Discovery Academy
Provo, Utah

Discovery Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for adolescents, announces the addition of Dr. David Hillstead, a respected wilderness experiential therapist, to the staff. Dr. Hillstead will lead Discovery's Wilderness Renewal therapy groups.

Located in Provo, Utah, Discovery Academy is a leader in providing transitional therapy in an experiential setting. Under Dr. Hillstead's direction, the Wilderness Renewal program will help students who have graduated from wilderness programs build on that momentum during their stay at Discovery Academy.

Dr. Hillstead is a marriage and family therapist with more than 11 years experience in wilderness and residential treatment. He formerly practiced at Second Nature and Aspen Achievement.

Discovery's Wilderness Renewal groups are comprised of 8-10 students who spend a half day once each week in an outdoor setting that mimics wilderness. The students participate in various activities similar to those practiced at respected wilderness programs throughout the country. Then, in a group therapy setting, they process their activities with Dr. Hillstead.

"Wilderness gives students a sense of pride and feeling of accomplishment," Dr. Hillstead notes. "Sometimes a change of scenery from the comfort and ease of a residential setting helps students remember how the fire for internal change began in the first place."

In addition to his weekly work with Discovery Academy, Dr. Hillstead is a full-time wilderness therapist with RedCliff Ascent.

Brent Hall, Executive Director at Discovery Academy says, "We feel very fortunate to have Dr. Hillstead as part of our staff. His experience in both wilderness and residential therapeutic settings helps Discovery Academy provide another experiential bridge to effective therapy."