Young adults are beginning to increasingly benefit from seeking the helpful support of a therapist during the often difficult transition period between adolescence and adulthood. This can become even more beneficial when mental health concerns and other difficulties come into play as young adults step into new roles and responsibilities with new expectations.
Therapeutic programs that offer a large range of modalities may be the best option for you or your daughter if you are unsure of the therapeutic approach that might be best for your unique situation. Skyterra Young Adult is a therapeutic wellness program that aims to help young adult women jump-start change, build new habits, and improve their health through a wide variety of therapeutic modalities. We recognize that young adults can often benefit from a range of interventions and therapeutic approaches.
With our guest’s holistic health and wellbeing at the forefront, the Skyterra Therapeutic Model includes an assortment of therapeutic modalities important for growth. Read on to learn more about each of these approaches, and how each one can help launch your son or daughter to increased confidence, improved mental and emotional health, and success in the future.
1. Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral Therapy encompasses a wide range of therapies that are leveraged in targeting self-destructive behaviors. Behavioral therapy is built on the foundational belief that behaviors are learned and can be unlearned. For someone wanting to leave behind certain behaviors that are proving to be harmful, behavioral therapy could be an option.
Diving a little deeper, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach that allows you to address your goals by considering the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that support desired behaviors. This can be a helpful option if you or your daughter has specific goals in mind, and desires the reinforcement that only a therapist can provide. Skyterra Young Adult utilizes CBT in individual and group therapy.
Further, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is another behavioral therapy approach that teaches skills to help create balance, foster mindfulness, regulate emotions, manage distress, and increase interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are taught in simple-to-understand formats, and when practiced daily, can lead to lasting change. Therapists at Skyterra utilize skills from DBT in individual and group therapy settings.
Behavioral therapy exposure is important for guests at Skyterra. Before arriving at Skyterra, we know that many of our guests routinely spend excessive amounts of time in isolation, specifically at home in their rooms. Attending Skyterra Young Adult means a commitment to a structured schedule that guests follow on a daily basis, consisting of movement, community meals, private and group sessions, and recreational activities onsite and off. Having the discipline to stick to a routine helps many of our guests see the benefit of showing up for themselves, even when it’s challenging.
Behavioral therapy has been scientifically studied and found to be effective in addressing various mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, that many of our guests suffer from. Behavioral therapy helps transform behaviors that might be self-destructive to our guests into behaviors that are healthy and productive. Through conversation and a whole lot of practical application within our safe community, change is truly possible.
One style of conversation that our therapists might use in session with our guests is that of Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with special attention put towards leading the guest to positive change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal in an atmosphere of compassionate curiosity. Many of our guests struggle with indecisiveness and uncertainty. Motivational interviewing helps the guest begin to make positive decisions for themself with conviction. We use this conversational technique to help empower our guests in the direction of change while still respectfully honoring their autonomy.
2. Grief and Trauma Therapy
Grief Therapy is a form of therapy that addresses the emotions and thoughts that follow or great loss in the life of the individual. Grief therapy is successful at managing pain and processing memories of the individuals that have passed away or have left the guest’s life suddenly and unexpectedly. Trauma Therapy is designed to help you with your history of traumatizing experiences. It incorporates a variety of other therapies that your therapist may deem helpful to your specific circumstances, but overall, both modalities can be incredibly healing and help to lighten huge emotional burdens weighing guests down.
Many of the young adults that attend Skyterra are living with the burden of grief or trauma. These can be incredibly debilitating to a young adult in a critical period of life. Sometimes, young adults can get “stuck” in the grief experience or trauma can slow them down in ways they may no longer recognize on their own, for a period of time that is excessive. Individuals in this situation often lose the ability to maintain their everyday responsibilities, such as school or work. It’s also common for them to shut down emotionally and withdraw from others. Some other symptoms include anger, guilt, anxiety, indecision, inability to concentrate, depression, apathy, hopelessness, and substance abuse struggles. We see this often at Skyterra Young Adult.
Our therapeutic goal is to meet each guest right where they are, help them fully process the loss or trauma, and work through it in a slow, healthy way that allows them to move forward. By providing them opportunities to work through the often intense anxiety associated with grief or trauma triggers, we help our guests navigate the long-term effects of these kinds of traumas.
Brainspotting is another technique that we utilize to address pain and trauma. Brainspotting tracks eye movements across fields of vision, helping individuals identify and release how their body stores pain and trauma. This is an incredible, up-and-coming option for our guests who may need to heal their trauma-induced emotions, fears, and pain on a deeper level.
3. Holistic Therapy
Holistic Therapy goes beyond just addressing the specific diagnoses a person may have, recognizing that they are, in fact, a person first and foremost. Holistic therapy is an approach to healing the entire being, with more than just the symptoms and diagnoses being taken into consideration. It considers all aspects of the person, including mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual factors that influence a person’s well-being.
At Skyterra Young Adult, we don’t just want to cure your symptoms. We want to see you thrive across all aspects of your life, in a hopeful, holistic way. Our unique Therapeutic Wellness model supports this concept. We are firm believers that all aspects of your health and wellness are interconnected and work alongside each other constantly. This is why, in addition to traditional one-on-one and small-group therapy, we have carefully and intentionally integrated fitness, nutrition, and stress management into our program.
Throughout their stay, guests rediscover the joy and power of practicing wellness, and the importance of routines including structured meals, a healthy diet, and consistent sleep. We teach relaxation techniques to help you cope with stress and improve your mental health, many of which will be discussed in the next point.
4. Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and experience from moment to moment. This is an ideal practice for someone wanting to increase self-awareness. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy uses techniques such as mindfulness meditation and breathwork to teach people to consciously pay attention to their thoughts and feelings without placing any judgments upon them.
Breathwork encourages increased self-awareness with breathing exercises that help individuals relax and be in the present moment. Those with anxiety disorders or high levels of stress may appreciate the opportunity to slow down. Alongside the development of a mindful breathing practice is Yoga Therapy, which can be used as a treatment or preventative method in maintaining many aspects of your health. Many have found yoga therapy to be effective in treating several common mood disorders when paired with more traditional therapeutic modalities.
Alongside all of these unique therapeutic methods, we notably offer Ecotherapy at Skyterra Young Adult. Ecotherapy helps our guests address mental health challenges by connecting with nature and spending adequate time outdoors. Technology can often overtake our brain space in today’s culture and Ecotherapy may be just the thing a young adult needs to reconnect with real life. At Skyterra, Ecotherapy may involve activities such as hiking, water activities, outdoor fitness, gardening, walking, playing games, journaling, and more. This is a great option for someone who finds it easier to relax and reflect in the outdoors.
5. Family Systems Therapy
Lastly, Family Systems Therapy (FST) is an essential component of the Skyterra therapeutic approach. It is a form of therapy that helps our guests find peace and reconciliation within their often closest relationships. We know that each member of a family contributes to the health of the family system, so FST is a great option for families that are experiencing a level of dysfunction that feels unmanageable on their own. The guidance of a therapist could aid with the healing of both the parent and young adult child in this instance. At Skyterra Young Adult, we know how challenging it can be to break through barriers and step into your highest self. We are passionate about our individualized therapeutic program within a wellness-focused community because we know what works when it comes to serving you and your daughter. A consistent routine that consists of structured, healthy habits alongside private and group therapy designed to help you grow, no matter your starting point, will be the key to success. For more information on the Skyterra therapeutic approach, as well as our program and what we offer, click here.
