After 3 years of school avoidance, residential and hospital stays, screen addiction and risky behavior, we didn't know how to help or talk to our 16 year old daughter. Pacific Quest seemed different from other programs we had considered, so we were hopeful for some positive change when we send her 5 thousand miles away. After the first few weeks it was clear that the program and the clinical staff were even better than we have hoped. Their holistic approach to health, emphasizing healthy diet, sleep, exercise and time in nature, balancing meds and supplements had an immediate positive impact. The care, kindness and respect that the highly qualified clinical team showed our daughter allowed her to trust and be vulnerable in her individual therapy as well as our family sessions. She learned so much about herself, her emotions and how to manage and name them, while we learned better ways to communicate with her and within our family, and how to repair broken trust. She is now attending an alternative boarding school, and for the first time in a long time, we are optimistic for her future and our family relationships. Hawaii is a magical place, and all the staff at PQ, the therapist, the medical team and the program team, make Pacific Quest a truly magical healing place. I highly recommend it. read more

I was at Pacific Quest for 2 months in the summer of 2015. I was 15. I don't particularly wish to disclose all of what I was suffering from, but to list a few of my complaints about Pacific Quest, they were extremely unaccommodating with my dietary preferences, refused to let me contact my therapist from home, and the staff would frequently isolate me not just from other kids but also from staff interaction. After opening up to on-site, assigned therapists, I was later directly told that they had not believed a word I had said about my life. It was only after a parental visit corroborating my stories, diagnosis, and struggles that the staff seemed interested in actually tending to my care. Ten years later, I have plenty of trauma and developed personality traits that I took away from Pacific Quest that I am still unpacking -- with a therapist who believes me and actually cares about my well-being, of course. I will never forget how I was treated. read more

Although it was difficult to make the decision to send our son to a residential treatment program, we have been very happy with the quality of care he has received at Pacific Quest. Our son has been in the adolescent program for the past 13 weeks and will be transitioning to a boarding school next week. He has made a lot of progress in the last 3 months and he is in a much better place than when he arrived. He is now ready and looking forward to transitioning to a boarding school and Pacific Quest has prepared him well for this transition. All of the staff has been very helpful, responsive, and professional. My son's therapist at Pacific Quest was a good fit and facilitated some great communication between us and our son. Another great experience was the Family Program visit where we were able to visit our son and spend a few days with him. The family therapy was very helpful and allowed us to start building an emotional connection again with our son. read more

Pacific Quest is a blessing, a God-send. At first I was against an RTC placement & the long distance from mainland USA. However, PQ has a team of exceptional, experienced, well-trained, & loving personnel. In about 90 days, they achieved clear & immense progress for my child & me. Where once I had little to no hope for a positive relationship with my child, now hope is clear for our short-term & long-term relationship. PQ is a blessing & well-worth the costs, aka investment. David Custin, A Loving Father read more

We were at our wits' end as to how to help our teen with escalating mental health issues. Working with an educational consultant, we made the difficult decision to seek residential treatment. We chose Pacific Quest, because we knew immediately that they understood the importance of resetting our family dynamic, addressing shame, and helping our kiddo build herself up. We also loved that they prioritized sleep, anti-inflammatory diet, healthy physical activity, and provided top notch psychiatry and functional medicine for a complete approach to healing. Throughout the course of the program, we saw our teen make significant strides in healthy communication and relationships with peers, staff, and family. The parent calls, family therapy, and parent group education sessions were invaluable in helping us, as parents, start to change behaviors that were keeping our teen stuck, and the in-person family program was an essential opportunity to learn and practice new skills with expert support. Leadership and staff at Pacific Quest are warm-hearted and have deep expertise. Our teen's therapist, Lesley, very quickly "saw" our teen, empathized, understood the reasons for challenges, modeled strong boundaries, and helped us reset our family dynamic. Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Rob Gent, "gets" the pain families are going through and provides safe spaces to learn and try out new ways of being. Everyone we encountered on the staff and heard about in our teen's letters, from those on the front lines 24/7, to the office, to the kitchen, to security went above and beyond to exhibit kindness, caring, empathy, and encouragement. We were sad to say goodbye when it was time for our teen to leave Pacific Quest, but many more doors are open now on the road to leaving the old story behind and creating a new and better life ahead. This was the right choice, and we'll never be able to thank Pacific Quest enough. read more

