Program Design
Program Activities &
Weekly Schedule
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Therapeutic Approach
Location & Facilities
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Directions
Program Activities &
Weekly Schedule
View Weekly Schedule
Therapeutic Approach
Location & Facilities
Download Map &
Directions
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Every aspect of the student's experience at Summit Achievement centers around his/her individual treatment needs and an experienced master's level psychotherapist guides and coordinates the treatment services offered by different aspects of the program to ensure that they meet those needs.
Treatment Planning During the first week the therapist collaborates with the parents and student to design a comprehensive individualized treatment plan that documents the problem areas to be addressed, the goals targeted for achievement, the incremental objectives the student is expected to complete, and the method for evaluating the student's progress. Each week the treatment team meets to review the plan and make adjustments as required to ensure the student's progress toward treatment goals and successful completion of the program. Towards the middle of the student's enrollment, the therapist makes recommendations regarding the type of environment and clinical support the student will need following discharge from the program. Though these recommendations typically include the type of program, degree of structure, and other services that the student may require, parents are encouraged to work with an educational consultant who can help them identify specific schools or programs to meet the student's needs. [ Top of Page ^ ] Group Counseling Group sessions are facilitated by program Guides every day of the week, usually in the evening. Guided group discussion is used to settle problems, to give individuals feedback, and to evaluate performances. When a student has a problem, it is dealt with in the immediate context and with the help of the group. All the group members are affected and therefore have a stake in the resolution of the problem. It is through the repeated use of this group process that adolescents develop the greatest insight into their own behavior. In addition to the daily group processing sessions, there is one group therapy session per week facilitated by the primary therapist. This therapy session focuses on a variety of topics each week. It may focus on the dynamics of the group or a specific issue that several members of the group are struggling with, such as anger management, conflict resolution, negotiation skills, substance abuse, dealing with loss or grief, etc. [ Top of Page ^ ] Individual Therapy Students meet weekly with their assigned therapists for a one-hour individual therapy session. These sessions may focus on individual treatment issues, assistance with improving communication with family members, difficulties in interactions with peer team members, problem behaviors within the program, or other topics. As the teen progresses to upper program levels, these sessions may be utilized to explore potential discharge and educational directions. [ Top of Page ^ ] Peer Teaching and Support Summit Achievement's rolling admissions policy ensures that students within each group are at different phases of the program level system, with some students in their first weeks, others in the middle of the continuum, and others preparing to graduate from the program. This mixture of students at different progress levels empowers students to pass along skills, program expectations and knowledge in a perpetuating cycle of peer teaching and peer support. As indicated above, there are also daily guided group discussions that afford students an opportunity to offer observations and constructive feedback to their peers. These sessions are important because students will often hear feedback from peers that they have difficulty accepting from adults. [ Top of Page ^ ] Substance Abuse Counseling Some students have been involved in drug and alcohol use to the point that their use became a problem, impacting school performance, relationships with family, and, at times, resulting in contact with legal authorities. For these students, Summit Achievement offers drug and alcohol education, strong recovery support and opportunities to attend AA meetings in our local community. Counseling focuses on providing the student with a working knowledge of the symptoms, cause, effect and healing of chemical dependency. Students explore the definition of addiction, alcoholism as a disease, triggers for drug and alcohol use, steps to recovery and other topics. [ Top of Page ^ ] Clinical Supervision on Expedition Approximately every three weeks the therapist accompanies students on expedition for a 48-hour period. Participating as part of the group on expeditions allows the therapist to interact with the students in a less formal setting and further develops the connection between each student and the therapist. This experience also affords the therapist an opportunity to observe each student's functioning within the peer group including demonstration of problem solving and negotiation skills, communication patterns, and his or her role in group dynamics. These observations are helpful to the therapist in providing the student with constructive feedback during individual and group therapy sessions. [ Top of Page ^ ] Psychiatric Services and Medication Management A psychiatrist is available locally should any student require psychiatric assessment or evaluation of psychotropic medication. In most cases, students who are already taking psychotropic medication at the time of enrollment are maintained at the previously prescribed dosages. The medical and program staff are trained to administer medication to students and to recognize adverse or allergic reaction. Program policies do not allow any student to self administer any medication. Summit’s physician, who is on site each Tuesday, reviews each student’s medication. Should there be any recommendations or concerns regarding a students medication or dosage, the medical staff will contact the parents immediately. Summit is required to have its physician review each child’s medication every 30 days. [ Top of Page ^ ] Academic Services Licensed by the State of Maine as a non-traditional private school, Summit Achievement places a strong emphasis on education. Students participate in formal classroom academic instruction three days per week and have full access to reference materials and computers. The Summit Achievement curriculum emphasizes educational content, as well as the development of academic and social skills necessary for continued success in school. The objective of the academic program is to help students:
