The Turning Winds model of care centers on therapeutic support in a setting that resembles the family environment clients will return to. Healthy behaviors are practiced and reinforced in a safe environment. Our clinical services combine the best elements of care from wilderness therapy, therapeutic boarding schools, and inpatient treatment to create a one-of-a-kind residential treatment center.
Our teenage clients frequently stay for up to a year at Turning Winds, which allows them to form relationships with people that would not have been possible for them otherwise. “Usually, it takes about five months before kids decide that they’re going to make use of the program,” says medical director John Gordon, MD.
Turning Winds helps young people learn how to engage purposefully with the world around them. The holistic approach, relational focus, and emphasis on achieving authentic openness make Turning Winds especially effective at facilitating positive outcomes and long-term change.
KEY ELEMENTS OF OUR TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY
Our comprehensive treatment approach emphasizes character development and education, keeping focus on the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of our clients and families.
Turning Winds utilizes an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach, applying evidence-based practices. Turning Winds values the need for a community, the responsibility of the client, peer support, and a willingness to change.
“Our multi-therapeutic approach is designed to address the diverse needs of our teens. By combining different therapeutic methods, we can offer more personalized and effective treatment,” says CEO Owen Baisden. “Each method brings a unique set of tools and perspectives, which, when used together, provide a well-rounded approach to mental health care. This integration is crucial for dealing with complex behavioral and emotional issues.”
Treatment plans are designed in collaboration with clients and focus on their strengths, needs, abilities, preferences, and aspirations.
Turning Winds recognizes the importance of positive approaches to treatment and maintaining positive relationships with clients. This is accomplished across all programs by emphasizing respect for the dignity of all clients, continuously evaluating the treatment environment and updating and changing as appropriate, using de-escalation as an alternative to the use of seclusion or physical restraint in the management of behavior, and empowering clients to manage their own behavior.
“This program works because we build relationships with these kids. The more of a relationship therapists have, the more of a positive impact they can have on these kids,” says Turning Winds therapist Sean Carlin.
“The biggest motivator of change is connection,” agrees chief operations officer Carl Baisden. “The little things are probably the big ones. If we took away all those personal connections and the personal touches between the staff and the kids, what would their journey look like, and what would their outcome look like? Those little touch points that you see where a staff member goes out of their way to extend something to a kid are just pure magic. That’s so beautiful to watch.”
All staff at Turning Winds receive a significant amount of training. The training that they undergo is not just about policies and procedures. Turning Winds also focuses quite some time, energy, and resources on the quality of human interaction. “Empathy is a big one here at Turning Winds,” says Baisden. “That word is used a lot. Anytime we’re training staff, two words that are my favorite are empathy, having empathy, and having curiosity for kids.”
THE ULTIMATE GOAL
The ultimate treatment goal at Turning Winds is the stabilization of the client’s mental health issues through effective evaluation, assessment, treatment, and referral for appropriate care as needed.
“The simple, singular focus of our treatment program is to help each student improve their self-image and their self-confidence and change the behaviors that have been hindering their growth by teaching them to create stable patterns of living through education, process groups, and individualized treatment planning,” says CEO Owen Baisden.
Are you seeking a transformative solution for your teen’s challenges? Turning Winds offers a full continuum of care for teens with mental health needs, including suicidal ideation and substance misuse. Our clients achieve success through a combination of therapeutic, recreational, and educational approaches that together provide the best possible outcomes.
The hybrid approach at Turning Winds blends the successful aspects of residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, and wilderness therapy into one life-changing experience. Contact us online for more information, or call us at 800-845-1380 as we are available 24 hours per day to answer your questions and guide you in the process of finding a solution for your teen.
