Wilderness Therapy in colorado:
Our programs
A Christ-Centered Wilderness Intervention
Tucked away in the mountain plateaus around Montrose, Colorado, Seeds Wilderness Therapy is offering the first Christian wilderness therapy program in the United States.
Wilderness therapy is a highly successful intervention for teens who are facing mental health or addiction issues. By combining the best wilderness therapy practices with the hope of Jesus, Seeds has dramatic results in restoring teens who are struggling with these challenges to a life of purpose.
Our Approach
As a Christian wilderness therapy program, we invite Jesus into all aspects of our approach, combining biblical discipleship and counseling in our work with each student and family. Seeds takes a family systems approach, which actively supports the family system at home, helping the whole family move toward restoration. In addition, we utilize an attachment approach, group counseling, and experiential learning in our therapeutic process.
The therapeutic process at Seeds Wilderness Therapy is summed up by our tagline: Retreat, Restore, Revive.
Retreat
We see in scripture that Jesus used wilderness settings for prayer and experiential teaching. Similarly, at Seeds teenagers retreat into the wilderness of Colorado for 40 days, experiencing life alongside trained staff who disciple, love, and listen. The peace of creation reveals the Creator, inviting students to reflect on their lives; the challenges of the wilderness create opportunities for students to learn and grow.
Learn more about retreat.
Restore
Seeds incorporates prayer, scripture, and worship along with Christian counseling so that each student will find personal restoration and hope for life. A licensed therapist meets with each student individually twice per week throughout their time in the wilderness. Additionally, Seeds provides a family therapist to counsel each family at home, working to restore a peaceful and loving home environment.
Revive
After their time in wilderness, students return home with new purpose, equipped to pass on what they’ve learned about life in God to revive others and multiply their own transformation. Our desire is for fully restored students to live into their identities, step into leadership, and give back to their communities. At Seeds, we believe this kind of purpose is transformational—a key component for long-lasting change.
Dean Reynolds, founder and director of Seeds Wilderness Therapy, describes the impact of wilderness therapy and our therapeutic process in the video above.
Student Profile
Seeds Wilderness Therapy works with 14–17 year olds.
Wilderness therapy may be an appropriate and effective intervention for students with these challenges (on a case-by-case basis):
- Mood disorders
- Trauma
- Substance abuse
- Some social disorders
- Low motivation
- Truancy
- Executive functioning delays
- Attachment
- Minor suicidal ideation
Seeds Wilderness Therapy may not be a good fit for students with these challenges:
- Conduct disorders
- Advanced eating disorders
- Psychosis
- Actively suicidal
- Personality disorders
- Addiction requiring detox
Students must be physically capable of carrying a 40–50lb pack over rugged terrain. Medical clearance is required.