Testimonials

Hear from our past students and their parents

Students

“When I arrived at Pure Life in April of 2014, I was a washed up junkie with low self esteem and no confidence. I’m glad I came because now I have a whole new life. I’m happy, I’m healthy and I’m being a productive member of society. The time I spent in Costa Rica at Pure Life has been the most impactful, life changing experience of my life. I don’t know where I would be today if I had not made the decision to go Pure Life but I know it would not have been pretty. Best decision I ever made.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Female, 19 years old
“My experience at Pure Life was more than I could have hoped for. The supportive atmosphere and structure of the program combined with the culture and lifestyle of Costa Rica had such a profoundly positive effect on me. After my time there, I felt more comfortable being myself, a much stronger leader and a more emotionally healthy person.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Male, 21 years old
“I came across Pure Life during a very dark period in my life. I was severely depressed and looking for a holistic alternative to modern society’s quagmire of drugs & clinical therapy programs. I had allowed prolonged stress, relationship issues, an overly busy schedule, and the winter blues of Minnesota to take control of me. Pure Life seemed a viable option with its unique combination of individual & group therapy, a life success curriculum to develop yourself both personally & professionally, fused with a wide variety of outdoor adventures in one of the most beautiful & happy places on earth – Costa Rica! I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from an “adventure therapy” program and I was hesitant to invest so much time away from my small business (a private violin & viola studio of which I am the sole proprietor) and highly aware of the huge financial burden my parents were undertaking to send me to the Pure Life program. Desperate to dig myself out of the dark hole I was in or to simply cease existing because of the deep pain I was experiencing, I took the plunge and flew to Costa Rica. My journey out of depression was truly transformational. I came to Pure Life as a broken, lost spirit who had ceased to value my own life and left Costa Rica 8 weeks later feeling a sense of rebirth physically, mentally, emotionally, & spiritually. Thank you to the entire Pure Life team and especially my therapist Helen – I couldn’t have come this far without your support & guidance. !Pura Vida!”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Female, 28 years old
“When I graduated my, what seemed to be a never ending, senior year of high school, I was done mentally. Depression took control and thankfully Pure Life came into view. Being uncomfortable was beyond normal for me, but Pure Life showed me how I have a choice to let being uncomfortable ruin me or push me forward. By learning to accept the physical discomfort of being in the wilderness, I learned how to cope with my emotional discomfort so it would no longer hinder me from living.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Female, 18 years old
“Surfing is like life. Sometimes in surfing you can start off strong and stand up on your first wave. Sometimes that’s skill. Other times it’s luck. But after that it’s not always smooth. You’ll fall down. But even when we crash into our wave in life (Which could be a fight with a friend or a breakup) we still have to make the best possible decision to get up, swim out, and catch another wave. Fighting is very important so remember to catch any wave you want. Don’t limit yourself. Do what you desire. Getting up from falling down makes you stronger. Failing is always an option. So you must fail to succeed. Never compare your surfing skills to others. Yours may be more radical, more awesome, more gnarly. But build your confidence off of yourself. You are the key to making this wave the start of your life. So go surf. It’ll be crazy what you can accomplish if you just set your mind to it.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Male, 25 years old
“When I came to Pure Life I had little confidence or optimism for a successful future, but you all helped me through a self-discovery process that empowered me to pursue a fulfilling life path.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Male, 22 years old
“Before Pure Life, I was a young adult with no voice, no direction, and no passion. While at Pure Life, through one on one therapy, group therapy, and difficult, yet rewarding, physical challenges, I found the motivation to be the self I never thought I could be. Because of Pure Life I am now confident, happy, and passionate about my life and what the future holds in store for me. I could not thank the Pure Life team enough for everything they have done for me.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Female, 21 years old
“I have learned that happiness takes hard work. I know that and I have found a reason to work for it. Pure Life literally saved my life! I came into this program depressed… I had lost my love for life, my family/friends, and my motivation to move on. I learned with the help of my therapist and group that I can’t stuff my feelings and that emotions aren’t logical we just have to accept them sometimes. The group and staff pushed me hard. My comfort zone was pushed, I was physically uncomfortable and mentally challenged. I have learned how to push through being physically uncomfortable and not have it affect my mental attitude. I have a new “peace of mind” attitude that will take me far.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Female, 19 years old
“Pure Life literally saved my life! I came into this program depressed and suicidal. I had lost my love for life, my family and friends, and my motivation to move on. I learned, with the help of my therapist and group, that I can’t stuff my feelings. I have learned how to push through being physically uncomfortable and not let it affect my attitude. I don’t know where I would be without coming to Pure Life! Happiness takes hard work… I know that, and have found a reason to work for it.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Female, 22 years old
“I came to Pure Life an empty shell of the person that I used to be. My first week here I went hiking, and after 2 miles of a steep, mainly rocky incline we reached the peak of the mountain. It was there that I found myself feeling higher than I ever had before. I have finally found myself again. I have a deep and eternal gratitude for Pure Life for helping me grow into myself, and allowing me to feel so free.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Female, 23 years old
“Most of my stumbles have been self-inflicted. But, for all my stumbles, there’s something new: I can recover. I’m catching myself. And I have touchstones to hold onto, and memories of things that work. All of that comes from Costa Rica.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Male, 24 years old

Parents

“As a parent of a struggling young adult, it became apparent I was unable to reach my child in a way that was going to help him prepare for adulthood. The struggles were much greater than my husband and I, as parents, could handle. Pure Life was recommended to us as an option to help my young adult, through a structured, nurturing and supportive environment to look inward at what was troubling him and to find a way to address the issues that would be conducive to his making better choices and move forward into independent adulthood. His problems did not occur overnight, and his journey toward a healthy, productive adulthood will take time, but with Pure Life, he had the opportunity, in a safe emotional environment, to identify and address his issues and to come up with a plan for changes in how he responds to life’s challenges aid him in what will be a fresh start to his adult life. The answers are not always easy and there are hard lessons to learn. The knowledge, experience, compassion and family philosophy of Pure Life helped him to finally face many of his issues and provide him new ways of dealing with them. While we know that his journey into adulthood will take more time, Pure Life was able to get him to recognize his self-defeating attitudes and behaviors and to create healthier ways of responding. We were extremely pleased with Pure Life and the progress that our son made while there. As he said, the program was “the best thing that I never want to do again.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Parent
“Pure Life was a lifesaver for our daughter and our family. They have the right balance between therapy and outdoor adventures. Our daughter came back a new person with greater confidence and ways to handle her anxieties/depression. John Cohen is an amazing therapist who works closely with the parents and the student to help everyone understand and get through the issues. I can’t recommend Pure Life enough to a family in crisis who needs help dealing with addiction, depression and repairing the family unit!”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Parent
“We don’t know where we would be today without Pure Life and your help, and we don’t even want to think about it. We are so enormously grateful to you for the support you gave our son, even when he was being as difficult as he could be. You saw the potential in him, and you communicated hope to us when we were otherwise inundated with despair. I know that his being where he is today is very much due to your help and influence… I sit here wanting the right words to pour out, but I can’t do any better than Thank You Thank You Thank You.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Parent
“My wife and I are truly grateful that our son was able to go to Pure Life and work hard to start the process of finding himself. Going to Costa Rica was not on our radar when we first explored programs. Thanks to all of the people involved in his life there, he is a better person, and for this we thank you all. An email can be so impersonal, but short of flying to see you, it is the best option. We will keep you posted as to his progress. Again, from the bottom of our hearts we thank you. You guys are awesome.”
Hibiscus Distressed - Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica
Parent