Philosophy (cont’d)
At Aspiring Youth, our philosophy can best be summarized by the well known axiom – “experience is the best teacher.” This is especially true for our students when it comes to acquiring new tools necessary to develop friendships, handle life’s frustrations, organize tasks and problem solve with greater flexibility. Through fun, innovative, challenging and hands-on learning experiences, we help our students gain new social and life skills. We emphasize generalization of skills by providing students and parents with real-time feedback. In addition, we provide parents and professionals with individualized program assessments, ensuring a framework from which to build continued success. Most importantly, we help our students build new friendships, community and self-esteem.
The Aspiring Youth Program consists of:
- Summer Outdoor Leadership camp sessions for children, teens and youth ages 9-24: Explorers Camp, ROLP Teens and Delphi Summer Internship.
- Social skills groups in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond and Portland.
- Individual Coaching
- Young Adult Transition support
Background
The Ryther Outdoor Leadership Program and social skills groups started in 2006 and received national accreditation in 2007. In 2009, all programs were united under the umbrella of Aspiring Youth. Also in 2009, a Portland, Oregon branch of Aspiring Youth was established.
Aspiring Youth Programs are nationally accredited through COA (Council on Accreditation)
Aspiring Youth Programs are operated under the Ryther Child Center umbrella of services.
Presentations and Trainings
April 2009: “Pathological Computer Use” Presentation
Seattle, WA
Speaker: Ben Wahl (with Amy Cirincione, Clinical Director, CFWTE)
September 2009: Group facilitation training, LWSD
January 2009: National Conference, National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs-NATSAP
Austin, TX
Speaker: Ben Wahl
December 2008: Program Training for Coyote Coast Counseling Center,
Marin, CA
October 2008: "Coaching Parents of Challenging Teens" Training
Seattle, WA
Speaker: Sally Kidder Davis
October 2008: International Conference, Association of Experiential Education-AEE
Vancouver, WA
Speaker: Ben Wahl
May 2008: International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions
Istanbul, Turkey
Speaker: Ben Wahl