We had high hopes for our daughter at the young adult program at PQ and our expectations were exceeded... from the professionalism of everyone on the team, and the genuine care & support we observed and received. The parent virtual group sessions felt like a Psychology Master's Program. We learned a lot about why & when dysregulation occurs and how to properly support. Our daughter relearned skills and got to practice them, taking 3 steps forward and sometimes one step back - but major progress. Dr. Tracy was our therapist, and she got to know our daughter and really understand her complexity and help us understand as well. Heading into this, we knew it would be a major financial investment in the program. I was happy to know that it also takes a big personal investment as well... like most meaningful things in life. And looking back, it was absolutely the right decision for us as a family. read more

My family spent a lot of time and effort finding a treatment facility for our son. He was accepted to Pacific Quest after their extensive review and was scheduled to attend on Monday, June 23rd. Four days before we left (flights booked, news broken to son, hotels booked), we received A TEXT MESSAGE from an individual at Pacific Quest that our son was no longer able to attend. Their reason, "there are other children here that require a lot of attention, and it may not be a good fit for your son at this time." We now have no idea how we are going to care for him this summer, are scrambling to find another location as he desperately needs this therapy. These people are unprofessional and should not be trusted. Blessing in disguise, as people who can do this (the CEO said to us on the phone, "what do you want me to say...") should not be trusted with your children. read more

Little suspicious seeing all of these 5 star reviews from accounts with only one review.. I wouldn't put it past these slimy individuals to give themselves fake reviews. (Bill M a few reviews down, that is clearly a stock image from google) and they all sound like they are written by the same person. Poor care quality, unqualified staff, abuse, severe malnutrition (I lost 30 lbs and was not overweight at all to begin with), would dream about food every day. posted pictures online of me when I told the photographer specifically I did not want my picture taken or my photo used online, (they knew I hated it there) first day strip searched me naked on a pallet in the cold wind by some underpaid one week on one week off sleep on the beach random employee, as a 14 year old boy. At an unlicensed facility. Completely traumatized me. Got a staph infection. it's basically a for profit kids prison camp. This place should not still exist. - 17 years later I still remember how you treated me. Don't take my word for it though, here is a review from an ex employee written on indeed.com "This program depends on young workers with little to no experience to attend to the needs of individuals. Taking the power from students and forcing unhealthy eating habits, not giving students the option. Lying to families and leading them on about help and change with this program when this is an assessment program." read more

as a teenager who lived on campus and interacted with staff, i strongly do not recommend. staff were childish and irresponsible. food was restricted and portions were determined by weiget, no matter if you were still hungry after meals. black mold covered the bathroom walls and failing wires coming out of ceilings is common plus dried blood stains of multiple mattress. i did not in fact learn any coping skills or any useful therapy skills in my time there, and most therapist were not professional overall and didn't truly care about their patients. bullying in front of staff members in between students was very common along with harsh language and glorification of addiction and substance abuse. this was my worst treatment experience and i regretted the time i spent there, the only good part being the one true friend i made. there are better options out there for mental health residential services !! thank you ! read more

