We invest heavily in building rapport and authentic relationships with every youth we serve. Our primary goal is to build the container for youth to become more self-aware. Whether it’s used for personal healing, or as the basis for scientific inquiries into the natural world ~ developing a strong sense of self supports all understanding.

Nature immersions in both beauty and risk, provide powerful opportunities to develop focused, grounded, and open states. Experiencing the many facets of the life force is healing, instructive, and provides insightful metaphors for re-writing self-narratives, and future stories for our beautiful, big blue planet.

Vivid, impactful, present moment flow states, brought about by the beauty and intensity of physical, emotional, or perceptual sensations in nature. These experiences inform our nervous systems. From the stimulation of challenges faced and met, to tightly focused attention turning into expansive awareness, and from stress and relaxation cycles, embodied peak experiences powerfully develop our capacity for immersion in the present moment.

Helping Others

Research shows that people who thrive, including those who succeed in long-term recovery from traumatic events or substance use issues, are those who help others. Serving others, the community or our environment develops empathy, compassion, and the empowered ability to make a difference. This is possibly the most important Root for connection.

4Roots Method Key Elements
Our Theory of Change