April 1st, 2022
April 1st, 2022
Driven by Compassion: The Vital Role of Open Sky’s Intake Specialists
Open Sky intake specialists welcome new students to Open Sky and guide them through the arrival process until they join their teams in the field. In this blog post, Intake Director Rick Crawford discusses the crucial role intake specialists play at Open Sky. Interested in joining the Open Sky team as an intake specialist? We’re […]
January 28th, 2022
Join Our Team! Open Sky is Hiring Therapists in Family Services Department
Open Sky is unique for our family-centered approach to the therapeutic process: we believe that actively engaging the entire family system is essential for students’ long-term growth. While students receive treatment in wilderness, families participate in a parallel process. They learn about the foundations of effective communication and practice essential skills to complement their child’s […]
January 18th, 2022
Bearing Witness: A Conversation with Clinical Therapist Maura Nolan
Open Sky Wilderness Therapy is excited to welcome Clinical Therapist Maura Nolan, LPC, ACMHC, NCC to the clinical team! Maura has vast experience in crisis intervention and trauma-based psychotherapy. She received her bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Maryland, where she studied psychology and criminal forensics. She received her master’s degree in mental health and wellness from New […]
December 14th, 2021
Why I Guide: Open Sky Field Staff Share Their Passion for This Work
Our field staff are the heart of Open Sky. They are with students day and night, providing necessary structure and containment and supporting students in becoming their full selves. They are compassionate, playful, strong, creative, and essential to our program. Below, members of the Open Sky field team share what makes this work special and […]
October 22nd, 2021
The Wonders of Winter: Living and Thriving in the Utah Desert
Every October, Open Sky’s course area moves from the high mountains of Colorado to the desert canyon country of southeastern Utah. With its sweeping vistas and crisp night skies, the desert offers a particularly expansive and striking landscape. The climate is hospitable, precipitation is infrequent, and sunshine is plentiful. At Open Sky, we take the utmost […]
August 21st, 2021
Ready for Your Next Adventure? Learn About Guiding at Open Sky!
Field guiding at Open Sky is a unique and special job, one that requires compassion, confidence, strength, and creativity. It can be difficult to accurately describe just what being a field guide is like, as the position encompasses so many different duties and functions, all of which are essential to the work we do at Open […]
May 7th, 2021
Family Systems Therapy: What Is It, and Why Does It Work?
Brian Leidal a therapist in Family Services at Open Sky. In this Q&A, he explains what family systems therapy is, why we use it at Open Sky, and how it empowers the entire family system to shift toward healthier dynamics. What is family systems therapy? Family systems therapy is based on psychologist Murray Bowen’s […]
April 28th, 2021
Meet Early Adolescent Program Director Liz Lucarelli
We are excited to welcome Liz Lucarelli to Open Sky as the early adolescent program director. Liz has extensive experience working with kids ages 12-14 and their families in wilderness settings. She brings this knowledge to her role at Open Sky, where she directs program and curriculum development, staff training, and clinical oversight. We are […]
April 28th, 2021
Unapologetically Themselves: Why Mark Sobel Loves Working with Early Adolescents
Mark Sobel is the clinical therapist for early adolescent boys. Get to know Mark in the Q&A below! How did you discover the power of wilderness for yourself? I struggled as a kid dealing with my own depression and anxiety, and it often felt like something was missing. I didn’t have an outlet that felt […]
April 27th, 2021
Cultivating Curiosity and Awareness: A Conversation with Clinical Therapist Julia Lehr
In the Q&A below, get to know Julia Lehr, therapist for early adolescent girls. How did you develop a passion for mental health, family therapy, and wilderness? Mental health has always been a part of my life. There are mental health issues in my family, as well as with some of my friends, so I […]