Gain The Ridge Blog
Following the Breadcrumbs: Reflections on a Year of Transition
Over the past year, I’ve been navigating one of the biggest transitions of my life — professionally and personally. This is a reflection on endings, uncertainty, and what it looks like to begin again when the identity you carried for decades suddenly shifts. It’s about grief and gratitude, fear and trust, and following the small “breadcrumbs” that appear when the path ahead isn’t clear.
If you’re in a season of transition — or supporting others who are — this one’s for you.
Awkward Transitions: A Spring of Hope for Outdoor Therapy
We’re emerging from the winter of wilderness therapy—a season marked by the closure of many traditional, immersive programs. These programs saved countless lives, but a wave of criticism and vilification overtook the narrative. We need a story that meets this moment— A story that honors past harms, casts out true villains, and invites clients to become the heroes of their lives.
An Honest Reckoning: Reflecting on the Field’s Response to Accusations of Harm and What We Must Do Differently
We make mistakes, we cause harm, and it’s time we own it.
I do not believe any of the programs I know well or the people who run them intend to do harm, but it is human nature to make mistakes and for things to go awry.
It’s time we take this as an opportunity to grow and advance the field and adopt an approach that works to maintain trust when harm happens.
I suggest the behavioral healthcare field adopts a standard, borrowing directly from the medical community by requiring programs to have a communication and resolution program (CRP).
Reflections on the Trail: A Conversation About Leadership, Loss, and the Work That Matters
"This work has a way of shaping you—sometimes gently, sometimes like a storm. After 25 years in wilderness therapy, I’ve learned that staying grounded isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. In my conversation with Will White, I talk about the real behind-the-scenes of running a program, the founding and closing of Open Sky, and why finding joy and resilience in this field matters more than ever. Whether you’re leading a team or just finding your footing, I hope this conversation offers something real to hold onto."