Neal Christensen New Clinical Director For Outback

Outback Therapeutic Expeditions, a therapeutic wilderness program for struggling teens ages 13-17, is pleased to announce its new Clinical Director, Dr. Neal Christensen.

"We are delighted to have Neal join the Outback team," says Rick Meeves, Executive Director of Outback. "His talent and experience with helping youth, combined with his solid belief in the outdoor experience, will be tremendous assets for our program, our students and the many families we serve."

Neal joins Outback permanently after having spent several years as an Outback Field Therapist while he worked to complete his graduate studies work. Neal earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas, and recently completed the required one year APA-accredited internship at the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kansas where he conducted individual, group and marital therapy on an outpatient basis. Neal also spent time as a therapist for Marillac Center for Children where he provided substance abuse and chemical dependency treatment and individual and group therapy to children and adolescents.

Neal started working part-time as a Field Therapist for Outback in 2004 and says he was immediately impressed with the program's philosophy and model.

"I am a firm believer in the power of the wilderness, in its ability to help teens who are struggling in today's chaotic world," says Neal. "Outback's ancient cultural systems model serves as today's teens' 'rite of passage,' helping them mature and refocus to ultimately make better life decisions."

Adds Neal: "I'm honored and excited to be working alongside such a clinically competent team of wilderness professionals and therapists."

Outback Therapeutic Expeditions is known for blending the best of ancient cultural systems with the most effective and proven therapeutic processes. Incoming students may be experiencing family conflict, negative peer interaction, isolation, low self-esteem, academic difficulty, or addictive drug, alcohol or computer habits. Outback incorporates the highest standards of safety and therapy with one of the most powerful settings for real change: the wilderness. For more information, visit www.outbacktreatment.com. Neal Christensen can be reached at 801-766-3933 or nchristensen@outbacktreatment.com.

Outback is a program of Aspen Education Group, the nation's leading provider of therapeutic education programs for struggling or underachieving young people. Aspen's services range from short-term intervention programs to residential treatment, and include a variety of therapeutic settings such as boarding schools, outdoor behavioral health programs and special needs summer camps, allowing professionals and families the opportunity to choose the best setting to meet a student's unique academic and emotional needs. Aspen is a division of CRC Health Group, the nation's largest chemical dependency and related behavioral health organization. For over two decades, CRC Health has been achieving successful outcomes for individuals and families. For more information, visit www.aspeneducation.com.