The Children's Advocacy Center of Jackson County

Category: Adventure Therapy

  • A Building Bridges Adventure with the CAC kids

    A Building Bridges Adventure with the CAC kids

    By Virginia Sagal, Communication & Outreach Coordinator, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

    The kids were waiting, very excited for the bus to arrive and take them to the Sanctuary One at Double Oak Farm!

    There they would get a tour of the farm. The tour would include visiting with all the Sanctuary One animals. These animals come from abused and neglected situations and now are in a safe and secure environment.

    When we arrived one hour later, we were met with the staff who would guide us through our tour. The kids were greeted first by the cats and dogs, which were in a separate area on the farm from the rest of the animals. They were allowed to pet them after being told that they are all a bit timid and need special care.

    It was wonderful to see how gently cats were picked up and how carefully they treated the one dog that came up to them.

    Children feeding goat

    Then we were off to the pasture to be greeted by two very friendly little pigs that ran to them to say welcome. The kids were so happy and excited and bonded instantly. In the pasture they had the opportunity to pet all the other pigs, horses, and goats.

    It was so special to see children who are going through therapy being social and nurturing to their fellow farm friends.

    This is what our Building Bridges workshops are about. These activities help socialize the kids in nurturing environments — teaching care, love, and respect for others and animals. Children healing from abuse can have better outcomes in therapy, stronger relationships with family members and peers, and greater levels of participation in the community.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Adventure Therapy: Healing in a New Way

    This is a post by Stacy Hubbard, MS, LMFT, Child and Family Therapist and Adventure Guide with the Children’s Advocacy Center.

    stacy
    Stacy Hubbard

    I have been lucky enough to rock climb and instruct in some of the most beautiful places on the West Coast, with Smith Rock and Joshua Tree being personal favorites.

    Now I am getting the opportunity to take my therapy clients to the rock wall at the YMCA for adventure therapy experiences.

    The YMCA is right down the street from the center, so I feel lucky to have this chance. The center received a grant from the Touvelle Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation to pay for a year-long YMCA membership, and this has allowed us the chance to take clients there for individual and family sessions. Soon we will also be able to offer group sessions.

    I was also able to pass a safety check at the YMCA to show my climbing safety skills and now I am a volunteer there, which allows me access to the rock wall with my clients at times when the wall is closed to the public.

    This allows the kiddos I work with to feel safe in talking and processing feelings and their trauma without having to worry about anyone else hearing or knowing what is happening in the session.

    I have been able to do family and individual sessions and it has been a great way for the parents to learn communication skills with their children, as well as helping my clients build trust with me since I am on the other end of the rope ‘belaying’ them and making sure the rope is tight so that they never fall.

    I am sharing a photo of a belay device here. I don’t want to get too technical, so e-mail me if you want to know how the belaying process works.

    I am going to start a boys’ group in October. This will be for boys, ages 8 – 10, who have been sexually abused.

    I cannot wait to help them start to gain control and feel a sense of mastery and power in this area of climbing. Plus, they get to move their bodies, learn new skills, and be around other boys in a safe, therapeutic and FUN setting!

    I am thrilled to use my adventure guide background to help kids here in the valley do some healing in a new way.