I believe the girls we work with at Alpine are diverse, unique individuals. Although certain diagnostic labels may apply, this often doesn’t do justice to their complicated struggles. In treating them as individuals, I also feel there is seldom a “one size fits all” therapeutic approach. Plus, we know teenagers…
Sometimes it happens in bits and pieces. Other times all at once. A feeling of contentment that takes you by surprise. The realization that this place, this space, is where you feel like you breathe the easiest. Where you are most mindful of your own presence. Where you are your…
As several of my girls approach their graduation dates, I am noticing a consistent trend. I notice that many of their behaviors were at a more desirable level a couple of months ago then they are today. This goes against the perfect positive correlation between length of stay and behavior…
Over the last month, I have done weekly equine sessions with one of my girls. Often equine sessions provide rich metaphors that can be used in subsequent ‘talk’ therapy sessions, so I do not usually do equine sessions with this level of regularity. However, with this particular young woman, equine…
Woohoo! We are excited to announce that we have created a local group chapter of I Am That Girl here at Alpine Academy. You might be asking yourself “What is I Am That Girl?” I Am That Girl is an organization that has created an online and local communities throughout…
Raising children is a lifelong commitment my mom told me. I contradicted. You mean until they are 18. No, sweetie. Lifelong she gently restated. With that smile of hers. (Still to date the best-smile-ever. Most genuine, loving, real and struck-by-lightening smile.) I grinned and typical to my 20-something self, thought,…
One of my passions outside of therapy is working with trees. While I was attending the University I remember walking from class to class picking up seeds and learning how to grown them myself. Now getting a tree to grow isn’t as simple as placing a seed in the ground…