Its with a heart full of gratitude, hope and appreciation that I write this post, as our daughter has just finished her time at PQ. I'm writing this review for any parent out there that is in the hardest decision process of their lives. There feels like no good answer. When we finally made the gut-wrenching decision to find care for our daughter, we were overwhelmed with fear....would she be safe? How are we going to pay for it? Were we traumatizing her, and she would resent us forever? We were in agony, but we knew our child needed help beyond what we could provide at home. We used an Educational Consultant (highly recommend!) and they steered us towards PQ. Kellyn, the admissions coordinator, was nothing but wonderful. He was calm, and understanding , and answered all our questions with genuine thought and care. Its clear that PQ really cares that this program is the right fit for your child- I now know, as they knew all along, that pulling a child from treatment is pretty detrimental to everyone. So, they really made sure we and our daughter were a fit. Yes, leaving your child at an RTC is tough- maybe the toughest act of love you will do as a parent. But, every single person we met when we dropped her off made us feel they she would be safe, and cared for. The approach is gentle, especially as your child adjusts. Its nurture nurture nurture while your child adapts to their new step. Dr. Tracy was our daughters therapist, and to say she changed our daughters life...I truly believe that. I will be forever, forever be grateful for her wisdom. I also must mention the entire staff at PQ. I dont know how the directors do it, but they have somehow acquired the most caring, fun, and amazing guides. The guides will become a huge part of your childs life at PQ, and their love, wisdom, patience and humor will forever be marked on my child, and our, hearts. Special, special love to Marty, Jack, Madison, Dan....and I am sure I missing others but know, they are all incredible. The program is thoughtful. It will challenge your child. It will challenge you. Its hopeful....its HARD...its tedious while also moving lightening fast. As our daughter leaves PQ today, a huge, huge piece of our family's story will stay there, as they gave us our child back. She will forever be changed, as will we. I will close by saying....I think many times people hear our, and parents like us, stories and feel pity. I actually feel lucky. PQ gave my child a shot at a productive, joyful life. It taught our family how to grow and communicate in a way that will bring us peace in future moments of hardship. So while you may feel lost and hopeless now....I would say, feel lucky. You and your child have a chance to grow in ways you never dreamed. All our love PQ. Thank you. read more

Our 22 year old son participated in the Young Adult program. The program helped him to address underlying issues that contributed to his personal struggles. His work with therapist Alex was excellent, and Alex's work with us as parents was extremely positive as well. The horticulture component of the program was somewhat more limited than expected, but our son chose to get more deeply invovled with it. We had initial difficulties with administrative communication, but the program responded very favorably, corrected the difficulties and maintained excellent communication from then forward. Overall our experience and our son's time at Pacific Quest was very supportive and positive. read more

The care our son received at Pacific Quest was outstanding. He, along with us, now understand much more about the way he processes situations and risk and evaluates consequences. The therapy, psychiatric care, wellness, feedback and coaching helped greatly. We feel very appreciative and blessed to have found a place that was able to identify and solution ways to help. read more

The clinicians and staff are so caring, the setting is healing, and the outcome is amazing. Pacific Quest helps you and your child go on separate journeys, so that your child can be better prepared for the road ahead and so that you can be better prepared as a parent to welcome them home. I highly recommend Pacific Quest. read more

Our 15 yo daughter was having multiple issues, with school, relationships, vaping/alcohol and lying. She became disconnected and communication and trust was broken. We picked PQ over other "wilderness" programs because of the depth of their mental health services. We were not disappointed. Everything from her therapist Mark to the other staff, parent sessions and the Family program changed the dynamics of our family. Our daughter returned mature, accountable and open to communication. Thank you PQ! read more

We will be picking our daughter up in 1 week, and we are more than pleased with the progress she has made. We have especially value in the Psycv Assessment from Dr Katie, the medical and chemical testing, and the resulting shifts to diet and supplements and medicine from the medical and psychiatric staff. Her credible therapist Alex and the clinical director Dr Rob have taught us and our daughter useful models and strategies for building and deepening secure attachment and co-regulation. Our time at the family program and weekly support calls have given us new tools and ways to be together as a family. Our daughter has had deep insights and profound growth. Her challenges are not gone- the lasting effects of early childhood trauma, adhd and leaning differences, And anxiety and depression will not be cured or fixed in three months. She did at many times "hate it" there, and part of what she has learned and that she really will need to continue to build upon is distress tolerance and self regulation as she strives to love herself , push through hard things, and live independently one day. She was safe at PQ. We were able to spend three months doing our work to be ready for her return to him and to feel confident that we can keep her safe. The road ahead will still be bumpy, but we are grateful for this intervention and the opportunity to disrupt the patterns that had become so harmful and dangerous to our child. Sage in the from office and Sierra on the medical team were the behind the scenes superheroes for our family handling all kinds of logistics. We also worked with the reimbursement partner and to date 30% has been covered with and appeal in process. read more

