Episode 7: Preparing the Child for the Road (Not the Road for the Child): How Challenge Cultivates Resilience in Young People with Jonathan Mitchell, MA, LPC

SKYlights

PREVIEW: We hear a lot of buzz terms today: “lawnmower parenting”; “helicopter parenting”; or even “bubble wrap” parenting. At the route of these terms, the common theme is a parent-child relationship in which parents aren’t allowing their kids to think for themselves or develop a sense of self-confidence. In this episode of the Open Sky Wilderness Therapy podcast, counselor Jonathan Mitchell explains techniques parents can use to begin shifting out of the “helicopter parent” trap and help their children build confidence and resilience. GUEST PROFILES: Jonathan Mitchell, MA, LPC Jonathan is a Licensed Professional Counselor with extensive experience serving adolescents, young adults, and families. He grew up in Wisconsin, earning his BS in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in 2000. Instead of getting a job traditional to his field of study, Jonathan took to the outdoors to work with people. Over the next six years, he worked extensively in the wilderness therapy field, in roles such as field director and field manager. Inspired by the magic of the wilderness to motivate change, Jonathan returned to graduate school and earned a Master’s in Counseling. During this time, he worked as both a therapist at an intensive outpatient addiction treatment center for teens and a college math teacher. He has continued to expand his clinical training, earning a certificate in Gestalt Therapy from the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies in 2008. In 2009, he joined Open Sky as a Family Quest Therapist and is now a primary clinical therapist for adolescent boys. Jonathan’s areas of clinical expertise include oppositional defiance, adoption/attachment issues, treatment resistance, navigating non-traditional and complex family systems, substance abuse and addiction, depression, anxiety, and trauma. His clinical approach draws on the teachings of dialectical behavioral therapy, Gestalt therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and years of experience as a field guide. As a therapist, he is appreciated for his pleasant and direct nature, intuitive connection with clients, and knack for working with defiant and strongly guarded adolescents. When not working at Open Sky, Jonathan can be found exploring the Southwest: rock climbing, trail running, and telemark skiing. He has traveled extensively in India, and his daily meditation and yoga practices are core parts of his life. A Green Bay native, Jonathan is an avid Packers fan. TOPICS COVERED: Wilderness Therapy, coping skills, emotional and spiritual growth, self-confidence, emotional support, healing, young adults, recovery support, empowerment, destructive relationships, substance use, personal trauma, family dynamics, oppositional defiance, adoption/attachment issues, treatment resistance, navigating non-traditional and complex family systems, substance abuse, substance addiction, depression, anxiety

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