Happy New Year!

Spring Ridge Academy wishes you and your family a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Pay It Forward

Written by SRA Student

On 11/17/11 ( a Thursday) I was called into a room with 9 other girls. We were then told that in less than five days (the coming Monday) we needed to be prepared to dance, sing, and speak at an assembly that would be honoring Les and Virginia Kyllo, the couple who sold Jeannie Courtney the property that would become SRA. Les had recently passed away, so Virginia would be attending without him, but many of her family members would be coming to celebrate her and her huge heart. Once we had been given the assignment, we got to work. We were all incredibly excited and honored that we had been chosen and trusted to accomplish the task. Within the next few days I wrote and practiced a song with another student, practiced reading a letter I wanted to share, and learned a dance two of the other girls had choreographed. Every girl in the group worked hard to make the ceremony as special as possible. By the time Monday rolled around we all felt prepared and excited. The assembly went by without a hitch. There were so many people who stood up to thank Virginia, but she would not let herself be the only one recognized. She talked about Jeannie and how much she had done for us girls. I’m incredibly thankful to have been a part of the assembly, but even more so, I’m thankful to have met Virginia Kyllo, who is truly a giving person.

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SRA parents and staff talk about the Spring Ridge Academy experience. Check out our video!

Office of Behavioral Health

We are proud to share some news with you. The Office of Behavioral Health Licensing visited Spring Ridge Academy on Monday, October 31, 2011 for their annual inspection and cited zero issues or problems within the SRA program. This ‘clean’ inspection means that OBHL will not be inspecting SRA next year at all.

The inspector who is assigned to SRA was asked by his supervisor if he knew of an exemplary Therapeutic Boarding School that she might visit as an example of how such a program should be conducted and he chose Spring Ridge Academy.

We are very proud of our ‘clean’ inspection and look forward to a continued positive relationship with our regulator.

Gary Hees MA, LPC
Clinical Director

Sleepy Teens

A recent article on USNews.Com discussed how sleep effects teens behaviors. Based on a new Centers for Disease Control study, teens who sleep less are more likely to lead "risky lives." The study found "teens ages 14 to 18 who get fewer than eight hours of sleep on school nights (70 % of US high school students) may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors" including using drugs, drink alcohol, cigarette use, as well as an increase in depression.

The study's lead author, Lela McKnight-Eily, PhD, states that "changes in the brain's chemistry that occurs during puberty causes the body's internal clock, or circadian rhythm, to be knocked off track, causing irregular sleep patterns in many teens." Therefore, teens want to stay up late, however, it is the parents responsibility to make clear expectations regarding evening routines and curfews. One of the biggest struggles in today's society is the difficulty parents have setting boundaries with teens around the use of electronics ie: television, cell phones, computers, etc. Teens stay awake for hours surfing the internet instead of getting the rest the body needs. Dr. McKnight-Eily says "that being up late surfing the Internet or watching TV when trying to fall asleep can cause restless nights."

It is essential to help keep children healthy including ensuring they are getting enough sleep. Parents need to set limits at home including setting a time when electronics are shut down so teens the sleep their bodies need.

Great Book for Parents

Spring Ridge Academy will be attending the IECA (Independent Educational Consultant Association) conference on November 9-12, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. We are very excited that Leonard Sax, MD, PhD, the author of, Girls on The Edge, will be speaking at the conference. Jeannie Courtney, CEO/Founder of SRA has been recommending this book to all parents at SRA (and parents she meets at the grocery store.) I have heard her say, "this is a must read." We look forward to hearing Dr. Sax speak at the conference.

Girls On The Edge is a groundbreaking book taking a look at young women in America. In the book, Dr. Sax addresses the four factors that are threatening the mental and physical health of young women today: a culture that sexualizes young girls; the “cyberbubble” of social networking and electronic communication; obsessive behaviors, including eating disorders; and environmental toxins that interfere with the endocrine system and lead to early-onset puberty. You can watch Dr. Sax talk about Girls On The Edge in this interview.

For more information on Dr. Sax or to order the book go to his web site.

Teens and Driving

The number of teens driving while talking on a cell phone or texting is very scary. A USA Today article stated, “Nearly nine in 10 teenage drivers have engaged in distracted-driving behaviors such as texting or talking on a cellphone although most of them know that their actions increase their risk of crashing, a new survey finds.” These are frightening statistics.

