Wilderness therapy is a structured, clinically supervised form of treatment that takes teens away from screens, distractions, and old routines and into an immersive outdoor setting where licensed therapists guide their recovery. At STAR Guides, students live and learn in the Southern Utah desert while completing individual therapy, group therapy, and a structured therapeutic curriculum. The wilderness is the setting that makes the clinical work more honest, focused, and lasting than traditional office or residential settings.

STAR Guides serves adolescent males ages 13 to 17 struggling with compulsive sexual behaviors, problematic pornography and technology use, sexual behavior issues, and related trauma or emotional and behavioral challenges. Rather than treating a broad mix of issues, STAR Guides focuses specifically on the assessment and treatment of sexual and relational behavior issues in teen boys, allowing the clinical team to address the underlying trauma, attachment, and emotional-regulation drivers behind the behavior.

STAR Guides treats adolescent males ages 13 to 17. Treatment groups are same-gender only and currently serve male students exclusively. A separate young adult program is also available.

STAR Guides operates in the high desert wilderness of Southern Utah, with administrative offices in St. George, Utah. The field program runs on public lands managed by the federal government under a special recreation permit issued by the Bureau of Land Management. Southern Utah's climate, with over 300 sunny days a year, is part of the therapeutic environment.

The program is designed as a 120 to 150 day experience. Most students complete the requirements and become eligible for graduation within that window. Students who engage in the therapy and take accountability for their behavior tend to move through the six phases more quickly than those who are resistant. Every student receives a workbook and all program assignments on arrival, with daily guidance from instructors and therapists.

Students are engaged from the moment they wake until they climb into their sleeping bag after dark. They take responsibility for every part of daily life in the field: rationing and cooking their own food, cleaning their gear, setting up their shelter each night, completing group chores, collecting firewood and water, and working through their program assignments. Between the physical demands and the therapeutic work, most students sleep deeply within days of arriving.

Groups hike to a new campsite almost every day, covering anywhere from 2 to 8 miles. Hiking lets students push themselves physically and mentally, releases the natural endorphins that lift mood, and gives them long stretches of time to think and reflect while experiencing the Southern Utah high desert.

Students eat a minimum of 3,000 calories per day on a menu designed by a registered dietician and approved by the Utah State Office of Licensing. The diet centers on whole, nutrient-dense foods such as rice, lentils, oats, dried beans and vegetables, cheese, peanut butter, tuna and chicken, plus fresh fruits and vegetables twice a week, and avoids ultra-processed foods. You can read more about our approach to food on our wellness page. Students learn to plan menus, ration supplies, and cook every meal over a fire.

Students sleep under the open desert sky in their own individual one-person tents, using a mummy sleeping bag for warmth. Lightweight personal tents keep them dry, warm, and protected from the elements while giving each student privacy. Learning to identify constellations is part of the program curriculum.

Yes. Good hygiene is required. Students take a full-body shower twice weekly using water heated over the fire, and maintain daily hygiene morning and night. About once a month a heated portable shower is brought to the field. Clothing is laundered weekly and students are provided clean and backup clothing throughout their stay.

Students remain in the field year-round and are equipped with high-quality, season-appropriate gear, including winter parkas, gloves, boots, and fleece layers for cold and lighter clothing for summer heat, to keep them safe and comfortable. Learning to meet weather challenges with a positive attitude is part of the program's larger lesson about responding to what we cannot control.

Students meet with their therapist for individual sessions twice per week, with therapists in the field on Mondays and Thursdays. All therapy happens outdoors, a setting that helps students open up far more than a traditional office. Students also take part in daily group sessions, building problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.

To graduate, students complete assignments across six phases that blend therapeutic work with wilderness skills. Therapeutic tasks include writing and sharing an autobiography, working through past trauma, building resiliency skills, compiling a sexual history, leading group sessions, and doing family work with parents. Wilderness skills include building a bow-drill fire, identifying constellations and plants, tying knots, building shelters, and cooking over a fire.

Yes. Every student receives a comprehensive medical assessment on arrival, before full participation, to confirm they can safely handle the program. After that, students are seen by the medical team every two weeks. Students on medication continue to receive it as prescribed, and the medical team can adjust medications as needed. A medical summary is posted to the parent portal every two weeks.

Safety is built into how the program runs. Treatment groups are small, 6 to 8 students, and always staffed at a 1-to-3 ratio with a minimum of three field instructors per group, so students receive close supervision and individualized attention. Twice-weekly medical checks, season-appropriate gear, and licensed clinical oversight support students physically and emotionally at every stage.

Yes. STAR Guides is licensed and registered as an outdoor youth treatment program by the State of Utah Department of Human Services, Office of Licensing, and is accredited by the Joint Commission. Every STAR Guides clinician is a Utah-licensed psychologist or psychotherapist with an active license. The program also operates under a special recreation permit from the Bureau of Land Management.

