Wingate Wilderness Therapy

A former patient of Wingate Wilderness filed a lawsuit against the center. The case closed in 2021. See the case file.

Relationship Driven Treatment

Wingate Wilderness Therapy is an outdoor treatment program that uses an Alliance-based therapy approach combined with wilderness therapy. Wingate treats adolescents ages 13-17 suffering from substance abuse and co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and suicidal thoughts. Wingate serves young adults struggling with a variety of clinical, emotional, and academic issues. Their clinical team is experienced in working with a wide variety of clients, but they also have special expertise in addressing complex concerns that may arise. At Wingate, the staff is relationship driven. This philosophy is at the core of their program. They focus on intent, not behavior, and they do not have a level system. Students engage in weekly therapy and family counseling. Wingate removes all distractions and allows the wilderness to enhance the healing process. Students can learn primitive wilderness living like making spoons, fire, moccasins, leather goods, and maybe even a bow and arrows. Intertwined in all of this will be recovery work and recovery meetings. The rest of the days of the week are typical "hiking days." On these days, the group packs up camp and hikes to a new camp. There are chores to attend to in cleaning up camp and in setting up the new site. Hikes vary in length according to the capabilities of the group members, the weather, and the season.

Ideal Location

Wingate Wilderness Therapy is located in Kanab, Utah. This ideal location is perfect for wilderness adventures to the nearby beautiful surroundings.