About
Pure Life is a clinically integrated Adventure Therapy program that focuses on the treatment of various social, emotional and behavioral challenges in adolescents and young adults.
Since its founding in the Fall of 2013, Pure Life has served hundreds of families through the powerful healing nature of Costa Rica coupled with a research-based adventure therapy model. After successfully serving young adults for nine years, families and professionals have asked us to provide services for adolescents. We are pleased to open our doors to adolescents ages 15-17. These students will be able to heal and grow in the beauty of Costa Rica. Our unique model incorporates: nature, mindfulness, cultural immersion, adventure activities, and community service with the strong foundation of clinical support provided by our licensed Masters-level clinicians.
Our adolescent programs are designed specifically to help a struggling teenager by therapeutically addressing common adolescent mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, executive functioning deficits, failure to launch, and low motivation.
Because we use adventure activities for growth instead of relying on an office-based therapy, Costa Rica provides a unique setting where nature, adventure, and cultural immersion can harness real-world experiences to help adolescents build confidence, gain applicable life skills, and make lasting changes.
Click below to download our Research Paper on the benefits of Adventure Wilderness Therapy:
" Deciding to spend 87 days in the jungle was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. Still, no part of me would trade any of it. Some days are easier and some days it feels impossible to make it through. But, getting to work on myself in the most amazing and beautiful place was unreal."
One step at a time
Student Profile
Pure Life works with adolescents that struggle with anxiety, depression, learning differences, executive function deficits, and social pressure. Adolescents who experience these traits often find that daily functioning becomes difficult under the pressure of increased responsibility. The inability to manage emotions, behaviors, and relationships is very common. Adolescents at Pure Life are typically facing challenges associated with:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance use & abuse
- Screen and game overuse
- Executive functioning deficits / Learning differences
- Social challenges and isolation
- Refusal or disengagement from school
- Low motivation
- Entitlement
- Attachment & adoption issues
- Body image issues
- Trauma
While resistance or reluctance to attend Pure Life is very normal for young people, our clients do demonstrate some level of interest or willingness to get help. We only take clients who are fully informed and willing to attend, which contributes to a high functioning group milieu. Our adolescent program is open to all genders between 15 – 17 years-old.
"The Adventure Therapy model helps adolescents by providing a comprehensive treatment approach that includes individual, group, and family therapy. Our students also work on their social skills, leadership skills, and executive functioning skills through the implementation of cultural immersion, community service, life skills curriculum, and adventure-based activities."
Activities
Our Activities
Surfing
Costa Rica is known for great surfing. Our surf instructors will challenge you, whether you have years of experience or you’ve never been on a surfboard before.
White Water Rafting
Costa Rica has some of the best rafting in the world. You will be trained to guide a raft down Class II and III rapids.
Rainforest Backpacking
Hike through pristine rainforest, seeing monkeys, sloths, and other exotic wildlife for one to two weeks at a time. Each step counts as you push your limits.
Wilderness First Aid Course
Learn how to treat emergencies in the field. Empower yourself to manage risk in your own adventure activities.
Cultural Homestays
Our hiking itineraries often include stays with rural family. Spend time with these families: speak Spanish, learn about Tico traditions, and participate in agrarian lifestyle.
Rappelling
Descending by a rope through Costa Rica’s beautiful waterfalls can be a life changing experience. Many of our itineraries include rappel elements.
Sea Kayaking
Spend a week paddling the “Gulfo Dulce” with the possibility of seeing sea turtles and dolphins. This itinerary is a favorite.
Community Service
Support isolated Costa Rican towns in developing their infrastructure. Activities have included, improving community centers, volunteering in orphanages, and building bridges to connect communities.
Rock Climbing
Climb a basalt wall with routes ranging from beginner to advanced at Cachí. Learn the safety procedures as well as how to belay.
Swift Water Rescue Course
Manage safety in rivers and oceans. Learn how to perform a water rescue.
Technical Rope Rescue
Tie up to 10 different knots, learn belay and rescue systems, and perfect ascending and descending techniques.
Is This Program Right For Your Teen?
You’re concerned. You’ve noticed changes in your child, yet you’re uncertain of what to do next. You spend a fair amount of your time thinking about how to help your child, but nothing you do seems to be working. In fact, your child seems to withdraw more and more each day.
Many parents search for support when they notice patterns like declining motivation, increased anxiety, school avoidance, excessive screen time as an escape from reality, low confidence, or growing conflict at home. These challenges can leave families feeling frustrated and unsure of where to turn next.
If your teen exhibits any of these symptoms for a sustained period of time, Adventure Therapy can help:
Worsening anxiety
Withdrawal from family, friends, and activities they’ve previously enjoyed
Apathy or difficulty following through on responsibilities
School avoidance, slipping grades, or lack of academic engagement
Excessive screen time
Low self-confidence, negative self-talk, or fear of trying new things
Struggles with emotional regulation–anger, shutdown, or impulsivity
Family conflict, communication breakdowns, or increasing tension at home
Difficulty building or maintaining healthy peer relationships
Risky or unhealthy coping behaviors
Trouble “launching” into the next stage of life
The signs that your teen needs therapy don’t need to be present all at once, but consistent and persistent patterns in several of these areas may indicate your teen could benefit from a structured adventure therapy for teens.
Why Choose Pure Life
Pure Life offers a unique adolescent mental health program that combines licensed, Masters-level clinical therapy with a true adventure-based model. Teens participate in individual and group therapy while also building confidence through activities like surfing, backpacking, whitewater rafting, rappelling, and community service–we use real, meaningful experience as part of the therapeutic process.
Apart from our clinical and adventure model, our venue truly sets us apart. Our Costa Rica setting adds cultural immersion, nature connection that heals and restores, and distance from everyday stressors. When students experience another culture, it builds maturity, gratitude, and perspective, while our adventure activities build self-confidence, resilience, and emotional growth.
What Your Adolescent Will Gain
With the natural setting of Costa Rica, combined with adventure therapy, our teen therapy program in Costa Rica has the power to transform your teen. Everything they learn is directly applicable to the skills they will need to navigate everyday life with success. After completion of the program, you’ll likely see many of the following benefits of therapy for adolescents:
- Greater self-confidence and a stronger sense of direction
- Moving away from feeling stuck and disconnected to becoming more engaged and motivated
- Improved emotional regulation and healthier response to stress or frustration
- Increased resilience and desire to face challenges rather than avoid them
- Better communication skills for home, school, and peer relationships
- Enhanced problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Greater maturity, purpose, and readiness for the next steps in life
The First Step Toward Hope
Is this program right for you? It’s a question all parents ask as they stand on the cusp of a season of uncertainty–especially when you know something needs to change, but you’re not sure what kind of support will help most.
The good news is that you don’t have to have every answer to explore your options. Speaking with an experienced admissions team member can help you get a better understanding of your teen’s needs, what the program experience will look like, and whether Pure Life Adventure aligns with your family’s goals and values.
With a clinically guided, adventure-based model and years of experience helping adolescents grow in confidence, independence, and emotional health, Pure Life offers a path forward for families seeking meaningful change. Taking that first step takes courage. But with a trusted partner by your side, you’ll feel more confident. We can help you find clarity and hope for the future. Don’t wait to talk to an expert today–early support often creates the best opportunity for lasting growth. We offer free consultations, so call us today!