Aspen ranch is a therapeutic residential treatment center for troubled adolescents that utilizes an Integrated Relationship Model, in conjunction with a Collaborative Problem Solving Approach to initiate positive change in the lives of teenagers. The Integrated Relationship Model, developed at Aspen Ranch, focuses on respect, individual care, and using a teaching approach to problem situations. Collaborative Problem Solving requires that multiple staff collaborate to discuss students’ progress, necessary consequences, and to create learning experiences. These methods ensure that each student is being treated respectfully and regarded as an individual.

Individual and Family Therapy

Each student at the residential treatment center for high risk adolescents is assigned to a primary therapist who is responsible for communicating with parents/guardians on a weekly basis regarding the progress of each resident. This may be accomplished during the weekly 30 minute parent session. Because of the geographical distance, these parent sessions will often occur via scheduled conference telephone calls.

Each student will participate in weekly individual therapy sessions. Depending on the individual needs of the child, these sessions may consist of a 50-minute session once a week or several short sessions during the week. Upon arrival, each resident will meet with his/her therapist and design and individual treatment plan that establishes goals and objectives for his/her stay at Aspen Ranch.

Therapists focus on anger management techniques, family dynamics, emotional injury, personal responsibility, addictions, and any other issue that may arise. The general therapeutic approach is to assist each student in identifying core issues, resolving conflict, and developing new attitudes and coping skills. The therapeutic philosophy is a powerful mechanism in creating a more positive sense of self-worth. The combination of counseling and the program structure is designed to help every Ranch student build a more effective and healthy lifestyle.

Group Therapy

Research has shown that group therapy is the most effective type of therapy, and it creates more change than any other form of therapy used in treating adolescents. Therefore, emphasis is placed on the frequency of group therapy at Aspen Ranch. Several models of group therapy are utilized, including treatment groups, issues groups, skills groups, equine assisted learning sessions, recreational initiatives sessions, addictions groups, psycho-educational groups and peer mediation sessions. These group sessions are generally 30 – 90 minutes long. The primary purpose of group work is to provide a forum for residents to support each other in pro-social behaviors, to confront maladaptive behavior patterns, and to mobilize the power of the peer group in a productive manner. Peers are expected to both give and receive feedback from other team members. The team environment enforces and rewards good behavior and exposes negative pathological behaviors that are often perceived as “normal” and “cool” in the resident’s old peer groups.

Treatment Teams

Treatment Teams are the absolute core of the Ranch. Although each resident is assigned a primary therapist, because Aspen Ranch uses a Collaborative Problem Solving approach a multi-disciplinary team meets each week to discuss each students' progress. Aspen Ranch believes it is more beneficial for student's growth and progress to have input from each department, as opposed to unilateral decisions being made only by the student's primary therapist. Treatment Teams are compiled of Residential staff, Teachers, Management, and the student's primary therapist.

Family Involvement

It is no secret that the biggest predictor of success in treatment is the involvement of the family, and parent participation. It is extremely important for the resident to feel supported in the treatment process. For most of the residents at Aspen Ranch, working to resolve family issues is a key reason for placement. All staff work hard at trying to facilitate growth and change in attitudes about the family so when the resident returns home the situation will be significantly improved. Each resident will be expected to look closely at what he/she has done to contribute to the conflict/problems in the family and make changes in his/her personal life to correct those behaviors and attitudes. At the same time, Ranch staff will be asking for significant commitment form family members, particularly parents, to work as hard for changes as they expect the resident to work. For this reason staff asks that parents review the materials provided to them upon their child’s entry into the program. It may also be suggested they attend parent groups and parent training in order to gain the necessary tools for more effective parenting or a difficult adolescent. And because of possible unresolved issues in parents’ own lives that may be preventing them form having the kind of relationship with their child they desire, it is often suggested they attend their own personal therapy.
Residents will have increasing contact with parents as treatment progresses and is determined and directed by the primary therapist. This contact will include phone calls, letters, visits, and family therapy. Furthermore, parents will be invited to come to the Ranch at specific planned times for education and family work with their children. Therapeutic site visits with residents are encouraged and can be arranged with the advice of each resident’s primary therapist.
Four times throughout the year, all parents are invited to attend Parent Week, which includes parent education and support groups, parent-teacher conferences, and experiential activities with residents.