Category: Blog
November 21, 2019
Where Are They Now? Lauren’s Story
It’s hard to believe that it has been 11 years since I stepped foot at Turn-About Ranch. I remember driving up to the barn in the middle of a blizzard. Being from Texas, the amount of snow coming down was unbelievable. Right as we parked, I was rushed out of my car and into a truck that escorted me down the road to Roundy. Little did I know that was the last time I would see my parents and the beginning of my time at Turn-About Ranch.
Before Turn-About Ranch I was lost. At age 15, I had found myself in a world of hurt and falling down a tunnel I didn’t know how to get out of. After years of battling with depression and anxiety, …
September 8, 2019
Where Are They Now? Aly’s Story
After struggling with anxiety and depression, Aly’s mom sent her to Turn-About Ranch. Aly was able to turn her life around after months of counseling, trust-building, and caring for animals. Today she is a married mother and successful vet tech. Learn more about how Turn-About Ranch was able to help Aly change her life.
July 12, 2019
Common Parenting Pitfalls to Avoid
Being a parent is hard! That is especially true when it comes to raising teenagers. As a parent, you don’t really get an instruction manual on how to raise your kids. However, here is a guide to the common pitfalls we see with parents and how to avoid them.
July 5, 2019
Oppositional Defiant Disorder Vs. Normal Teenage Rebellion
Teenagers are known to be naturally moody and a little rebellious. After all, they’re learning who they are and are testing boundaries. However, there is a big difference between what is normal and what is actually Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Yes, that’s a real thing! Discover the difference and what you need to know about this ODD disorder.
February 2, 2016
Trip Report: Educational Hike to the Cosmic Ashtray
Recently, I tagged along with the Turn-About boys and a few of the staff members to hike to one of Escalante’s strangest treasures: the Cosmic Ashtray. The formation resembles a volcano at the top of a sandstone mountain, a rock island resting in the center of its “crater.” In winter, it is quite a spectacular scene. The red and yellow sandstone mixes with the white of snow, and the whole landscape looks like a giant Cold Stone tabletop filled with ice cream and crushed candy. The winter makes Escalante seem to glow.
At the trailhead, we took a closer look at the snow, and we were amazed to see huge ice crystals all over the ground, with some of the shards exceeding the width of a …
January 14, 2015
Using S.M.A.R.T. Goals to Overcome Addiction
As I mentioned in my previous post, the New Year is a great time to look at setting goals to overcome addiction. I suggested that one way to work on overcoming addiction is to replace that addiction with other activities. I’m not a clinical psychologist or expert on behavioral science, but in my experience, it can be helpful to evaluate these three aspects of your life when making goals: social, physical, and mental/emotional.
By looking at each of these areas, you can evaluate what you must do to combat the multi-faceted burden caused by your addiction.
When setting goals in those three areas, it is important to not place the stakes too high or think too broadly. Your goal doesn’t necessarily have to be “I’m going to …