Pacific Quest has been and still is operating without a license. Our daughter still suffers anxiety and nightmares from her time there. We were unsuccessful in our attempt to get a partial refund from them offering Arbitration as is agreed to in our contract. Not only did they drag this out for 2 years, their attorney lied in court stating that we NEVER asked Pacific Quest directly for arbitration (we have the proof in letter form), they wanted us to pay for their legal fees! Even though the Health Department in Hawaii fined them for operating without a license, they are still open for business! read more

Overall, we were satisfied with the level and type of treatment our daughter received at PQ. This was a necessary step after we had tried many other avenues to help her stabilize. We appreciated the holistic approach to medicine, food and supplements to help support a healthier way of living. The therapy and group interaction was also very helpful. Aside from our daughter's treatment, we, as parents were also following a parallel process to rethink the family dynamic. It was almost as much about our daughter as it was about us. Lots of parent groups, calls and family therapy to change our approach and learn how to handle situations in a better way. About 2/3 of the way thru the 90 day program, we attend the Family Program (Fam Pro) 3 day intensive. It turned out to be a very valuable use of time and allowed our family to connect and understand each other much differently. We really connected with Dr. Rob Gent and this provided a path to deeper understanding of our daughter and her mindset. There were a few bumps in the road and not everything PQ did was perfect. Nobody is, I suppose. But we provided feedback to them and hopefully they can learn new ways as well. We all can... read more

The therapists really care about the kids here. They are comfortable taking on challenging situations and help shepherd the parents through the journey as well. I recommend PQ read more

I am writing this review on behalf of my son and our family. As you are now likely aware, Pacific Quest was found not to be a licensed mental healthcare facility by the state of Hawaii and as a result numerous patients have sued Pacific Quest for the mistreatment of its patients as well as for fraud and misrepresentation - and unjust profiteering off of the untrue representation that they were licensed. We decided on Pacific Quest with the hopes that our son would benefit from a nurturing, caring environment with emphasis on outdoors and nature. We received none of this, in fact it was significantly detrimental and opposite of this. As parents of a son who went there based upon these criteria - we are deeply saddened and feel deep empathy for our son who was in need of quality assistance and instead suffered needless mistreatment, isolation and unlicensed guidance that compounded his suffering. We were told that they would frequent local farmer's markets and beaches while highlighting the sacred Hawaiian culture - finding out later that none of this took place - the blatant lies and exploitation not only of children and parents but of the Hawaiian culture is utterly disdainful. As parents we suffered in silence as we were instructed not to communicate with our child who was pleading to reach out. The damage caused to our son and our family is irreparable. None of this was his fault. He was under the control of unlicensed individuals who perpetuated cruelty in the name of healing: all under the lie of being licensed. Please be acutely aware when choosing care for your children - I sure wish we had read a truthful, honest review prior to making the most important decision you will ever make on their behalf. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE read more

