At Cherry Gulch, we are committed to giving the highest level of therapy treatment to our students and strive to accomplish this through following a relationship model of care. Our team of highly and diversely trained therapists ensures that we have the right match for every student. We believe in building strong and trusting relationships with our students and know that one of the best ways to make that happen is through experiential learning together. Whether it’s volunteering in the community, enjoying the beauty and adventure that the Boise area has to offer, or going on international trips together, we get to know each one of our students on a very real and personal level and create opportunities for real time interventions as we adventure and engage in activities side by side.
Attentive Therapists
Our therapists are with our students day in and day out, developing strong relationships and helping our students to take down their walls and learn how to be vulnerable, communicate their emotions, and open themselves up to learning new skills to help cope with the struggles they are facing. By providing opportunities on a daily basis for our students to stretch out of their comfort zones, they are able to process how they are feeling in the moment and learn valuable tools that will help them moving forward.
Treatment Approaches
Cherry Gulch’s program model integrates several well-known treatment approaches. The sound theoretical foundation is quickly familiar to both the clinicians employed by the program and the educational or clinical professionals who refer young people to the program. This familiarity generally brings confidence in the program results. Our very intentional approach to therapy takes our students through different character building lessons that culminate in the student graduating our program with the tools he needs to be successful. Through the work that our students do on their lessons work, they learn to be intrinsically motivated to make change and take control of their journey and progress through treatment. Additionally, our strength-based approach helps our students develop their confidence and empowers them to transform their weaknesses into strengths as they work to overcome their various learning, emotional and behavioral diagnoses.
Therapeutic Activities
At our campus in beautiful Emmett, Idaho, we have a plethora of activities that are available to us right our backyard. From hiking to snowboarding, paddle boarding and mountain biking, there is always a new skill to be learned and a new hobby to fall in love with. Our ranch campus provides the ideal setting for our students to disconnect from technology, reconnect with nature, and have daily opportunities to practice the relationship, emotional regulation, and practical skills that they are learning across different domains at Cherry Gulch.
We Offer a Variety of Therapeutic Modalities
Each student at Cherry Gulch receives a dedicated 10 hours of therapy each week. Each of our therapists are trained and specialize in a variety of therapeutic modalities that are aimed at helping pre-adolescent and adolescent boys learn respect, perseverance and compassion as well as find balance, confidence and courage during their formative years. Below are a variety of therapeutic modalities our students have access to:
Team Building
International Trips
Experiential Learning
Psychological Testing
Community Service
Music Classes
Anger Management
Medication Management
Executive Functioning
Mindfulness and Yoga
Individual Service Plans
Intensive Parent Workshops
Student Servant Leadership
Learning Differences Expertise
Neuro Technology Testing
8 hours of group therapy including process groups and psycho-educational groups.
Weekly Individual and Family Therapy Sessions
Triathlon Training and Evening Sports
Structured Residential Milieu
Positive Peer Leadership
Our Therapeutic Modalities and Specialties are based off of:
Cherry Gulch is a highly specialized therapeutic program designed for boys ages 10-14 who are struggling with behavioral, emotional, and social challenges. It provides a structured, nurturing environment that helps young boys develop self-confidence, emotional regulation, and resilience. The program combines evidence-based therapy, experiential learning, and outdoor adventure therapy to ensure each student receives a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan. With a strong focus on mental health, executive functioning, and personal growth, Cherry Gulch offers highly trained therapists and tailored interventions for boys facing issues such as ADD/ADHD, reactive attachment disorder (RAD), anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, processing disorders, learning differences, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and trauma-related challenges. Through animal-assisted therapy, equine therapy, and outdoor adventure therapy, students build life skills, teamwork, and confidence while healing in a safe and structured environment. By integrating therapeutic intervention with a boarding school education, Cherry Gulch empowers boys to overcome their struggles, rediscover their strengths, and build a brighter future. Let us know if you are in need of a recommendation of any boarding schools. We also have good information on Christian boarding schools if you're looking for it.