Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness is an immersive wilderness therapy program offering adolescents (13-18) and young adults ages (18-29) opportunities to connect and align with their values, build confidence and develop healthy relationships

CLAYTON, GA, March 01, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ — Emerald Arrow, an outdoor experiential program for young adults ages 18-29, recently celebrated four years of providing individualized clinical assessment to young adults in an integrative wilderness therapy environment. Developed by Clinical Director and Primary Therapist, Anne Wilzbacher, LCMHC, the program has grown with the evolving needs of young adults while remaining rooted in foundations of health, vitality, purpose, freedom, and creativity. Emerald Arrow combines in-depth clinical insight and creativity-driven experiences to empower students to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their families and their communities.

Since 2018, the Emerald Arrow team has enriched programming to support students in navigating the complexities of young adulthood with self-esteem, curiosity and flexibility. Program offerings, such as skill-building workshops, cooking classes, creative intensives, mindfulness, and the professional guest speaker series help guide students address the challenges associated with living independently, beginning a new job, attending college, and more. When visiting Anchor Point, Emerald Arrow’s student retreat property, students enjoy cooking classes in a commercial kitchen, self care days with warm showers, and room for self-led endeavors such as gardening, mural painting, journaling and curating ceremonies for their peers.

A recent Emerald Arrow alum, Taylor, describes her experiences in the program:
“My time in Emerald Arrow consisted of laughter, tears, introspection, realizations, and growth. The program is no joke, I dug deeper into myself than I ever thought was possible. Emerald arrow allowed me to rebuild myself and rebuild the relationships around me in the process. I conquered mental and physical challenges I never thought I was capable of. I learned about things I never thought I would be interested in, such as bow drilling. The moment you make fire for the first time is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I felt powerful and capable, because if I could make fire with two sticks, I could do anything… It may sound silly, but making fire also lit a fire inside of me. I came out the other side of this program confident in who I am, my personality came back, and I had a new flourishing relationship with my family.”

The Emerald Arrow team has also grown in recent years. Bob Hennen, LCMHC, LCAS, joined the team as Primary Therapist in June 2022, bringing to the field nearly a decade of experience as a therapist and clinical director in outpatient and residential substance use and co-occurring mental health treatment programs. Other welcomed additions to the team include Psychiatrist Dr. Braunstein and Field Coordinator James West.

Primary Therapists Anne and Bob work with the rest of the Emerald Arrow team to understand the students they work with and their families on a variety of levels. This attunement to students is also supplemented by the results of multidisciplinary assessments conducted by Emerald Arrow Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lorena Bradley. Throughout the student’s stay in the program, Dr. Bradley conducts an initial assessment, a skills assessment, and personality and strengths assessment encompassed in the Campbell Interest and Skills Survey (CISS). These assessments help illuminate students’ strengths, personalities and areas of clinical interest. Together, the Emerald Arrow team combines their clinical understanding of and experiences with the student and the student’s family systems to provide young adults with highly individualized treatment plans and aftercare options.

“I’ve had some bumps along the road since I left the program, but I now have a better understanding about why I do the things I do,” Taylor continues, “and better yet, I had learned the skills to cope and move forward. If things aren’t working, it may be time to break yourself down, learn about each and every aspect of yourself, go back to your roots and rebuild… Emerald arrow changed my life and I could never thank the staff and the nature I was surrounded with enough. I would recommend this program to anyone who needs a real change in their life. It is an experience I will never forget and never regret.”

Emerald Arrow at Blue Ridge combines in-depth clinical insight and comprehensive assessment with creativity and purpose-driven experiences to produce a unique wilderness experience for each student. In Emerald Arrow, young adults ages 18-29 face consistent opportunities to discover community, purpose and self. To learn more, visit www.blueridgewilderness.com or call the admissions team today at (888) 914-1050.

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