A Wilderness Journey: The Story of a Teen’s Road to Healing

“I found that the uncomfortable situations I was in allowed me to grow the most. The different skills and tools I learned helped me to change for the better, and I still implement them to this day.” —TJ, A Wilderness Journey

Taken to a Wilderness Therapy program in the remote canyons of Utah, a struggling teenager named TJ embarks on a life-changing journey. He spends three months off-grid while learning the coping mechanisms to become emotionally resilient.

This intimate and heartfelt memoir, woven throughout with letters and journal accounts, offers a unique view of the wilderness experience that has frequently been shrouded in mystery or misunderstood. The story is told with the hero’s journey as a framework while illuminating details of experiential outdoor therapy and its advantages for adolescents and young adults suffering from mental health issues, addictions, or suicidal thoughts.

Written for parents or caregivers who have made, or are considering, the difficult decision to place their child in a Wilderness Therapy program. As a teen, the author’s son attended both a wilderness program and therapeutic boarding school. He and his mom then collaborated on this book to help others learn about the process of outdoor behavioral therapy, which shares his personal story and his family's parallel journey toward healing.

IN A WILDERNESS JOURNEY , YOU WILL ALSO DISCOVER:

An overview of the mental health tools that TJ and his family learned to help them on their parallel road to healing. Wilderness letters and testimonials from four other students who graduated from different wilderness programs. A comprehensive guide to help any family navigate the vast array of resources available such as ways to help pay for Wilderness Therapy, lists of support organizations, and much more.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

“This book is truly a gift for parents whose children struggle with debilitating anxiety and depression and the accompanying behaviors. By sharing her family’s personal experience in such a vulnerable and genuine way Tami Ann offers a rare inside perspective on the Wilderness experience parents will not find anywhere else. Just amazing!”—Carolyn Lambert, Parent Coach ★★★★★

“This book offers a front-row seat on wilderness therapy, a powerful treatment modality that is infrequently written about and thus often misunderstood. It also offers a front-row seat on a gripping true-life adventure story as well as an inspiring account of personal and familial healing.”—Amazon Review ★★★★★

“Beautifully written, this story depicts a family’s journey to heal. The mom in the book does everything she can to “save” her son. Ultimately, she and her husband made the best and hardest decision a parent can make-to send their son to a Wilderness Program. I highly recommend this book!”—Amazon Review ★★★★★

“I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a memoir or learning about mental health treatment options. It’s so important to remove the stigma around mental health issues.” —Amazon Review ★★★★★

“Read the references to see what went into the family’s decision to choose Wilderness. They are well worth checking out. The illustrations, personal letters, and the insights into the family’s part in the program make compelling reading.” —Amazon Review ★★★★★