An adolescent struggling with self-destructive behavior, and his family, find hope through a treatment program that combined emotional intelligence assessments and an intensive therapeutic wilderness program.

Overview

Situation: Sam, a struggling 11-year-old, had slid down a dangerous path of isolation and self-destruction in spite of his parents’ and teachers’ best efforts.

Solution: Sam’s parents and counselors developed a treatment plan centered around a therapeutic wilderness treatment program, using the SEI Youth Version to contextualize Sam’s struggles and measure his progress.

Results: By the end of the program, Sam had undergone a remarkable transformation – a change reflected by a massive growth in his emotional intelligence.

Situation

From an early age, Sam’s parents noticed troubling signs of isolation and detachment, but they only became clear “red flags” in hindsight. By the time he was 11, however, Sam’s behavior had escalated, highlighted by major meltdowns, total disconnection from others, and explosive and depressive behavior. He refused to listen to adults and became obsessed with weapons – the situation becoming increasingly frightening and untenable. The entire family suffered in pain, even despair, and couldn’t see a way out.