Adolescent Program

Heal and grow in the beauty of Costa Rica

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 researched-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.

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.

Cultural Immersion

The concept of “novel environment” is one of the primary treatment constructs associated with Wilderness & Adventure Therapy. Experiencing the outdoors and exposure to new and different activities is good for the brain. Cultural immersion works in a very similar way. Being exposed to unique and different environments can help individuals expand their worldview and consider more possibilities when dealing with mental health issues. Our students explore parts of Costa Rica that many locals haven’t heard of, in order to obtain a unique and authentic, life changing experience. At Pure Life we engage in community outreach initiatives. Through this process, participants develop new perspectives. By helping others, our students gain increased empathy and compassion that fosters gratitude, overall life satisfaction and a greater sense of meaning.

Cultural Homestays are an opportunity for students to stay in the home of a local Costa Rican family. This usually means sleeping with the group and guides in a safe and clean environment. Cultural Homestays benefit all parties involved. Host families benefit as they are paid for room and board, and students are asked to roll up their sleeves and pitch in with daily chores in and out of the house.

Students gain a rich understanding of a very different culture by engaging in all aspects of family life. From harvesting and preparing food, to performing daily chores, they have an opportunity to observe basic human characteristics we all share regardless of our place in the world. Cultural Homestays also encourage students to assess their own needs versus wants. Students take time to reflect on the expression of values in relationships and daily life, explore and strengthen their core beliefs, and gain a deeper appreciation for simplicity.

Our students explore parts of Costa Rica that many locals haven’t heard of, in order to obtain a unique and authentic life changing experience. At Pure Life, we engage in community outreach initiatives. Through this process, participants develop new perspectives. By helping others, our students gain increased empathy and compassion that fosters gratitude, overall life satisfaction, and a greater sense of meaning.

Holistic Therapeutic Support

Pure Life therapists are licensed and experienced in dealing with the unique challenges faced by our students. They facilitate weekly individual therapy, as well as group sessions during which students and staff work together to confront and overcome individual issues through mutual understanding, support, and honest feedback. By working together, Primary Therapists and Field Instructors are able to streamline therapeutic treatment plans for each individual and facilitate intentional therapeutic experiences according to each student’s needs. Pure Life uses a strengths-based, integrated clinical model including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in which students quickly learn new, healthy coping strategies, behavioral and emotional regulation, leadership skills, and life skills that lead to future success.

Activities such as yoga, fitness classes, and meditation expose participants to new habits that encourage health and wellness. The importance of good nutrition and proper hydration are stressed as part of the daily routine. Self-improvement starts with a healthy routine. Evidence increasingly suggests that healthy eating and regular exercise are vital, not only to our physical health, but our mental health as well. By learning healthy habits, each student is on a path to sustainable self-improvement, health and well-being.

To further ensure that each student is healthy, they receive weekly medical check-ups and daily medical check ins with our highly certified staff. At Pure Life, we have access to the best medical and psychological care in Central America.

Family Work

Family involvement is an essential component to the Pure Life process. Often parents feel powerless and discouraged with respect to their child and they simply don’t know the best way to be supportive. Our therapists meet with students during campus days for individual and group therapy sessions. Throughout the remainder of the week, therapists work closely with the parents focusing on important family dynamics and parent coaching. Therapists coordinate care with the student and parent on a weekly basis. Parents are expected to work hard during their son or daughter’s stay at Pure Life. They interact with their adolescents through the online Family Portal with weekly letter writing, assignments, and photos.

Parents are strongly encouraged to visit about 4 to 6 weeks into the process. This is an opportunity to reconnect the family in a meaningful way and process the changes both child and parents are experiencing at Pure Life. This is accomplished by facilitating an adventure activity on day one and family therapy on day two of the family visit. Educational workshops, readings and individualized assignments are also provided.

A Day In The Life

Check-In with group. How is everyone feeling today?
Set SMART Goals for the day. Goals are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Specific
Review curriculum
Read, Stretch, Meditate, Journal
Review the plan for the day