Open Sky is a five- to eight-week wilderness therapy program that operates in southeastern Utah, with administrative offices in Durango, CO. The program follows a holistic approach that "integrates the best of traditional clinical modalities, naturopathy and wilderness therapy." Open Sky accepts adolescents, ages 13-17, and adults, ages 18-28.
The therapists are trained in research-proven methods including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Gottman's Couples' Therapy, Motivational Interviewing as well as other Strength-Based and Evidence-Based practices. A personal wellness plan is created for each student, to develop a lifelong practice of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. The treatment team maintains on-going aftercare work with all professionals involved with the student.
The staff claims over 70 years of collective experience in the fields of wilderness therapy and holistic medicine. Key staff includes Executive Director Aaron Fernandes, Clinical Director Pam Parsons, Research Director/ Therapist Joanna Bettmann, Clinical Therapist Emily Demong, Operations Director Danny Frazer, Senior Field Guides Adam Merce and John Dupuy.
Note:The information in this New Perspective came from the Open Sky Wilderness brochure.