It is imperative to set boundaries around driving. MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-aged Kids, an organization dedicated to educating both parents and children about the issues facing our youth today) created a Parent/Teen Driving Contract. It is the parents responsibility to clearly state safe driving expectations. The contract addresses texting and talking on a cell phone, but also addresses taking care of the car, following traffic laws, emotions (driving while angry), as well as other important safety concerns. An important statement in the MASK Driving Contract states, driving “is also a privilege granted to me by my parents, who are under no obligation to do so, and who may withdraw the privilege at any time.” To download the Parent/Teen Driving Contract, visit the MASK web site.

Art of Recovery

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Spring Ridge Academy had the opportunity to exhibit at the Art of Recovery Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. The Expo is a celebration of recovery. The event was free to the public and about 5000 people attended throughout the day. The full day of events included education and solutions for addictions and behavioral health. Paul Williams and Melissa Gilbert were speakers at the Expo. Spring Ridge's own Gary Hees, Clinical Director, participated on a panel discussion. For more information on the Expo check out the web site at www.artofrecoveryexpo.com.

SRA Therapeutic Caseload Groups

The student population at Spring Ridge Academy is divided into caseload groups that are headed by a single Therapist. Each Caseload group lives together in the same dorm, participates together in various activities and develops close bonds with their fellow caseload members. The caseload groups were asked to submit some thoughts about how they viewed being a member of their caseload. We will be posting the submissions to give our readers a glimpse into the dynamics of the caseload groups.

SRA Reporter

I think that it’s really incredible having a small group of girls that you live with and that know you extremely well. You know that your roommates won’t let you get away with old patterns and that they care when they’re calling you out. I don’t know if I would have come this far without my caseload standing behind me and supporting me every step of the way. The Nancinaters caseload rocks!

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Todd’s caseload is the most direct group I’ve ever been in. These girls can read you like a book because they’ve all been there too. We’re all creative and caring and different so you never know what’s going to happen or what will come out of your time with the amazing girls and our great therapist, but you always know it’ll be helpful and inspiring. I couldn’t ask for a better set of young women to live with, share with, and grow with. Go TCL!

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I’m in Janet’s caseload, and I’m so grateful for being a part of it. I know each and every student on a different level, and all of them can relate to me on one subject or another. I love spending time with the caseload, in fact I’m usually found spending most of my time with them. They all are incredibly supportive and are there when you need them. I love J-dawg’s caseload!
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Kim’s caseload is the most supportive and loving group of people that I’ve ever known. I have a trusting bond with the other girls and my therapist. We hold each other up and don’t let each other slide by with anything less than our best. Some of my best friends on this campus are the ones in my caseload because they know everything about me. We know when to be serious and when to get crazy and have a great time. I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of girls to be around. They’ll always have a special place in my heart. I LOVE KIM’S CASELOAD!
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SRA Girls Run a 5K

The SRA Cross Country Team ran in a recent 5K in Flagstaff. Following are comments from some of the participants.

SRA Reporter

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Participant #1

August 13^th 2011 I ran my first race, a 5k in flagstaff. All of my life I’ve said I was going to do things and challenge myself, then always back out at last minute or give up. Honestly I was planning on dropping out of the race the night before or right before the race started and make up some lame excuse. While I was in a battle with myself if I should give up or go do it, and make myself proud. Giving up would have been much easier then running a 5k uphill, and with the lungs of smoking for 5 years before SRA. When it came down to it I loved running it let me get out my physical emotion in a healthy way which is a huge change from when I was at home. The drive to flagstaff pumped me up, but also I was nervous because I was afraid I’d give up in the middle and not finish, but when the race guy said 3 minutes, it all was so very real, at that exact moment when I took off running with one of my best friends, I found myself feeling so strong in my sobriety, and realizing I can change my life and do good for myself, at that moment I made the decision I would not give up, and I would do this even if it took 24 hours, because for the first time in my life I was going to accomplish something by myself. During the 5k running in the woods, with someone I trusted with my life, I felt at peace, which has only happened a couple times, and I realized when things get hard I need to trust myself that I can do something and complete it and be at peace. Let me tell you I ran that race in 21 minutes and 38 seconds. Running across the finishing line was so empowering I ran as fast as I could the last block of the race, and I knew that what I had accomplished was something I could do again, and that this was only the beginning. This has encouraged me to run more race’s and continue to improve for myself and always do my best because of the reward I get at the end, which is peace and happiness even if its for 5 minutes.

-SRA student. 2011

Puppies and Parenting

For the first time in nine years, I have adopted a new puppy. Once I knew the date of arrival, I immediately jumped into reading books and watching DVDs on how to raise a puppy the “right” way. It all seemed so easy in the research phase.

