November 4th, 2022
November 4th, 2022
Navigating the Journey of Grief
December 8th, 2021
Mariah Loftin Promoted to Clinical Director; Sebastiaan Zuidweg Transitions to Assistant Clinical Director
July 9th, 2021
Building Confidence Outside the Comfort Zone
June 7th, 2021
Supporting Young Adults Navigating Gender and Sexual Identity
One of the most important components of wilderness therapy treatment is creating an emotionally safe, open, and accepting space for students to truly be themselves—away from the pressures of school, society, and even family. This safe space is especially important for students exploring their gender identity, questioning their sexuality, or struggling with issues related to […]
April 1st, 2021
A Parent’s Guide to Navigating Wilderness Therapy
March 25th, 2020
How to Take Care of Yourself in the Midst of a Pandemic
In an effort to “flatten the curve” and halt the spread of COVID-19, public health officials are asking people to shelter at home, drastically alter their daily lives, decrease physical interaction, and engage in rigorous hygiene practices. A few weeks ago, the term “social distancing” wasn’t even on our collective radar. Today, schools, businesses, and […]
February 10th, 2020
How to Talk with Your Young Adult About Wilderness Therapy
When our children are hurting, struggling, and making poor decisions, there is an impulse as parents to swoop in and fix things for them. This is normal. However, it is important to identify when that hurting, struggling, and those poor decisions become a pattern. That is when parents NEED to step in and accept help. […]
December 11th, 2019
Wilderness Therapy and the Nervous System: How Slowing Down Promotes Healing
A Different Emphasis Wilderness therapy is an acute intervention through which students step out of the pressures of life and reevaluate their relationship with themselves and others. Most often, our students come from environments with a bombardment of stimuli and social pressures. There are pressures from work, school, social media, phone notifications, emails, and oh, […]
August 6th, 2019
“How Will Wilderness Therapy Benefit Me?” a SKYlights Podcast with Therapist, Mariah Loftin
How will wilderness therapy benefit me as a young adult? Why can’t I just stay home and do therapy? What if I know nothing about living in the outdoors? These are just a few common questions young adult clients may ask when considering enrollment at Open Sky. In Episode 6 of the SKYlights […]
March 1st, 2019
Clinical Therapist Mariah Loftin Featured on “Beyond Addiction with Sally Dyer” Podcast
January 2nd, 2019
Mariah Loftin Celebrates 7 Years at Open Sky
December 31st, 2018
“How Will Wilderness Therapy Benefit Me?”
Therapist, Mariah Loftin, MA, LPC, Answers Young Adults’ Frequently Asked Questions About Wilderness Therapy Q: What’s the benefit of being in the wilderness? Why not just see a home therapist? A: One of the reasons I chose to be a wilderness therapist is because the wilderness setting offers so many unique growth opportunities and constant support […]
May 3rd, 2018
Inspire and Be Inspired: Young Adults Therapist Mariah Loftin
Why did you choose wilderness therapy, as opposed to practicing therapy in more traditional settings? I am passionate about helping young adults heal, reconnect with themselves, and reach their goals. I’ve found that wilderness therapy is the most effective way for people to do that. My experience in outpatient and inpatient settings highlighted that […]
April 3rd, 2018
Assessing Borderline Personality Disorder in the Wilderness
The American Psychiatric Association defines Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) as a mental health condition that results in a pervasive pattern of instability in relationships, a negative self-image, as well as impulsive and self-damaging behaviors. What is evident from this definition and my work with individuals with BPD is how they can struggle in many aspects […]