FOUR CIRCLES FOCUS

December 4, 2017

In this issue:

Alumni testimonial

video as part of

Dogwood Alliance

campaign

Wendy Kimball to co-

present in Florida

Business Office team

tries out new challenge

course element

Alumni and program

BBQ for December

Holiday party

Staff Spotlight with

Tommy Lee, Primary

Therapist

The latest on all things Four Circles...

Four Circles Alumnus Featured in Dogwood Alliance ‘Forest Defenders’ Campaign

A wonderful testimonial from Four Circles Alum, Noah Davis, was featured in late November as part of the Dogwood Alliance ‘Stories Happen in Forests’ campaign. An organization with the mission of preserving our forests, Dogwood Alliance was drawn to the therapeutic work of Four Circles, and our own commitment to the importance of the wilderness.

Noah gladly volunteered to share his testimony with full disclosure as part of this process, and his description of the key moments in his success while at Four Circles is beautifully captured in the video. We encourage you to watch the video on our Facebook page.

Campus Photography

Our Clinical Outreach Director, Wendy Kimball, LPC, CEAP, will be joining Ana Moreno, MS, LMHC, MCAP, CIP, MAC, ICADC, CDWF and co-founder of Family Recovery Specialists in Miami, Florida for a presentation on Marijuana Use Disorder. This CEU event will be January 12. We always love working with Ana! Stay tuned for more information, or reach out to our South Florida TPS, Kasey Stark for more information.

Wendy Kimball to Present at South Miami Event with Ana Moreno of Family Recovery Specialists

FOUR CIRCLES FOCUS

December 4, 2017

FCRC Staff Spotlight

Tommy Lee, MA Ed, LCAS

Primary Therapist

How Traps Helped Treat Anxiety

Having worked in the Wilderness Therapy field for several years I have seen its effectiveness with clients. Combined with traditional, clinically based treatment it is a powerful tool for change. The challenges faced by participants provide powerful insights in a relatively short period of time.

Several years ago I was working with a young person with severe anxiety. He had experienced many losses as a child. As a result he was unable to cope with daily living. The client was frozen by crippling anxiety.

During the course of his stay at Four Circles the client was required to produce a series of “Figure Four” traps successfully for 3 days in a row. While the program does not allow participants to catch animals in these traps they are strong metaphors. Among other things they teach patience and sticking to difficult challenges.

The young person was unable to complete this requirement for 3 weeks. He often asked me or his guides to sign off the task without his doing it. During the third week I was with the group in the field when he accomplished this goal. For the rest of his stay at Four circles the young man reported reduced symptoms of anxiety and was able to complete the rest of his goals quickly.

A few months after this young person completed the program he called and reported reduced symptoms of anxiety and that he had come off of his medications used to treat it. He also reported that he was successfully enrolled in college and doing well. He said his anxiety was manageable.

While the traps did not cure this young person’s anxiety it helped him to see he could manage it more effectively. He is now able to live a more productive life and work towards his goals.

Alumni News:

Our Asheville area alumni and our Alumni Coordinator, Evan Snyder, prepare to host

this year’s Holiday party. Clients, Alumni and Staff will together for good food, fellow-

ship and celebration. Any and all Alumni are welcome to attend—just make sure you

let Evan know!