The day arrived and I became the proud owner of an adorable nine-week-old puppy. As we began our training, I noticed how working with a puppy was really an adventure in proactive parenting. The puppy needed to become a productive, socialized and happy dog, very parallel to the environment and guidance a child needs to become an actualized adult.

From the beginning I realized that I would have to change my life. Tess, my new puppy, required a structure that supported her age-appropriate abilities and developmental requirements. She looked to me to teach her safety, boundaries, socially appropriate behavior, and how to delay gratification.

What quickly evolved was a correlation between when Tess made mistakes (chewing all of the cords on the back of my computer) and when I was distracted. Unfortunately many well-meaning people would not follow my instructions to assist Tess in learning self-regulation. Their need to hold this adorable puppy became more important than setting limits by stopping her from biting or by asking her to sit before being petted.

Included in my research were fascinating experiences and information from Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. I remember one of Cesar Millan’s most poignant episodes when a dog was removed from its home and placed in Cesar’s facility. Cesar diligently and successfully stopped the dog from attacking other dogs. Interestingly, each time the owner came to visit, the dog again began to attack. Cesar was willing to swap one of his dogs for hers. The owner realized the importance of the change she needed to make and the dog was returned to her home.

At Spring Ridge Academy, we teach parents the importance of structure, consistency, respect, and boundaries in the home environment. Parents are taught the stages of development and how to achieve effective long-term parenting, open lines of communication, and family connection. We find that adolescents who have mastered these stages are better able to exhibit self-regulation, self-trust, delayed gratification, interdependent relationships, and success in the “real world.”

The transfer from a recovery environment back into the home or other transitional environment is similar to my puppy’s move from breeder to my home. The transitional environment needs to have established structure, nurture, boundaries, patience, understanding and information necessary to support a successful outcome. Not a day goes by that a dog is either let go or put into the Humane Society because someone expected the dog to know how to redirect his own unmanageable behaviors. Structure and boundaries save dogs and kids.

Two months later Tess has doubled in size and I have a dog that is learning to adjust to our home life and to socialize well with humans and dogs. We all had to change: Tess, Dudley (my 9-year old dog), and most importantly, me.

Jeannie Courtney

Challenge Workshop

Over 30 students either attended or staffed the Challenge workshop at the beginning of August. Challenge provides the opportunity to uncover and challenge self-limiting and self-defeating beliefs, attitudes, feelings and behaviors and begin to replace these patterns with proactive choices. Over the next week we are posting some of the comments made by our students after completing Challenge.

SRA Reporter

The following contributions are from the experiences of students and staffers that attended Challenge.

I learned a lot from connecting again with my magical child. I really felt more in touch with myself when I looked into her eyes and accepted what a precious, innocent and compassionate person I am at heart. Affirming myself in that moment brightened my spirits. I learned that whenever I’m struggling or having a pretty low energy day, getting in touch with my magical child is an amazing tool to turn around any day. Looking back, I’m realizing and even feeling how safe and comfortable and at peace I felt being with my magical child. I was there for part of the staffing and I got a lot out of the magical child activity.

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The most important thing that I learned while staffing was that getting help doesn’t mean that I am incapable; it simply means that I am comfortable enough with myself to ask for assistance.

I also realized that affection and connection is different than trust. I have been implementing boundaries in each aspect but aspect, but they mean different things to me.

When searching for my magical child this time, I actually had a deeper connection with her than the previous time around.

Hearing the dot feedback was so meaningful to me. I knew that I had made great steps, but what I hadn’t realized was how great of a positive impact (“giving impact”) on this community. I have greatly changed since Challenge and this has not only greatly assisted me inside, but outside this staffing training as well. I also acknowledge the amount of insight, care and honesty I brought into this training.

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In Challenge, I learned that even though on the outside I look fine, I’m hurting on the inside. I learned that it is okay to show my feelings and I’m not judged when I cry. I learned that I still have that child I once was in me and can bring her back whenever I need to. I learned that I shut myself out from people because I’m worried about being judged. The most difficult thing for me is to hear all this feedback and not know where to begin.

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I got a lot out of this training. I learned so much about myself, especially my enmeshment and how my self-limiting beliefs affect the way I think about myself. I also learned that there are many people that give feedback from a caring place. I also learned that I have more work and more practice to do and that I need to keep learning how to love and trust myself.

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As a Staffer, I learned that there is still a lot of control that I have to let go of. I have realized that when a girl has a troublesome past, I feel the need to jump in a rescue her. I have also learned that I care so much about people, and people really do care about me. I was told that I’m the definition of a “true friend” and that I have had an impact on her life. I learned that I can be a good leader. I’ve also realized how much I’ve changed while being at SRA.

