Monday, July17, 2012
Interview by Lon Woodbury
Travis Slagle, Land Supervisor, and Katie Kasenchak, Residential Therapist, from Pacific Quest in Hawaii spoke to Lon Woodbury on his weekly L.A. Talk Radio Show about how Pacific Quest used the idea of Sustainable Development (TM) as well as Horticultural Therapy in helping struggling adolescents mature.
Background
Travis Slagle began working for Pacific Quest in 2006, where his students planted some of the first trees in the Pacific Quest gardens. He is a member of the Hawaiian Organic Farmers Association and the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Travis has over ten years of experience working with youth in wilderness, residential, and horticultural programs and he brings a dynamic approach to his role as Land Supervisor.
Dr. Kathryn Kasenchak joined Pacific Quest after four years with Psychological Solutions in the San Francisco Bay area. She earned a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Pepperdine University and obtained her doctorate from the Wright Institute. She has been working with at-risk children and adolescents since 1996, and today serves as part of the therapeutic team at Pacific Quest.
Pacific Quest is an innovative psychological treatment center serving struggling teens from all over the globe. Their ground-breaking program on the Big Island of Hawaii goes beyond typical wilderness therapy, focusing on teaching lasting life skills. The revolutionary Sustainable Growth technique developed by Pacific Quest positions it as a pioneer in therapy for troubled adolescents and young people.
What Is Horticultural Therapy?
Although the Pacific Quest course does make use of wilderness treatment ideas of assisting young people to heal by returning to nature, the focus is extremely different. Unlike traditional wilderness treatment, which concentrates on conquering the wilderness, horticultural treatment focuses on the concept of gardening as a means to learn from nature.
Adolescents spend an average of eight to twelve weeks at the three camps in Pacific Quest, where they learn how to tend a garden, prepare food for the camp kitchen, and sell their produce at the local Farmer's Market. The teaching and therapeutic staff uses these activities as metaphors for family, community, and life. Travis, for example, shared his favorite lesson was drawing an analogy between a nutritious tomato and a wholesome character. He points out to students that the sweetest tomatoes are those that have had to struggle to survive. The guests described how gardening can help children learn mindfulness, executive functioning, and giving back to the community.
Interview by Lon Woodbury
Travis Slagle, Land Supervisor, and Katie Kasenchak, Residential Therapist, from Pacific Quest in Hawaii spoke to Lon Woodbury on his weekly L.A. Talk Radio Show about how Pacific Quest used the idea of Sustainable Development (TM) as well as Horticultural Therapy in helping struggling adolescents mature.
Background
Travis Slagle began working for Pacific Quest in 2006, where his students planted some of the first trees in the Pacific Quest gardens. He is a member of the Hawaiian Organic Farmers Association and the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Travis has over ten years of experience working with youth in wilderness, residential, and horticultural programs and he brings a dynamic approach to his role as Land Supervisor.
Dr. Kathryn Kasenchak joined Pacific Quest after four years with Psychological Solutions in the San Francisco Bay area. She earned a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Pepperdine University and obtained her doctorate from the Wright Institute. She has been working with at-risk children and adolescents since 1996, and today serves as part of the therapeutic team at Pacific Quest.
Pacific Quest is an innovative psychological treatment center serving struggling teens from all over the globe. Their ground-breaking program on the Big Island of Hawaii goes beyond typical wilderness therapy, focusing on teaching lasting life skills. The revolutionary Sustainable Growth technique developed by Pacific Quest positions it as a pioneer in therapy for troubled adolescents and young people.
What Is Horticultural Therapy?
Although the Pacific Quest course does make use of wilderness treatment ideas of assisting young people to heal by returning to nature, the focus is extremely different. Unlike traditional wilderness treatment, which concentrates on conquering the wilderness, horticultural treatment focuses on the concept of gardening as a means to learn from nature.
Adolescents spend an average of eight to twelve weeks at the three camps in Pacific Quest, where they learn how to tend a garden, prepare food for the camp kitchen, and sell their produce at the local Farmer's Market. The teaching and therapeutic staff uses these activities as metaphors for family, community, and life. Travis, for example, shared his favorite lesson was drawing an analogy between a nutritious tomato and a wholesome character. He points out to students that the sweetest tomatoes are those that have had to struggle to survive. The guests described how gardening can help children learn mindfulness, executive functioning, and giving back to the community.
About the Author:
The founder of Struggling Teens, Lon Woodbury has the recorded the entire interview on his weekly L.A. Talk Radio show for people to listen to at any time.
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