Psychiatric & Medical Services
Psychiatric Services
Our Approach to Mental Health Care in Utah
Legacy Outdoor Adventures and our various programs offer specialized mental health treatment in Utah through a collaborative and experienced clinical team. Our staff, including psychiatrists and medical professionals, provide psychiatric assessments, medication follow-ups, and consultations as part of our client-centered approach. With a full-time, on-site nurse, a medical director, and access to a local medical clinic, we’re equipped to offer high-quality mental health care in Utah. Our clinicians have expertise in their specialties and decades of combined experience treating mental health issues in an outdoor therapeutic environment. Working together as a team, our staff assess, prescribe, modify, and monitor all medications to ensure maximum benefit to each client.
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Experienced Medical Staff
Participating in wilderness therapy can be physically and mentally challenging for some individuals with more severe symptoms. We take a comprehensive approach to psychiatric care and medical care, prioritizing the safety and well-being of everyone participating in our programs. Our medical staff collaborates with clients and their families to ensure we know about potential issues that may impact a person’s health during wilderness therapy.
Staff have mental health and medical training, allowing them to address any medical concerns in an outdoor therapeutic environment. The adventure guides have trained as Wilderness First Responders, and we have access to specialists, dentists, and emergency care, including hospitalization if necessary. Our team, including professionals in psychiatry, ensures that both physical and mental health needs are met throughout the program.
We understand clients have unique strengths and areas where they may need additional support. Outdoor activities challenge clients to build resilience and trust in their own abilities. Our psychiatrists and other medical professionals ensure clients feel secure during treatment, providing continuous medication management and tailored treatment plans.
Medical Services
Adventure Therapy can be a rigorous endeavor. Hiking, carrying a backpack, climbing, canyoneering, and mountain biking all require that the client is in good enough health to actively participate. That being said, we don’t require clients to enter the program in peak physical condition. For most clients who have been struggling with mental health issues and/or substance abuse, working out at the gym has not been a top priority. Accordingly, we scale the level of physical exertion for our adventures each week to match the capacity of the clients in the group.
However, we want to make sure everyone is healthy enough to be safe doing all the outdoor activities. Therefore, every client receives a full physical exam at the time of intake at the local medical clinic. Additionally, if medical issues arise after intake, our field staff are trained to triage and refer concerns to our full-time, on-site nursing staff. We have a nurse either at the base facility, in the field, or on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Commitment to Client-Centered Care
A client-centered approach to rehabilitation allows us to tailor therapeutic techniques to each client’s specific needs. We do not use cookie-cutter treatment plans. Instead, clients receive services and care personalized to their circumstances, goals, and expectations. Our commitment to each client’s recovery, supported by mental health professionals and psychiatric care, sets our programs apart from other rehabilitation centers.
A client-centered approach to care in an outdoor therapeutic setting involves the following:
• Using the natural setting to lower stress and promote self-reflection
• Guiding clients through recognizing their strengths using experiential therapies
• Creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for healing and personal growth
• Encouraging exploration, skills development, and healthy self-expression
At Legacy Outdoor Adventure, we prioritize the well-being of our clients to ensure they can focus their time and energy on building the foundation for a healthier quality of life. To learn more about our safety measures, please visit our Safety page.
The Role Of Our Program Psychiatrist in Utah
Psychiatrists play a critical role in treating substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. Studies have shown that during rehabilitation, a “psychiatrist can help uncover the root causes of the addiction.” In addition, psychiatrists have the responsibility of prescribing and overseeing the use of medications that reduce symptoms related to SUD or dual diagnosis.
Our Psychiatric Program Features
A licensed psychiatrist in Utah works closely with our clients to assess their needs and prescribe medications when appropriate. We understand the importance of ensuring people in treatment have the support and resources they need to address underlying factors impacting their sobriety and mental health. Psychiatric care helps clients heal and develop healthier routines to support lasting change.
• Psychiatric assessments
• Full-time on-site nursing services
• Regular psychiatric check-ins
• Monitoring of client progress
• Holistic support for mental health issues
• Emergency medical response preparedness
Psychiatrists use prescription medications and other tools to prepare clients for participation in adventure therapy. Our staff have training and years of experience providing treatment in an outdoor therapeutic setting. We practice emergency medical response preparedness to reduce the risk of problematic setbacks during wilderness therapy. Psychiatry and mental health support are integral to the recovery process, ensuring clients receive the right treatment for emotional well-being. Psychiatrists may also prescribe medications to relieve stress or anxiety during outdoor activities. Over time, clients learn to regulate their emotions using healthy coping tools, reducing the need for psychiatric support.
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Prioritizing Client Safety and Well-Being
The experts at Legacy Outdoor Adventure take client safety seriously. Before participating in wilderness therapy in Utah, each client completes a physical exam to ensure they are physically capable of engaging in the program. We understand the physical and emotional toll experiential therapy may have on clients new to the idea of wilderness therapy. The guidance and support provided by our team promote resilience, accountability, and personal growth. Clients learn to replace maladaptive behaviors and thoughts with healthy alternatives while developing new skills for managing their mental health conditions.