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I learned so many things about myself in Challenge. Challenge was well put together and beautifully done. I thought it was well prepared and inspirational.

I came to the realization that I rightly deserve to be forgiven – by myself. I deserve to have the shame lifted off of me and the blame I place on myself o dissolve completely. I am worthy. I am deserving.

I also got an overwhelming feeling of love for myself. Now I know what it truly feels like to love myself and truly mean it. It was uplifting, cleansing and gave me hope.

I connected with my authentic self/magical child. I felt the warmth of really revisiting what it’s like to be my true self. I can now identify myself with the little girl I used to be and embrace the feeling of a clean slate. I feel pure again.

I learned that I have a choice. I have a choice t be happy, sad, angry, frustrated…. EVERYTHING is my choice.

I shouldn’t worry about how others see me. I am incredible without anyone telling me so. I don’t need anyone’s validation. I can supply that to myself. Giving myself affirmations will do a lot for me.

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I learned to re-love myself.

I learned to forgive myself.

I learned that I sabotage myself so that I have a reason for people leaving me and my life being miserable.  It gives me “control” of the situation, I thought.  It almost comforts me because I know when things will end or people will leave me.

I learned to stop taking the things that Vincent did to me personally, because he does it to all of his girlfriends. If I want him out of my life completely than I cannot allow what he has done to me to control my thoughts and feelings.

I learned that I am NOT fat AT ALL.

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What I learned from Challenge is that a lot of people have masks.

I am able to have good emotional connections with the girls here.

It is possible to rebound from bad situations.

Trust isn’t about liking someone.

Going outside of your nine dots helps you take risks.

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I self sabotage. I’m so afraid of the future and change (even if it’s a good change) that I resort back to old patterns so that the change does not happen.

I run away from things because I like to take the easy way out and am so afraid to face problems that come up or that I create, I immediately run to try and protect myself.

I have a powerful voice. People want to listen to me when I have something positive and insightful to say, because they trust my word.

I am an amazing leader.  I can lead great discussions that have meaning.  I set a good example, and I set the path for people to choose to be open, honest and themselves.

I am worth it and I am capable.  I can do great things in my life when I actually put my mind in a positive thinking mode.  I am worth it to stay in treatment and have people support me the whole way through.

I truly want to be sober.  Doing drugs and drinking can lead to life of sadness, guilt, pain, regret, anger, etc.  I want to live a life where I’m not held down by the limitations of my addictions.  I want to have meaningful relationships that are not based on drugs or alcohol.

I am strong.  Even when I thought I had hit rock bottom at SRA, a part of me (my functional) kept me going and didn’t let myself give it all up because I refuse to let something get me down.  Well, it did get me down, but I didn’t totally run away and give in to my old self.
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Challenge was one of the most powerful, inspirational and liberating workshops I’ve ever gotten to be a part of.  For almost three years I thought all of my negative feelings and resentments were gone and that my “grungies” were just a common, healthy way of expressing my emotions.  I was so wrong.

Challenge opened my eyes to realizing how much anger, hurt and fear I still had toward my family.  Bringing all those emotions up again made me cry so hard that I couldn’t recall the last time I cried like that.  And for once, I was okay with it.  It didn’t make me feel weak.  I knew I wasn’t pathetic.  I just felt great.

The crying was like a little drain that washed away so much of the shame and guilt I carried around with me.  It also made me understand that I was looking for approval and confirmation of who I was.  I didn’t need anyone’s opinion to tell me what kind of person I am.  My magical child told me.  It reminded me that a sweet, care free ad innocent girl was still there.  It brought back all the love, happiness and compassion I felt in my younger years.  Challenge was almost like a refreshing of me.  I needed to throw away all my anger, hurt and resentment to learn to forgive others, but especially myself. 

I learned how to come out of my nine dots and challenge any of my self limiting beliefs that were holding me back.  The entire program was such a learning experience about life, but also about myself.  I never understood my thinking behind many of the choices I made until this training.  It helped me forgive myself in the sense that all the decisions I chose to make were normal.  Challenge really began to expose myself and others to the other 90% of my iceberg.  I realized my “mask” wasn’t fooling anyone else but me.  I finally feel like I can begin to express my genuine emotions without feeling like I am being judged.  The program made me feel really close with my other trainees and that I could finally just show everything I was feeling.  It was truly genuine.

I can’t begin to thank everyone who was a part of Challenge enough.  It really helped me put things into perspective and I realized how much love for myself and others I still have inside me.  If I could go through the program every day I would.  Thank you for everything.