Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do you determine if an applicant is a good match for Ashley Valley Wilderness.
Response: People come to Ashley Valley from all walks of life and from a variety of backgrounds. Your admissions counselor can initiate a professional assessment process to help determine a potential student’s ability to benefit from participation in a program at Ashley Valley.

Question: Why use the wilderness as part of a therapeutic plan?
Response: There are aspects of traditional program settings that inhibit the emotional growth and education of some individuals. Many of our students are treatment resistant and have had varying degrees of failure with traditional therapeutic settings. Outdoor programs use unique wilderness settings where students are challenged to move out of their usual environment and go beyond their typical behaviors.

Question: What is your mission?
Response: Our mission is to act as a site for exploration into individual perceptions and behaviors. We adhere to the concept that in order to change behavior perceptions must be changed. These perceptions for successful living are taught in a milieu of structured activities combined with professional counseling services. Ashley Valley is a new beginning.

Question: What can a person gain from a program at Ashley Valley?
Response: We work specifically with our students to assist them in overcoming negative behavior patterns. Participants will learn to appreciate themselves for their strengths, skills, and power to set and pursue meaningful goals. They will gain perceptions of personal capability and personal significance. They will learn and demonstrate personal skills of communication and responsibility, and gain a clear understanding of their role as meaningful contributors to their families and to the community.

Question: What about the safety?
Response: This is a valid concern that Ashley Valley takes very seriously. All of our participants must pass a full medical physical before entering the program. We have 24-hour on-call medical and emergency services, 24-hour staff supervision, an on-staff EMT, coupled with employees that are skilled and trained in Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness First Aid, and CPR. We are in close proximity to our main facility which allows us to be very accessible to visitors and inspections.

Question: What about the influences from other participants.
Response: Our 1:3 staff to participant ratio allows us to work individually with each student and reflect positively on past negative behaviors. This enables those participants to see those destructive patterns in a positive light, learning from each other. In addition, we use a continuous flow model at Ashley Valley. This allows us to place incoming students into an existing group that is modeling positive peer culture. New students join an age appropriate group of students that have progressed in the program and are willing to share positive encouragement and experience.

Question: How long does your program last?
Response: The minimum length of stay is 84 days. For students that need longer term treatment we have an open-ended Recovery Phase.

Question: Are you coed?
Response: Ashley Valley is a coed program. We accept male and female students in our programs. Keep in mind, our staff to student ratio is higher than most programs and the students are very highly supervised to assure there is not inappropriate behavior between our students.

Question: Do you have a religious affiliation?
Response: We are not affiliated with any religious organization. Our students and staff come from all walks of life and represent a myriad of cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds. We are willing to work with your child’s spiritual leader to assure their religious needs are met while they are in our program, but we do not provide a religious curriculum.

Question: Can you work with students that are on medication and/or have physical disabilities?
Response: We evaluate each student on a case-by-case basis. The admissions counselors at Ashley Valley will help you determine if our program is appropriate for your child.

Question: Do your students write letters, receive email, have phone contact, or visits from family/friends?
Response: Yes to all. We believe in creating a strong support group for our students and encourage frequent contact with positive, encouraging individuals.

Question: Do you have an equipment list or list of things a student needs to bring with them to the program?
Response: We outfit our students completely with everything they need to enter and complete the program. Your admissions counselor will work with you to determine what the student needs to bring with them.

Question: When do your programs start?
Response: Students are enrolling and graduating at different times. If we have an opening in an age/gender appropriate group the enrollment process can be completed in as little as 72 hours.

Question: What is the cost of your program?
Response: Our base tuition is $345 per day, an outfitting fee of $750, and minimal incidental expenses. You are also responsible for the cost of transportation to and from the program.

Question: Will insurance pay for your program?
Response: We have had mixed results with insurance companies. Depending on your coverage you may be eligible for reimbursement for the program cost or at minimum the cost of the therapeutic aspects of the program. We will provide you with a billing statement with the needed diagnostic codes to present to your insurance company. It is your responsibility to pursue reimbursement.

Question: Do you offer financing or scholarship?
Response: We do offer a financing program to qualified sponsors. We determine the payment plan on a case-by-case basis, but always require payment for the first 21 days of tuition on enrollment. We do not have a scholarship plan at present.

Question: Why are these programs so expensive?
Response: The cost of operating a wilderness therapeutic facility is very high. At Ashley Valley we know cutting corners would compromise the safety of our students and have a negative affect on our ability to deliver a program that has a lasting impact. For help evaluating wilderness programs please visit:

http://www.strugglingteens.com/parents/tencommonmistakest.html
http://www.wilderness-therapy.org/Wilderness/DangerChecklist.htm

Question: How do I get to your facility?
Response: You can:

Take a direct flight to Salt Lake City, UT. You will be met at the airport by Ashley Valley representatives and transported to the field office in Rangely, Colorado.

Meet our intake team at our Vernal, UT office.

Question: How are you different from other programs? What makes Ashley Valley unique?
Response: You have probably looked at quite a few programs in your search for appropriate placement and know there are quite a few choices. Many of those programs have unique aspects or specialize in very specific needs.

Ashley Valley operates on 16,000 acres of private land. Operating on private land assures our travels are not dictated by the BLM and allows us to offer our clients a remote, secure environment.

The individualized nature of our treatment plans.

Our strong academic component. We are able to help our students get back on track with their academic pursuits. Students at Ashley Valley can complete their high school diploma, receive their GED, or take college courses.

The small size of our groups which allows personal attention and recognition. Our groups rarely exceed nine (9) students. In addition, our groups are age, gender, and issue appropriate.

Our high staff to student ratio. Most groups have a staff/student ratio of 1:3.

We are one of a few programs that are able to couple an outdoor adventure phase with an extended life-skill training experience providing participants with education, work ethics, job skills, communication skills, perceptual changes, and counseling.

Our open enrollment policy. Using the continuous flow model allows students to enroll and graduate at different times. This added benefit assures each new student will join an existing group that is modeling positive peer culture. Using continuous flow also gives each person the opportunity to experience a variety of leadership and support roles during their stay.

Our Safety Net guarantee. We are one of a few programs with a strong enough belief in the effectiveness of our program to offer a full two year guarantee.

We hope this packet has answered many of your questions Ashley Valley; however, we encourage you to contact one of our admissions counselors toll free at (866) 781-2450 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for additional information. We are pleased to have the opportunity to assist you and thank you once again for your interest in Ashley Valley Wilderness.