[ Top of Page ^ ] Expedition Services Therapeutic progress is the primary focus of the student expeditions at Summit Achievement, not camping or survival skills. Expeditions provide the catalyst that many students have lacked with other counseling experiences. Being in the wilderness facilitates the dissipation of inappropriate defenses and denial. The level of physical and social stress and the pressure to succeed at concrete tasks reduces students’ ability to maintain a false front or hide their feelings. This often causes each student’s best and worst qualities to come out, allowing staff and peers to be honest with feedback about the student’s behavior and emotional expression. Many of the students have been through traditional therapy or assessment without major improvement in the choices they make. Expeditions allow students to build relationships with staff and fellow students through shared experiences. This builds trust and provides students with sufficient emotional safety that they feel comfortable speaking honestly about their feelings. It also allows students to be much more open to hearing criticism and feedback about their behavior, choices or treatment of others. In addition, facing and completing the physical and emotional challenges encountered on expedition results in feelings of accomplishment and helps to develop a new foundation of self-worth. Expeditions are conducted Thursday through Sunday each week. Each team’s Guides design an appropriate expedition for that week, taking into consideration the therapeutic goals and physical abilities of the students, the weather conditions and the recommendations of the Expedition Coordinator. In winter, heated shelters and cabins in and around the National Forest offer protection from severe weather, enabling Summit to facilitate meaningful and safe expeditions throughout the year. During each weekly expedition students participate in different outdoor adventure activities. Activities are season appropriate and include backcountry hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing, canoeing and swimming. Students on expedition also practice camp craft and navigational skills, engage in group problem solving and participate in group counseling and processing. Students are challenged to master a variety of outdoor living skills, from identifying plants and trees to navigational work, natural sciences and back country safety. These outdoor experiences enable students to overcome barriers, set and achieve goals with immediate feedback through consequences and group debriefings. Expedition focuses on the individual’s abilities to take care of themselves and others within the group. Many decisions on expeditions are left to the students, with skilled Guides on hand to ensure physical and emotional safety. Consequences of poor decision-making are felt immediately, in nature’s classroom. Expedition is not a survival ordeal. Summit Achievement understands that students who are cold, hungry, and miserable will not be able to process or benefit from the experience. Students are given the best clothing, gear and equipment available in order to make the experience as comfortable as possible, while retaining a reasonable level of challenge. The food, which is top notch for backcountry cooking, is nutritious and filling. These outdoor experiences enable students to overcome barriers, set and achieve goals with immediate feedback through consequences and group debriefings. Consequences of poor decision-making are felt immediately, in nature’s classroom. [ Top of Page ^ ] Residential Services The residential component facilitates the transition from a wilderness setting to a more traditional setting and affords students the opportunity to practice skills learned in the wilderness in a setting that is more similar to home or boarding school, thereby increasing the probability of the successful transfer of those skills following discharge from the program. Students are grouped into "teams" consisting of 8-9 students. The team shares a cabin on campus, eats together, studies together, participates in group sessions together and goes on expedition together. Students are placed in small groups because group process lies at the core of Summit Achievement's therapeutic approach. As we know that personality is formed and shaped largely through one's contact and involvement with others, Summit Achievement believes it can be reshaped through this same intricate contact. Upon arrival, students are assigned to a bunk in a two-person bedroom within their team's cabin. Each bedroom also contains a writing desk and chair, along with storage shelves for clothing and other personal items. A common area in each cabin serves as a gathering place where students may socialize, play games, learn or practice skills, and engage in other activities. Assigned to each student team are six direct care staff (referred to as "Guides") who work in teams of three, each working one week on and one week off. The guides supervise students during all program activities, developing a therapeutic rapport, providing instruction in skills development, monitoring goal setting and individual growth, and providing a liaison with the clinical team. [ Top of Page ^ ] Testing All students admitted to Summit Achievement are evaluated for depression, anxiety and substance abuse. At times a more extensive evaluation may be indicated or requested by parents or an educational consultant working with the family. In these instances Summit Achievement can arrange for full neuropsychological testing. A broad range of psychological and academic testing by licensed professionals is available, including:
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