 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
VisionQuest's Treatment Medicine Wheel
In American Indian culture, there is a concept of a “medicine wheel” which views life as a circular process balanced from four cardinal directions: north, south, east and west. At VisionQuest, we have drawn upon this notion in our therapeutic methodology. VisionQuest’s residential treatment programs utilize four basic modalities:
Guided Centering
Extraordinary Experiences
The Path of Honor
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
These four modalities together provide a framework for change that addresses a young person’s needs from multiple directions and bring the child into balance. The four modalities make up the fundamental directions on the VisionQuest Medicine Wheel.
In the North is Guided Centering. The goal of Guided Centering is to help youth find balance within themselves, with staff assisting them through this process. This is the fundamental aim towards which all of our treatment efforts are focused. Guided Centering is a psychological process with an educational emphasis; it is the Plan that is the foundation for everything we do with youth in our treatment programs.
In the East is Extraordinary Experiences. VisionQuest’s unique Extraordinary Experiences are process-oriented activities that encourage youth to discover and learn through direct hands-on experience. Depending on the program location, youth may participate in Extraordinary Experiences that include VisionQuest ceremonies based on American Indian traditions, outdoor adventure activities, therapeutic art groups, Equine Assisted Therapy, and others. These activities are designed to present challenges, create opportunities for learning and success, build confidence, and open new horizons. The experiences allow the youth to overcome fears, gain trust, and develop positive relationships that accelerate the clinical process.
In the South is The Path of Honor. The goal of the Path of Honor is to create a daily living environment in which healthy, pro-social values and positive, helping relationships are the norm. The Path of Honor curriculum teaches youth about VisionQuest’s commitments and ethics; then, by learning about and applying principles of normative behavior change, group dynamics, and leadership, youth and staff work together to establish a staff-led positive youth culture within the program. The Path of Honor provides a clear set of values and ways of behaving that can guide youth and staff to build a safe and healthy community. The lessons that young people learn by day-to-day practice while at VisionQuest provide valuable tools to draw on upon the youth’s return to their home and community.
In the West is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT is a proven, evidenced-based treatment approach that is highly effective for resolving emotional and behavioral problems. CBT focuses on recognizing and changing habitual reactions and ways of thinking, in order to allow an individual to approach situations in new ways that are likely to have desirable results. Staff support youth in utilizing CBT to perceive new cognitive and behavioral options that can transform problematic ideas and actions into more positive ones. Daily practice within the treatment milieu helps young people to develop competency in applying this approach to the problems of everyday life.
