recovery. Working at Passages To Recovery affords them a great opportunity to give back. Our students often report admiring and trusting our field staff, attributing many of the insights they’ve gained to conversations with them or examples they’ve set.
The expedition is framed by a week on either end at the MAPS House, our residential transition center. The Maps house is the place for those entering treatment and preparing to go out into the field, and for those returning from their field experience to process the experience and research and commit to extended care. The MAPS House includes staff with degrees in art nutrition and outdoor recreation, and several are also Licensed Substance Abuse Counselors in the State of Utah. Our work at the MAPS House is a decided balance between a warm welcome and spirited encouragement. Our llama handlers take our new students through a “Llama Clinic” and our graduating students have the opportunity to practice Recovery, Unity and Service via mentoring and community service projects.
The initial week at the MAPS House provides Passages To Recovery with the time to do a thorough clinical assessment of our new students, assuring all family members, referring professionals, and our own staff that each student is ready for the outdoor expedition. This assessment provides the foundation for the treatment plan and includes a psychiatric evaluation, often in consultation with the client’s home psychiatrist, a full medical physical including blood and urine analysis, and an initial bio-psycho-social interview and assessment with the student’s Passages To Recovery therapist.
Our clinical team works with referring professionals from all over the country. We are familiar with the process of intervention, and many interventionists regard our program as exemplary and best suited to the profile of the clients they serve. Many of our students are referred from extended care programs whose clients are seeking to re-commit to a sober lifestyle and need the powerful and life-changing outdoor rites of passage experience to heighten their motivation and clarity of purpose. Educational Consultants and Clinical Professionals find our team supportive and highly communicative, engaging them in the process all along the way, formulating a crisp and accurate needs assessment for placement criteria. A high percentage of our clients clearly require extended care to continue in treatment and sobriety maintenance, so this is a critical component of our work and a fundamental reason for the final week at the MAPS House.