Interview with Ellen

Q: Why do you work in wilderness therapy?
A: I have been in the field of wilderness therapy for about 7 years. I fell in love with it in 1999 when I helped to start an outdoor program for a company I was working for. I was a residential counselor at a group home for adjudicated teens. I could not believe the results we had when the students could be outside healing, rather than indoors throwing lamps and pots and pans at each other and at staff. I then ended up working at Aspen Achievement Academy, a wilderness therapy program, for 5 years. I have been amazed by the effects the wilderness can have on people. I truly believe that the chance to step outside of urban life, which most people don’t do anymore, is the chance of a lifetime. The students seem able to leave the stresses of their lives behind, and can truly focus on themselves.

Q: Why do you think wilderness works?
A: My favorite part of wilderness therapy, and why I think it works, is the fact that most teens leave the wilderness feeling more confident about themselves because they have just accomplished something very hard. This transfers to their home lives, as they are able to deal with the stresses better and to be one step ahead of other teens. I also love wilderness therapy because of what it can do for me. It is the best job I have ever had. I am able to help others and to take a deeper look at who I am and who I want to be. My personal growth in this field is never-ending. I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for my time in this field.

Q: What do you believe our students need?
A: In this day and age, the world very much revolves around money, work and technology. One thing that has truly been left behind is the time for play, and the human need to be connected to natural surroundings. To grow up in this world, especially in the teenage years, is tough and challenging. The pressure to conform to the ideals and values of high school is unbelievable. Most teenagers lack strong role models. I think they act out for many reasons, one of which is to get their parents attention. Other reasons include a lack of ritual and transition in their lives, low self-esteem, drug and alcohol addictions, no place to go to retreat from the speed and stress of life, and the inability to make connections between their emotions and their lives. There is a lot we as a society could do to give students more of what they need. I believe that if we could make family and friendship systems much stronger, and more of a priority in this world, we would see a lot of changes happen for our students. We could also make it more accepted to be open about our personal issues and emotions. I also feel we could make it a priority to give students an experience in the natural world to show them how relaxing and beautiful it can be.

Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I love to have fun. I believe that play, exercise, and relaxation are super important. I spend a lot of time outside. Some of my favorite things to do include running and hiking trails, mountain biking, rock climbing, swimming, going to hot springs, exploring the desert for archeological sites and relics, canyoneering, meditating in the sun, back packing long and short distances, rafting rivers, caving, and just wandering around in the natural world and going where it takes me. I am a big fan of movies, and love to watch them anywhere. I also love to learn and am always excited to read, and attend trainings for any topic. I also like to make things, and have become involved in primitive arts and crafts.

Q: What are some of the defining moments in your life? 
A: I have had many defining moments in my life. One of the greatest was when I had the help of a great friend to come clean off drugs. This sobering time was also coupled with my first true outdoor experiences that centered on rock-climbing. I grew up as a city girl and didn’t spend much time outside. Because of a very sad experience I went through late in college, I decided to change my group of friends completely. The first people I connected with after that were outdoor folks. They introduced me to camping, kayaking, and rock climbing. I was hooked instantly. My one true friend in that bunch helped me to go through getting clean. This was when my life took its greatest shift.

Q: What has led you to where you are in your life today?
A: Years ago, I had been thinking about moving to New York City to attend Columbia to study sociology. Having discovered the outdoors, I had also been thinking about heading out west, taking a NOLS course, and getting into guiding of some type. I was also invited to move to Jamaica and live with a group of people on their land in the mountains. I had lots of options upon leaving college, and I chose to come out west. This was the point that led me to where I am today. I am still out here, living and working outside, and giving what I can to teens that need the help and inspiration. I hope to become a therapist and to continue helping them to grow and challenge themselves like I was able to do.

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