All clients must undergo a physical assessment to safely engage in outdoor therapy. A physical evaluation generally includes doing the following:
• Taking a medical history
• Recording current medications
• Assessing vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, etc.)
• Head-to-toe physical examination for injury, illness, or chronic conditions
• Taking a substance use history
• Screening for infectious diseases
• Assessing pain
• Evaluating nutritional status
• Assessing withdrawal symptoms
• Screening for mental health disorders
Psychiatrists prescribe medications, offer therapeutic support, and collaborate with clients to create a personalized treatment plan based on the information gathered during the initial evaluation.
Physical Health Assessments of Each Client
Every person participating in our programs must undergo a physical health assessment to ensure an accurate diagnosis and care. Chronic substance abuse and the side effects of mental health disorders can have a profound impact on the mind and body. Physical health issues directly affect emotional regulation and stability. People with poor physical health may struggle with some of the more advanced outdoor activities. We tailor wilderness therapy to the abilities of the client.
Scalable Adventures to Match Client Capacity
We ensure adventure therapy matches client capacity and skill level by doing the following:
• Offering activities with multiple difficulty levels and adjusting them to each client’s level of comfort
• Assessing emotional and physical abilities to match activities to each client’s health and psychological abilities
• Providing gradual exposure to outdoor challenges to help clients become more comfortable and confident
• Creating flexible groups to match people with similar skill sets and therapeutic needs
• Offering supportive substitutions for each outdoor activity
Our wilderness therapy sessions match client capacity and capabilities to ensure the best outcomes.
Trained Wilderness Guides
Our adventure guides have Wilderness First Responder training, utilize the American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) best practices during all outdoor activities, and participate in the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) Council. We ensure continuous monitoring of client health and comfort through regular check-ins. Staff guide clients through outdoor activities and therapeutic techniques while modeling healthy behaviors and effective communication.
Medication Management
Psychiatric services include managing symptoms of withdrawal and mental health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Recovery may involve medication to help with cravings and withdrawal as well as different forms of therapy.” Therapists, psychiatrists, and other experts monitor medication and help clients manage symptoms during outdoor therapeutic activities and group outings.
Ongoing Medication Monitoring and Adjustments
Staff monitor medication through every stage of rehabilitation to ensure clients remain on track to meet their recovery goals. Often, as people begin to heal and grow, medication becomes less necessary. Psychiatrists regularly monitor clients, track symptoms, and adjust prescription medications as needed.
Support for Pre-Existing Medication Regimens
Some individuals in rehabilitation programs have pre-existing medication regimens for co-occurring conditions or symptoms of SUD. We have the resources to support pre-existing medication regimens, and our experts will connect with the prescribers to ensure a smooth transition. Medication management ensures clients take medications as intended during treatment.
Initiating New Medication Protocols
We may need to initiate new medication protocols depending on the unique needs of each client. Our clinicians only prescribe medications when appropriate to ensure the safety, comfort, and health of clients in our rehabilitation programs. Due to the outdoor setting of many therapy sessions, we always have medical professionals on-site to provide immediate support if clients experience physical or emotional issues during treatment.
Focus on Long-Term Healing and Growth in Utah
Our rehab center offers comprehensive treatment programs and personalized care, including psychiatric support, to reduce the risk of relapse and improve the effectiveness of therapy. We recognize the importance of addressing the co-occurring and underlying mental health issues affecting sobriety and emotional wellness.
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Develop Stress Tolerance and Emotional Regulation
Stress is one of the most common causes of relapse in early recovery. The symptoms and side effects of withdrawal often increase stress. Improving stress tolerance through emotional regulation allows clients to heal without backsliding into old behaviors.
Stress management does the following:
• Improves relapse prevention strategies
• Increases coping capabilities and emotional flexibility
• Enhances problem-solving skills
• Promotes the development of healthy routines
• Reduces physiological stress responses
• Encourages proactive self-care and stress reduction
Psychiatrists offer antianxiety drugs or other medications to help clients manage stress effectively during early recovery.
Getting Started with Finding a Psychiatrist in Utah at Legacy Outdoor Adventure
Many individuals with SUD struggle with mental health issues and trauma. Legacy Outdoor Adventure offers comprehensive psychiatric support, guidance, and treatment options. Our addiction and mental health experts ensure clients feel confident and safe during wilderness therapy sessions. Clients gain the tools and skills they need to manage their condition and prepare for long-term sobriety.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about psychiatric services at Legacy Outdoor Adventure.
Generally, you do not need a referral to see a psychiatrist or participate in individual therapy. However, some insurance providers may require a referral before approving payment for a psychiatrist. Our intake specialists can help you determine if we take your insurance and what services are covered under your specific plan.