Frequently Asked Questions
The young women who come to Discovery Ranch for Girls care about the people in their lives. They struggle to have healthy relationships. Most of the students also struggle with emotional regulation, self-worth, and identity development. This leads to parent-child conflict. These struggles usually show themselves in the form of anxiety and depression. They also take the form of self-harm or eating disorders. If this description resembles a young woman in your life, then Discovery Ranch for Girls may be the right place for her.
What kind of treatment will my daughter get?
Individual Therapy
Your daughter will have two therapy sessions each week. One therapy session will be family therapy. You will be able to take part in these therapy sessions via video conferencing.
Group Therapy
Your daughter will take part in six core therapy groups and up to two specialty therapy groups. The core groups include DBT, art, equine, recreation, interpersonal process, and phase. Specialty groups include attachment, body image, trauma, seeking safety, narcotics anonymous, and music.
How will I be involved in my daughter’s treatment?
You will play a vital part in your daughter’s recovery. You will be supported by a team of professionals. These professionals have experience in helping young women like your daughter. Everyone on the team shares the goal of helping your daughter to return home. When your daughter returns home, she will be able to be independent and successful.
You will also be invited to a Parent Seminar three times a year. These seminars take place in February, June, and October. They consist of workshops that take place on Wednesday through Friday. If your daughter is at the appropriate level, you will have the chance for an extended visit on the weekend.
You will be able to exchange letters with your daughter at any time. Many families find that exchanging letters encourages thoughtful communication. There is also an open visit policy.
When your daughter earns an appropriate phase, she will be able to call home. How often your daughter is allowed to call depends on the level that she has earned.
Each month, you will also have the chance to take part in a webinar with the Clinical Director. These webinars will help you to understand the challenges your daughter faces. They are also an opportunity to connect with other families. These families are struggling with similar issues.
Will my daughter go to school while she is in treatment?
Your daughter will be taught by certified teachers. There is also a teacher’s aide in each class. You will not be expected to choose between your daughter attending school or therapy. Each program receives its own block of time.
For most girls, their academic ability improves as their mental health improves. The academic program focuses on mastering concepts. This allows your daughter to move quickly through concepts she has mastered. She will also be able to spend more time working on subjects that are more difficult for her.
What will my daughter do besides take part in therapy?
Clubs
Your daughter will have a healthy high school experience. She will have the chance to take part in clubs. Each club meets once or twice a week. Your daughter will be able to choose two or three clubs. Clubs include soccer, technology, musical theater, science, culture and book club.
Outdoor Recreation
Your daughter will take part in recreational trips with her therapist every Friday. Recreation serves several therapeutic purposes. One purpose is helping to motivate your daughter through the program. Another purpose is giving her a chance to get to know her therapist and her peers.
Recreational activities include kayaking, skiing, rock climbing, hiking, service projects, and other seasonal activities. These are probably very different than the activities that she takes part in while she is at home. That is by design. By taking part in new and interesting activities she can begin to think differently. In this way, recreational activities augment and support your daughter’s therapeutic experiences.
These activities will also give your daughter a chance to gain new interests and hobbies. These new healthy hobbies can replace old, unhealthy behaviors when she returns home.
Why do you have a Calf Program?
While your daughter is at the ranch, she will take care of a baby calf. Caring for the calf will give her the chance to develop empathy and responsibility. She will be responsible for bottle-feeding the calf three times a day. Within a few months, the calf will begin eating hay and grain. The calf’s autonomy mirrors your experience with your daughter.
For many young women, caring for the calf is an open door that leads to greater participation in the program. Even when a student is not willing to care for herself, she can still find the motivation to take care of a calf. When girls are successful in the calf program, it often leads to success in other areas too.
What will my daughter eat?
We understand that healthy eating is important to having a healthy body and mind. That is why our professional, trained chef works with our nutritionist to create our menu. Your daughter will eat nutritious meals made from whole foods. Also, if your daughter has special dietary restrictions the chef will accommodate them.
Many mental health concerns are directly related to self-care such as healthy eating. Most of the young women at the ranch have challenges with over or under eating. At the ranch, your daughter will learn about Mindful eating. Mindful eating will help your daughter to heal her relationship with food and her body.
Most of the meals served at the ranch are made from scratch. They are made to feed the soul as well as the belly. Meals are a highly nurturing part of the day. They are also a chance for your daughter to be social and have fun.
The chef bakes a cake for girls on their birthdays. Holidays have full celebratory, healthy meals.