Fire on the Mountain
Educational Consultant Burt Sherrill:

A professional service of consulting families through the decision process of choosing a therapeutic experience for their son or daughter.

 
 

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 Greetings Family and Friends,

      As you may have found, the web offers a huge amount of information regarding choices for your loved one. No matter what you have heard about any particular programs, very child has different needs. This is not only a way to help your loved one, but it is also an investment of money, time, emotions, and hope. As Educational Consultants, it is our job to know which programs are appropriate for the client's needs. In addition to working with clients, more than half of our time is dedicated to traveling and inspecting programs throughout the country. Our inspections are cross compared with a national network of professional colleagues. We share and compare research on which programs are the best matches for particular types of clients.

Sending your child through a therapeutic wilderness experience, a therapeutic boarding school, or any intensive therapeutic opportunity is NOT a punishment. It is a privlage.

Items from the following list may sound familiar. These are some of the most common client challenges that therapeutic programs and schools work with. After meeting with your family, We review any assessment testing, create a history time line, collect perspectives and stories, work with everyone involved to define success, and finally get us all on the same page about the needs. Much of the list and more will eventually come out. Then, we will compare that information with the schools and programs which we have spent time inspecting and evaluating.  Finally, program selections are made. 



  • depression

  • poor choice of peers and/or lack of friends

  • violence and/or threats

  • low self-esteem

  • anger

  • verbal abuse

  • disrespect of parents

  • ADD/ADHD and learning difference[s]

  • not ready for college

  • trauma

  • pornography

  • obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • running away

  • computer addiction

  • video game addiction

  • needs help becoming an adult / independent life skills

  • school challenges

  • immaturity

  • manipulation

  • substance use & abuse

  • sexual issues

  • lying

  • suicidal ideation/attempts

  • defiance

  • trouble with the law

  • anxiety

During a recent IECA summer institute course, a quote was passed along that we consider quite profound:

"The world is passing through troubling times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. they have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they know everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the Girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress."

Sound like our times? Actually yes, but the interesting thing is when this sermon was preached. It was in 1274 A.D. by Peter the Hermit.

The important thing to understand here is that from a psychological and sociological stand point, it is in nature for teenagers to rebel and act out. In order to transition into teen/adult independence they must question everything, and try to understand who and what they are becoming. The dangerous side is that in today's world there are many more complex ways to rebel and act out during this natural process. Often it is a combination of personal patterns developed from childhood traumas and other cases that now fuel unhealthy choices as they break into what is to become their independent identity.

Looking at the list to the left represents the waters that teens are commonly faced with. Some from the list is historical for human kind. Others are fresh of todays technology and fast pace. Many parents say, ' I know how it is. I was a teenager once too'. Well, actually, its not the same at all. Some core parts are the same, but todays world is very very different. Choices and resources are much more complex than the 60s, 70s, 80s, and even the 90s.

Although each case is unique as any other, know that you are not alone. Literally thousands of families are struggling with these issues right now. Many will never have the privilege of awareness regarding Educational Consultant support. Although you are only getting started, pat yourself on the back for taking the first step into seeking a healthier and better future for your loved one. This is really hard for some parents. Never forget that your motive is with love.
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