About

Founded in 1998, Second Nature is a licensed treatment program for adolescents in Utah. Located two hours east of Salt Lake City, Second Nature provides sophisticated clinical treatment in an outdoor setting and uses the wilderness to create an intensive initial impact, identify coping skills, teach accountability and communication skills, develop healthy emotional and behavioral habits, and improve relationships. Second Nature works with adolescents ages 13-17 who struggle with mental health issues, trauma, behavioral problems, developmental issues, oppositional defiance, substance abuse/dependence, learning disabilities, academic issues, attachment issues, and relational difficulties. Treatment plans are individualized and include flexible lengths of stay, single gender or mixed gender groups, daily group therapy, and individualized therapy sessions with doctorate level therapists. A psychiatrist is available for students in need of medication management. Family support is critical to the program. Second Nature's parent program teaches new skills to help support growth and provides families with personal support through weekly phone calls with the therapists, field visits or parent/child phone calls, alumni parents mentors, multi-day workshops, support groups, and comprehensive online resources. Parents, therapists and consultants work together in planning aftercare. Students enrolled in the program may experience difficulties in school as a symptom of their struggles; therefore an academic component is critical as part of a treatment plan. Students are provided a curriculum packet, which contains a carefully tailored academic curriculum accredited by Cognia. Science, English, P.E., and Psychology credits are contextually based in the wilderness experience. Lessons are created to continue the child's education and challenge the student to develop skills for academic and classroom success. Students receive academic credits for completed coursework. Safety is our number one priority and Second has an outstanding safety record. Each group is composed of highly trained field instructors and staff-to-student ratios that exceed state requirements.