Aspen uses creative approaches with its outdoor experiences and a cooperative family-like environment to enhance traditional treatment methods. The Academy is founded on the philosophy that the combination of experiential learning and cognitive process is the most effective means to treat our students. N ew students entering Aspen Academy are assigned to a treatment group that is specially selected for them on the basis of their problems and therapeutic needs.
Students use primitive techniques to start fires and cook.
A treatment group consists of a therapist, teacher, medical personnel, field counselors and other students. A ll new students join a group whose members are at different stages of the program. I t is expected that while at Aspen, each student will successfully complete an assessment period and have the opportunity to experience four program phases for graduation.