 Students interact with our certified therapist, Life Coaches, and Youth Development Staff through many various models, providing your child with the most effective plan for their individual needs.
EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP): White Rock Academy provides a therapeutic environment incorporating interaction with many types of animals. In addition to caring for small animals, White Rock Academy incorporates a program called Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). Approved by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) (www.eagala.org), White Rock Academy utilizes two very capable clinicians: Linda Helmer, LCSW and EAGALA level 2-certified instructor, and Sharon Stevens, MSW and EAGALA level 1 instructor. Their training and experience enhance your child’s experience by adding another level of therapy outside the regular classroom and treatment environment. The equine facility located in McPherson, Kansas provides WRA students the oportunity to interact with Linda and Sharon through various Equine Therapeutic activities.
Through our EAP program, your child will work with horses and mules through a process of exercises that will help them identify unhealthy patterns of behavior such as distrust, defiance, resistance, and trauma. A proven therapeutic strategy, this opportunity to work with large and powerful beings creates a natural venue for overcoming fear and developing confidence. This method of interacting with animals provides a natural way of calming anger, lifting depression, and instilling trust. Horses are honest and loyal and make powerful teachers for adolescents who refuse to listen to or communicate with parents and/or adults. Moreover, as horses precisely follow their master’s instruction, your child will learn the power of unconditional love and loyalty. Your child will improve as their sense of achievement and accomplishment grows and increases through this equine interaction.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPEUTIC INTERACTION: A more intimate setting helps students break through inhibitive feelings such as denial, anger, depression, frustration, etc. Your child will develop a relationship of trust with their individual counselor, life coach, and youth development staff, allowing the opportunity to discuss issues that might be otherwise too sensitive to address in a group setting. These sessions are held weekly to guide your child through a multi-level system. Steps for success in this model include breaking through denial, recognizing internal and external problems, understanding underlying issues, pinpointing a plan to overcome the problem, working that plan, and devising a long-term plan to continue growth and change at home.
Our non-punitive program is designed to help motivate youth to succeed. Positive discipline encourages an atmosphere of kindness, firmness, dignity, and respect. We help your child learn to solve their own problems and take responsibility for their choices. Learning from mistakes is critical when making positive changes and your child will be able to maintain that skill to continue their growth even after leaving our program. Learning accountability for their choices will play an important role in your childs ’s long-term success.
 CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP COUNSELING: Our program recognizes the need for a Holistic approach for change to take place. We desire that all of our students take advantage of an affiliation with a higher power. Parents can choose if it is their desire, to have their child take advantage of our Christian-based leadership program. Our program incorporates the leadership of Evangelist Doug Twaddell and his family. Doug visits our academy twice weekly and leads discussion on how to trust and rely on Jesus Christ and his discipleship. Doug helps students recognize how prayer and reliance on the Lords spirit can bring forth realization of how blessed each of us are, and he alone will help them recognize their true potential. The teachings of Jesus Christ will help students break down the walls of ungratefulness and will help them recognize that their poor choices are what have undermined them in succeeding to their full potential. Through Bible study classes, students will recognize eternal truths that will help them in a commitment to serve others and to be unselfish. Through voluntary non-denominational training, students also recognize the importance of daily prayer. Prayer alone, can solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about a greater peace and contentment in the human soul than can be obtained in any other way. Through involvement in this training, and community service projects, students will develop a love for the savior Jesus Christ and his relationship to each of us. Students will also learn how to resist the temptations of a secular society and make choices based on what God has in store for them and their future families.
GROUP THERAPEUTIC INTERACTION: Working in a group setting incorporates the same steps involved with individual counseling but adds additional focus to behavioral change. Interaction with other students shows them they are not alone. This setting will help y our child learn to trust others and to be honest with themselves and those with whom they associate. Our two group interaction sessions, Lessons Learned and Guided Group Interaction meetings are facilitated by our Life Coaches and Youth Development team members. We implement Positive Peer Culture, AA&NA readings, and the 12-step process in a holistic processess called GGI(Group Guided Interaction).
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY VISITS: Students will be able to tour and be educated at the Norton Kansas Medium/Minimum Security State Prison at parents requests. Inmates will address students in a safe group setting. They will give insight and relate personal experiences. Students will become fully aware of the reasons for obeying the laws and norms of society.
(3-Hour Tour)
PARENT COACHING AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT: Family unity and support is critical to the overall success of your childs ’s treatment. Upon admission, parents will be assigned to work with a Parent Coach. The Parent Coach will assist the parent through an eight week program specifically designed to involve them in the treatment process. This program will include a detailed breakdown of program rules and guidlines, books to read, and treatment related assignments. Parents are also invited to visit their child in the program during our WRA Parent Weekend. This program planned weekend will consist of various motivational activities, workshops, and on-campus private time with the child. White Rock Academy is committed to providing tools for effective and loving communication and promotes more cohesive, long-term family relationships.
Click Here to see a sample of our Daily Schedule |