All of these reviews are from parents. If you have questions about my review or experience as someone who lived through it, please message me and I would be happy to share more details or answer questions. I went when I was 15. Before PQ I was suicidal, with no self harm tendencies. It was so traumatizing, and now I have wayyy more problems than before. The experience was so bad, not just for me but for every other kid stuck there. They would threaten me that if I messed up, I would be sent to another program or boarding school. Thankfully, my parents brought me home. It was terrible, if you are a parent reading this, please PLEASE do not send your kids here. Kellyn lies during admissions about what goes on there, and he says such much bs that isnt true at all. Now i have PTSD and bad self harm problems. its because of PQ. I spent almost all day alone without being able to talk to ANYBODY. You spent almost all meals in silence, and they portioned your food. If you were still hungry after eating all your food, too bad. You only got to go on outings near the end of your stay, out of 90 days there, i only went on 4 HALF DAY outings. I was also told no drug addicts or people with behavioral (aggression) issues would be there, that was the biggest lie. Most people were drug addicts and MOST had aggression issues. I had threats made to my life several times, and they took no measures to make me safe, or at least feel safe. absolutely no precautions were taken to ensure inmates (not sure what word to use) did not hurt each other or themselves. I was 15, now 16, I went from Febuary to May of 2023. This ruined so much of my life and I wish more than anything to just erase all of PQ from my life and memories, but I will never forget it, and it will be hurting me forever. I am an autistic teenager, and they did not care about my needs at all. I am super sensitive to noise, but they made no effort to help me, give me a quiet space, or even ask people to quiet down. They just did not care. As a kid, you can only send your parents a typed email once a week. Later, several weeks in, you could call your parents for an hour max, WITH a therapist present, and before your call, they tell you if you say something bad or wrong that was not something you planned with your therapist, they will end the call. Your parents only get to visit you once, a month before you leave at THE EARLIEST. Again, if you are a parent PLEASEEE do not send your kids here it will do way more harm than good. Also- sorry for grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes, I am dyslexic I will attach photos of what they showed my parents (staged fake pictures that did not show at all what really went on.) read more

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The entire team at PQ was fantastic and caring individual. Our child's therapist Tracy was extremely compassionate and was able to connect with our child. We didn't know what to expect at PQ. We were in a time crunch to take action. Nothing is ever perfect and there are always minor ups and downs in this growth process but overall I think our child learned and made good connections with staff, therapists, and other kids and did the work required for the initial steps to internalize what needed to change with dynamics at home. Dr Rob's group sessions were very useful. PQ was the first step to turning things around and PQ did a good job with its super staff to begin that journey of growth and accountability for actions. Thank you to all for helping our child! read more

My 16 year old just left and it changed his life- the staff is incredible and so talented and smart- I learned more from the therapy at PQ than 16 years of my own personal. If you're child is struggling this is the best option read more

We had a very positive experience. Incredibly caring and professional staff. This experience definitely changed our son's life and he is so glad he had the opportunity to re-set at PQ. He even wants to go back to visit to see the staff. When he was considering going, he read a lot of negative reviews which really scared him but given the population of who attends, it is not surprising that there are some unhappy kids. This is much less about PQ and much more about their own struggles, which is fair and their experience. That said, when nothing is working, it's important to try a new experience. While it is hard to be dropped into a totally different environment, and faced with your own issues, PQ really does their best to meet kids where they are at and create a peaceful, thoughtful and reflective environment to work through stuff. read more

Our family had a very positive experience with Pacific Quest. Our son went through the adolescent program. His counselor, Alex, was simply fantastic. He related well to our son and he also communicated with my wife and me in the perfect manner; helping us along as we navigated a parallel process to the one our son was navigating, but always being mindful of the boundary that existed given he was our son's therapist. The family program that we came out for was very well thought out and very well organized and we left better for the experience. Upon completion, our son and our entire family felt prepared for the transition. It has only been a couple of weeks, but so far, the transition has been a smooth one. I think it was because our son had an individualized treatment plan and individualized goals. Put succinctly, Pacific Quest's integrative behavioral health program was exactly what our family needed. We are forever thankful to the great and compassionate people who run Pacific Quest. Pacific Quest comes with my highest recommendation. read more

Our young adult son went to Pacific Quest at his own request. He chose PQ because of its focus on therapeutics against a backdrop of holistic healing, nature, horticulture therapy and mindfulness. We were blown away by the quality, level of caring and commitment of every staff member that interacted with our son. While the program was very structured, it didn't seem to be limiting or stifling for him. He grew in so many ways. He was both supported by his community (peers and clinicians), as well as given the opportunity to support others, which was a very meaningful part of his journey. The work was difficult for all of us, but by the program's end, our son was reenergized, grounded and reflective about the person he wants to be going forward. He is currently at a transitional program where he is learning to maintain the balance he's learned, continuing to grow, and codifying all the healthy habits he acquired during his stay at PQ. Not only do we feel like we've gotten our son "back," he's a happier, better-grounded and more joyful version of himself. We are so thankful that PQ helped him get there. read more

