Expanse Wilderness

About the Facility

Expanse Wilderness, a branch of WinGate Wilderness Therapy, is one of the premier wilderness therapy programs in the U.S. We serve struggling young adults ages 18-28, offering an effective and life changing alternative to traditional treatment programs.

As an owner-operated wilderness treatment program with over 30 years of wilderness success, Expanse Wilderness offers a unique therapeutic model centered primarily around talk therapy, which has proven to help young adults who struggle to find their way in a difficult world.

At Expanse Wilderness, our students engage life in a way that brings about powerful change. Our outdoor therapy provides a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment that offers hope and healing. We are licensed by the State of Utah as an Outdoor Therapeutic Program and we are a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP).

Accreditations

LegitScript Certified

LegitScript has reviewed Expanse Wilderness as part of their certification program, and has determined that it meets the LegitScript standards for legality, safety and transparency.

LegitScript verified in October 2021

Treatment

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Dual-diagnosis rehabs in Utah provide comprehensive care for individuals facing both mental health and substance abuse challenges. Through personalized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs, clinicians provide a holistic and effective approach towards mental health. Programs usually include individual and group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, or dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, and skills training to dramatically enhance your chances of long-term sobriety and mental health.

Programs

Open beds

Total beds

Young adult program

Levels of Care

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

Clinical Services

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR is a therapeutic modality originally developed to help process trauma. In an EMDR session, a patient is prompted to undergo eye movements that mimic those of REM sleep. This is accomplished by watching a therapist's finger move back and forth across, or following a bar of light. The goal is repetitive sets of eye movements that help the brain reprocess memory, which can significantly reduce the intensity of remembered traumatic incidents. Associated memories can heal simultaneously, leaving patients significantly calmer, more stable, and more emotionally relaxed.

Family Therapy

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

Individual Therapy

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Recreational Therapy

Recreational therapy (aka therapeutic recreation) uses creative and fun activities to help with addiction recovery. Recreational therapists lead patients in entertaining and engaging activities like sports or games; art (drawing, painting, sculpture); drama, music, and dance; and/or community outings (field trips) to improve patients' physical, social, and emotional well-being.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.