118: Louise Slater: Educational Consultant and Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Release Date: 03/24/2021
146: Margo Kelly, Course Leader/Therapist at True North
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Margo Kelly, MSW, MEd (they/them/theirs) is a course leader/therapist at True North in Vermont. Their journey to wilderness therapy began on a backpacking trip on the Long Trail when they came upon three different people who pointed them in the direction of True North. Margo was intrigued with an offer to be a therapist for the all-gender team and took the job. Margo shares their gender journey, their recommendations for treatment with trans and non-binary youth, and why wilderness therapy works so well.
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145: Jamila Minnifield: Primary Therapist at First Light Wilderness Therapy
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Jamila Minnifield is a therapist at First Light Wilderness in Georgia. Jamila shares the story of her unusual journey to becoming a wilderness therapist, from her serendipitous learning about wilderness therapy on a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail to being a field guide for over two years, although having already achieved her masters in counseling. Jamila is a trailblazer as she is the second black woman therapist in the field, and she is the first who was a field guide before being a therapist.
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144: How to get Insurance Reimbursement for Wilderness Therapy
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Mary Covington is the President of Denials Management, a healthcare advocacy firm specializing in mental health billing, claims, and appeals. Mary explains the critical steps in getting insurance reimbursement for wilderness therapy and how to appeal a denied insurance claim. Mary shares how insurance companies view outdoor behavioral healthcare and how Denials Management has helped parents recoup over 12 million dollars in reimbursement from insurance companies for wilderness therapy treatment.
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143: Financial Help for Wilderness Therapy Treatment, Part 2
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
The cost of wilderness therapy treatment is expensive, yet several organizations will help. In this second of two episodes, we hear stories from leaders of non-profit organizations that help families by providing funds to help pay for wilderness therapy treatment. We talk with John Hunt from Jason William Hunt Foundation, Liz Bounds from the Parker Bounds Johnson Foundation, and Derek Daley from the Loa Fund. We will hear about the history of the organizations, how to apply for funds, and other resources.
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142: Financial Help for Wilderness Therapy Treatment, Part 1
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
The cost of wilderness therapy treatment is expensive, yet several organizations will help. In this episode, we hear stories from leaders of non-profit organizations that help families by providing funds to help pay for wilderness therapy treatment. We talk with Debbie Roelands from Skys the Limit Fund, Brad Matheson from Choose Mental Health, and Miriam Miller from Charles N Miller Scholarship fund. They will share the history of the organizations, how to apply for funds and other resources for families.
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141: Philip Stallard, Founder of New Wave Wild Project in Ireland
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Phil Stallard is the founder of the New Wave Wild Project in Ireland. Philip is the first person outside of the U.S. to become a Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist. Philip's journey into the field was filled was paved with the intention of legitimizing the Adventure Therapy profession in Ireland. He shares his story of how he became interested in the field and why he choose to become a clinical social worker. He goes into the evolution of New Wave and why he was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year.
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140: Harpa Erlendsdottir: Manager of the Icelandic Adventure Therapy Association.
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Harpa Erlendsdottir is a clinical occupational therapist and the General Manager of the Icelandic Adventure Therapy Association. Growing up in the majestic beauty of Iceland inspired Harpa to become involved in the field. She shares her story of being involved in Scouting and learning about Experiential Education. She would travel to the U.S. to take a course at Project Adventure to learn more. She shares stories about her experiences in the field and the Gathering of Adventure Therapists in Europe.
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139: Andy Hardie: Clinical Manager at Venture Trust in the United Kingdom
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Andy Hardie is the Clinical Manager of Venture Trust in the United Kingdom. Andy shares his journey into the field, which began when heading to the only university that accepted him to study Outdoor Leadership. He would go onto work at the original Outward Bound school. Andy shares how Venture Trust began as a 21-day “boot camp” style wilderness therapy program and has evolved to be a social change agent, including providing Outdoor Therapy for free to young people age 16-25 and ex-service members.
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138: Cindy Ross, author of "Walking Toward Peace-Veterans Healing on America's Trails"
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Cindy Ross is the author of the new book, "Walking Toward Peace- Veterans Healing on America's Trails," which profiles combat veterans who found healing through the outdoors as well as long-distance expeditions. She shares her journey of writing the book and what she learned from veterans.
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137: Jorge Venceslau, Co-founder of Age of Discoveries in Portugal.
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Jorge Venceslau is the program director and co-founder of Age of Discoveries, located in Portugal. Jorge's journey into the field began in his early 20's when he struggled with several issues and found wilderness to be a place of healing. He would become a recovery coach and worked in programs worldwide, including The Crossroads Center in Antigua. He always dreamed of starting his own program, and in this episode, he shares the joys and challenges of creating the first adventure therapy program in Portugal
info_outlineLouise Slater is an educational consultant at The Price Group and is the parent of a former wilderness student. Louise shares the story of her family's struggles with different treatment options before deciding to place their son in a wilderness therapy program in Georgia in 2004. Louise tells us about what her family's wilderness experience was like, what she and her family learned from the process, and how the field has changed over the years. She shares how she helps parents prepare for wilderness experience as an educational consultant and former parent.
Bio from The Price Group Website:
As one of the two business partners at The Price Group, Louise brings her knowledge of psychology, her love of young people, and her many years of evaluating organizational leadership and culture to the educational consulting practice. Working with and for young people has been a passion for Louise for many years. After her own sons had been clients, she learned that Ann Carol Price, founder of The Price Group, was interested in retiring and transitioning the business to new owners. She approached her friend and colleague, May Peach, a career educator, about purchasing the business.
Louise completed her B.A. in Psychology at Furman University and her M.A. in Psychology at Western Michigan University. She had a long career in the corporate world of Organizational Development and taught on the faculty of the University of South Carolina Business School. She is still actively involved in her family businesses, as Chairman of the Board of Consolidated Systems, Inc. and is a board member of Bonitz, Inc. She is former board chair of Glenforest School, a private school in Columbia, South Carolina, for children with learning differences and is currently serving as the secretary on the board of Presbyterian College, a small liberal arts college located in Clinton, South Carolina.
Louise is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), former chair of the IECA Learning Differences Committee and in 2009, received the Irv Katz Award, an award given by IECA, recognizing her commitment to children and education, particularly her volunteer work as the founder of the Friends of Juvenile Justice (FJJ), an organization that advocates and provides resources to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. Louise has a certification as a CEP (Certified Educational Planner), as a Parent Coach (PCP) and completed level one certification as an ARISE interventionist (CAI-1). ARISE is a family centered intervention process to support recovery from substance abuse and mental health issues. She is also a member of the Young Adult Transition Association (YATA) and enjoys mentoring young adults and helping them “launch”.
Louise has three sons, a step-daughter, and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking rivers and marshes with her friends, working out at the gym, traveling with her husband, cooking, reading, biking, and spending time with her dogs, Roxy and Chloe.