Jordyn Aldrich

Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16
Wilderness

The

Comes

When

Calling

SCOTT HICKEY
23 YEARS OLD
OUTBACK TREATMENT
135 DAYS IN THE FIELD

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16

ME: WHAT IS OUTBACK TREATMENT?

SCOTT: It is a program that helps troubled teens, from ages 13-17, by
incorporating wilderness therapy with non-resistant tactics. We use the
practice what you preach method in the sense of earning the respect and
trust of the kids by showing them the right way instead of forcing it upon
them. There is a great amount of emphasis placed on creating a safe and
open emotional support space for the kids to open up in. At the same time
we are challenging them to open up and create positive change in their lives.

ME: WHAT GOES INTO THE PROCESS OF PLANNING A TRIP?

SCOTT: There is an entire team put together with two groups 2-3 staff
members with between 5-7 kids ranging from age 13-17 years old. There are
also three therapists that work with the kids; 2 for the boys, 1 for the girls.
The therapist see them Monday and Tuesday, before the trip, and analyze
the children to get a sufficient assessment of what the children need. The
duration of the trip is 7-10 weeks, depending on the needs of the group, and
the teams of the staff switch out every other week.

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16

ME: WHERE DOES THIS TAKE PLACE?

SCOTT: Just south of Dugway, Utah in a desert area. The elevation is at about
5,000-6,000 feet. There are general areas that we stick to where we will hike
for four days, camping along the way, and then stay in the same location for
the other three days, and continue this routine until the very end of the trip.

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16

ME: WHAT IS HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES?

SCOTT: We are all briefed on every child and every specific situation as soon
as the therapist complete their assessments on the Monday and Tuesday
before we set out. The therapist communicate and act as liaisons between
the families and us. Included in the program is a book for the parents to read
while the children are out on their adventure. The parents play a role in what
is going on with the children so its important that as the children are
changing and growing, the parents are too.

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16

ME: WHAT CONTACT DO THE CHILDREN HAVE WITH THE OUTSIDE

WORLD?
SCOTT: Their parents come to visit between weeks four and six. Prior to this,
the kids write what is called a placement letter which is for the parents. This
process is a therapist guided exercise that allows the kids to identify their
feelings, emotions, and thoughts. It allows the doors of functional
communication to be opened. One of my favorite things about the parents
visiting is the way the kids take on the role of caretaker for their parents.
Even if the kids have fought the process the entire time up to this point, they
absolutely love showing off all of the things they have done, what theyve
experienced, and what they have accomplished since being away. The tricky
thing about this though is often the children will have it set in their minds

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16
that once their parents see them, they will bring them home and that is just
not the case.

ME: WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF THE CHILDREN DURING THE THERAPY?

SCOTT:

We see the 5 stages of grief:

1. Denial/Isolation- They do not feel as if they belong here, they have
done nothing wrong, its not their fault, and that their parents are
going to turn right back around and rescue them.
2. Anger- They dont want to be here, nor desire to change, and begin to
access more of their emotion towards specific people or problems in
their lives.
3. Bargaining- This is something more commonly seen around weeks
four to six when the parents visit. They say things like if you take me
home I promise Ill be better, and other similar phrases in attempts to
convince their parents. The parents are warned in advance that this is
a common tactic, consciously or subconsciously, used by the children
to be pulled from the trip.

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16
4. Depression- Once they realize that there is no going back and their
parents are not going to rescue them, they become depressed and fall
back into hopelessness.
5. Acceptance- There is a point where they finally surrender and give
into the change, the environment, and the process.

ME: WHY ABOUT THIS PROCESS WORKS?

SCOTT: We dont force them or tell them to change or what to do. Yes, we are
in charge and have guidelines but when it comes to making decisions and
following through on their ideas and thoughts, we show them that it is
completely their choice. Through our daily chores and activities we promote
a do it yourself mentality in them. Maslows hierarchy of needs shows five
different layers that are vital for functional development.

SELFACTUALIZATION

SELF-ESTEEM

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16
LOVE AND BELONGINGNESS

SAFETY AND SECURITY

PHYSIOLOGICAL

The first two layers, Physiological needs then safety and security, are
supposed to be established by the parents; however, a lot of the time
individuals dont have exactly what they need which is what causes the
turmoil and chaos in their lives. The next two layers are the ones that we
focus on building up and instilling into their make-up, which are love and
belongingness and self-esteem. Again, the daily activities and living help this
happen with the overall objective that they will, themselves, reach the top
layer of the pyramid, self-actualization.

ME: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PROCESS? WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16
SCOTT: Every group and its dynamics are different every single time. So its
hard to say what I think about it other than it works. It works slower for some
and faster for others, some find it more difficult and reset more than their
peers, its a process that is different for everyone and all of the
circumstances. With that being said, in all of the time I have spent in the field
there has only been one kid who didnt leave better; he actually convinced
his parents to pull him during their visit and ended up becoming a missing
person after he ran away.

ME: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THIS JOURNEY?

SCOTT: The fact that its a journey is the best part. We take the young adults
who need attention and direction and we use the absolute wonder of nature
to bring them to their most raw and true self. From that point we watch them

Jordyn Aldrich
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010 10:00am
2/9/16
grow and change. We even have people who have gone through this process
and actually been a part of the program come back to help out. Nature does
something pretty amazing when you open up and let it. Im not just talking
about for the kids but, for all of us as well. Its a journey to say the least its
an incredible one to be a part of.