Yes, this is precisely what STAR Guides is built for. The program specializes in the diagnostic assessment and treatment of compulsive sexual behaviors, problematic pornography and technology use, and the trauma that often underlies them in adolescent boys. The unplugged wilderness setting removes access to the technology and triggers that fuel these behaviors, while licensed therapists help students understand and change the patterns driving them.

Most teen and young-adult programs treat a wide range of issues in traditional settings. STAR Guides is different in two ways: its clinical focus is specifically on sexual and relational behavior issues in adolescent males, and its setting is a fully unplugged wilderness environment. Because these issues are so personal, the program is designed so a boy can work through sensitive pornography, sexual, and trauma issues free of fear, embarrassment, or shame. Learn more about our mission.

Yes. Because of the deeply personal nature of the issues treated, a safe, supportive, non-shaming environment is central to how the program works. Students work through sensitive issues alongside a small peer group and specialized therapists who understand these behaviors clinically, not judgmentally. The goal is to help each teen move past shame, understand the roots of his behavior, and rebuild trust with his family.

Yes. STAR Guides works closely with courts and probation departments across the country for youth facing legal issues. Therapists can provide regular written or verbal progress updates to third parties involved in a case, and students can complete a psycho-sexual evaluation while in the program that can be provided to the court. For many families, STAR Guides is a constructive alternative to government-run treatment programs. Contact us to discuss your son's situation confidentially.

A professional assessment is the best way to know. If you are seeing patterns of compulsive sexual behavior, problematic pornography or technology use, or behavior affecting your son's safety, relationships, or wellbeing, a licensed clinician can help you understand what is driving it and whether specialized treatment is appropriate. The most helpful first step is a free, confidential consultation at (800) 584-4629.

Most communication happens through written letters. Students can write letters any time, and their letters are uploaded to your secure parent portal, typically on Mondays and Thursdays. You will work closely with your therapist on the content and timing of letters. As your son progresses, family therapy sessions take place by phone or Zoom. At graduation, you travel to Utah for an overnight field experience and a final face-to-face family therapy session.

On arrival, your son is assigned a therapist who oversees his treatment and serves as your direct liaison. You have direct phone and email access to that therapist and take part in a weekly parent session, usually by Zoom. Between sessions, your parent portal is updated twice weekly with photos, letters, and clinical progress notes, phasework checklists on Thursdays, and medical updates every two weeks.

Family involvement is essential to lasting change. Beyond weekly parent sessions, parents write a series of narratives that correspond to their son's autobiography work, which are read aloud by the therapist in individual and group sessions. Parents also have access to a Parent Tools library of readings, training videos, and past seminars, and take part in family therapy sessions that typically begin in phases 4 through 6.

Three times a year, in March, June, and September, STAR Guides hosts parent seminars alongside Solstice and Equinox events in the field. Parents travel to the program to join field activities and face-to-face family therapy with their child. The events bring treatment groups together for a day of friendly competition and a shared meal, and let parents witness their son's growth firsthand. See upcoming dates on our events page.

When your son completes the program's requirements, you are invited to Utah for a two-day family expedition with your child and his therapist. You spend two days and one night in the wilderness, with all camping equipment and gear provided, to experience wilderness living yourself, witness your son's progress, and do meaningful family therapy work in the setting where his change took root.

Tuition depends on your son's length of stay, typically 120 to 150 days, and the specific clinical services his treatment involves. Because every student's needs are different, STAR Guides provides a personalized cost breakdown during a free consultation rather than a one-size-fits-all price, including exactly what is covered, such as clothing and gear, food, individual and group therapy, medical care, and the two-day graduation expedition. Call (800) 584-4629 for figures specific to your family.

Many families use out-of-network mental health benefits to offset the cost of treatment, though reimbursement varies by plan and provider. STAR Guides offers a free verification of benefits so you can understand your coverage before enrolling. Because STAR Guides is licensed by the Utah Department of Human Services and accredited by the Joint Commission, its clinical services are more likely to qualify for reimbursement than those of unlicensed programs.

The first step is a free, confidential consultation. Call (800) 584-4629 and the team will learn about your son's situation, answer your questions, and help determine whether STAR Guides is the right fit. From there, the team guides you through assessment, enrollment, and admissions, and helps verify your insurance benefits along the way.

Wilderness therapy gives teens a structured, immersive environment to build accountability, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and healthy coping skills under licensed clinical supervision. STAR Guides tracks treatment outcomes using standardized measures, therapist observations, and parent-reported feedback collected during and after treatment. Outcomes vary by individual and STAR Guides does not guarantee specific results, but families consistently report improved communication, accountability, and emotional regulation.

Support does not stop at graduation. STAR Guides helps families plan next steps, including reintegration, continued therapy, and ongoing accountability strategies, and provides tools and guidance for continued family support. The program also maintains an active alumni community with ongoing events and resources for graduates and their families.