Posted: Nov 27, 2006, 13:57 PINE RIVER INSTITUTE New Perspectives

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Karen Minden, PhD, CEO
416-955-1453
info@pineriverinstitute.com
www.pineriverinstitute.com


The Pine River Institute, located about an hour north of Toronto, is a new therapeutic boarding school serving 13 to 18 year-olds in crisis - most dealing with addictive behaviors. The program model is based on the developmental needs of teens and addresses addictions through both individual and group work using a variety of approaches including 12-step, relapse prevention, and drug & alcohol education. Pine River accepts both Canadian and US students. Pine Ridge sees the family as a critical component to the success of the program.

Pine Ridge describes its program as comprehensive and holistic - teaching life skills and academic skills side-by-side. The staff at Pine Ridge appears well-qualified and diverse - including psychologists, teachers, therapists and wilderness experts along with dance and movement therapists, professional chefs, and even pro athletes. The 200 acre campus is located on a Unesco-designated biosphere area - affording students the opportunity to learn environmental stewardship.

The four-phase program offers seamless approach - starting with a 42 to 64 day wilderness experience followed by 6 to 8 months in the residence phase. Using a positive peer culture, students live in community houses of up to 10 students. The third phase focuses on the process of transitioning home and expects the family to be active in developing the final phase, a detailed aftercare program.

Pine River works closely with researchers from Canadian universities and medical schools to assess their program implementation, develop and study outcomes, and analyze organizational capacity.

[This New Perspective was written by our Research Affiliate Judith E. Bessette, PhD, Nashotah, Wisconsin. Judi got this information through research on the phone and via the program website.]

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