As a parent participant, you will learn specific, evidence-based core principles of good communication and decision making from an experienced parent coach and a family therapist. You will be guided through exercises to practice these skills in a small group, so that you can experiment with new ways of talking to each other and your child. You will develop confidence in your ability to create family dynamics that will work best for your family. And you will learn about tools for self care, while experiencing compassion and understanding for the challenges you face. By the time you leave the comfort of our gathering in Park City, Utah, you will have new skills and perspectives to take home, as well as the support of a group who understands your unique family situation. Our support does not stop at the retreat’s end, because we will continue to foster group learning and connection through monthly online get togethers as you work with your new tools at home.

We founded TPS because we were parents of a teen who struggled with mental health challenges. He made decisions and took actions that challenged us in ways we never expected. After spending nearly 10 years searching for answers for what we were doing wrong and how we could help our son, Carey decided she wanted to share what she had learned along the way with other parents who might have similar struggles. She trained as a parent coach, worked as a counselor, and started a private practice. In the course of this work, Carey developed a dream of creating a small group retreat in a peaceful setting in which parents could support one another while learning the skills and principles that could help them on this challenging journey. She reached out to a leading wilderness therapist who had worked with their son years before, and with his help, TPS has become a reality.