Penikese
Woods Hole, MA

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Penikese Offers Therapeutic
Fly Fishing

Listen to the 8 minute Woodbury Report now.

Therapeutic fly fishing is one of the experiential therapies used at Penikese. Fly fishing requires coordinated action, timing, and patience. Success requires the angler to be calm, focused, and fully present. Like all new skills, it can be frustrating at first and takes time to master; however, fly fishing at Penikese offers numerous opportunities for therapeutic learning and interaction. For example, therapists routinely incorporate distress tolerance, affect regulation, and mindfulness into the practice of fly fishing.

In addition, fly fishing is an activity rich in metaphors. Our experienced clinicians skillfully weave these metaphors into the practice of angling, helping our residents address issues related to substance use, trauma, and mood disorders. Once the basic mechanics are understood, fly fishing becomes an inherently contemplative activity-one that residents are encouraged to practice during their stay. It is our hope to teach and promote activities like fly fishing that are psychically nurturing and intrinsically enjoyed for a lifetime.

Penikese is a non-profit, short term intervention and treatment program in southern Massachusetts for boys, ages 14 to 17, with substance abuse issues coupled with "internalizing" mental health challenges - anxiety, mood, attachment and trauma.