147. Not Every Struggling Teen Needs Wilderness: Talking Family Intensives with Mom Kathy & Therapist Jen Murphy

What if the solution isn’t sending your teen away?

When your child is struggling and the emotional rollercoaster has taken over your home, wilderness therapy might seem like the only real option. But what if it’s not the right option for your family?

Today, I’m joined by mom Kathy and therapist Jen Murphy to talk about a different kind of approach for struggling teens, young adults, and families. Kathy shares her family’s journey of navigating ADHD, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation in their teen daughter, and the decision not to pursue wilderness therapy, even after months of research, interviews, and a scholarship offer.

Instead, they chose something that suited their family much better: a custom-designed family intensive that brought everyone together for growth, connection, and real change. And the results? A transformation that didn’t require shipping anyone off, but helped her family nonetheless.

Whether you’re on the fence about wilderness therapy or just wondering what else is out there, this episode will show you that there are powerful, connected, and sustainable options for your family.

In this episode on family intensives as an alternative to wilderness therapy, we discuss:

• What made wilderness therapy feel too extreme for Kathy’s teen and how she knew it;
• The emotional toll of trying to “solve” a struggling child;
• How Kathy and her husband came to different conclusions on what steps to take to help their teen daughter and family;
• Why therapist Jen Murphy focuses on family systems work instead of “fixing the teen”;
• What a custom family intensive actually looks like (hint: fun, therapeutic, and real);
• How family dynamics, sibling relationships, and parent alignment shape long-term outcomes;
• What continued integration support looks like after the intensive;
• The surprising impact this experience had on the whole family, and why Kathy would do it again in a heartbeat;
• And more!

Looking for support?
🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

About Jen Murphy
Jen Murphy is a Mental Health Therapist and Family Coach with 25+ years of experience supporting families through treatment and transition. She’s the co-developer of the H.O.M.E. parenting model and offers both virtual and in-person coaching to help families build healthier patterns, improve communication, and strengthen relationships.

Learn more about Jen’s work at www.altitudefamilycoaching.com

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [e-mail]

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And remember parents, the change begins with us.