PQ cared deeply for and provided a substantial positive change in my 15 year old daughter. I reluctantly supported her mothers decision to send them to PQ, after local out-patient and residential programs failed to provide lasting changes for their psychiatric / emotional needs and physical outbursts. After a challenging 10 weeks at PQ, they left with a healthier sense of identity and much greater ability to control her negative reactions. We are very happy with ALL of the staff and especially her therapist who was always available. read more

I was very surprised to see all of these negative reviews and horrific stories. My daughter went to PQ a number of years ago and didn't have those experiences. She had very positive experiences, as did the entire family, who was also served by the program. We had weekly phone therapy sessions and even traveled there for a 2 or 3 day family program that was life changing. While the program didn't cure her of depression, it set her on a course of recovery when she was in a very dark place and today she is a high functioning, life loving, achievement-oriented person with no more depression. I can identify two factors that may distinguish this review and the very negative ones. First, my daughter was in the young adult program. It's her view that adolescent programs are dicey by their very nature because the kids have no agency. So I can't speak to the adolescent program. Second, my daughter herself chose to attend this program. She did the research, knew what it was going to be like and decided she was willing to go through the painful processes that are necessary to heal from clinical depression. Others who were there against their will did not have as good an experience and may have interpreted this garden therapy program as "forced labor" or eulogizing one's depression as "being put in a grave." But those who were there and committed to doing the hard work benefitted greatly. My daughter was never starved nor denied medication. In fact, she came out healthier than she had been in years. Now when she has health issues, she always reverts back to PQ's nutrition plan because she knows it's the best way to get back to good health. I can't speak to the licensing issues as I have no first hand knowledge. But I know that these programs can be controversial and we had many many fights with our insurance program over covering our daughter's care, very little of which they covered. So I'm assuming the licensure issue is more nuanced than readers may realize and I would direct potential clients to address this directly with PQ. read more

My son participated in the program several years ago, and is now doing Trauma Therapy to deal with the trauma they created at Pacific Quest. Its the contrary of theraputic. The kids are forced to spend most of the time alone in solitary huts. They're not allowed any interaction with the other kids for most of the time. They engage in "Horticultural Therapy", which I thought sounded like a great idea, a sliver of the time. They are not given enough food, and are often hungry. Their PR has little to do with the reality. They definitely do not spend time playing at the beach. The program was founded by 2 or 3 MBAs, not by doctors and therapists. Its a BUSINESS, with the goal to make money, not to help kids read more

In the summer of 2021 my family was at a breaking point. Our wonderful, bright, kind, and compassionate son was severely struggling. He/we had been trying to manage his mental illness (bi-polar) for a couple years with the help of therapists, psychiatrists and medication. He had been so successful in HS and was attending a top rated University, but he was not succeeding. We began to see signs of substance abuse (self-medicating) and knew he needed help. With the assistance of an education consultant, we found Pacific Quest. This program was just what our son needed, when he needed it! Was it strict, YES! Were there rules and guidelines that we did not understand in the beginning, ABSOLUTELY! Did my son complain about the program, the food, the rules, etc. 100%! Did he want to come home, OF COURSE! However, he stuck it out and did the work he needed to do. And, from home, we did the work we needed to do as well. PQ offered support for families with family therapy, recommended books to read, writing assignments, etc. There are lots of programs, but our son needed the high level of care that PQ offered. By monitoring them so closely, and providing a proper "clean" diet (not what they are used to eating at home), water intake, daily exercise, good sleep, "detox" from electronics, cell phones and video games, etc. PQ removed all the variables that were making it impossible to get to the root of his troubles and properly manage his medications. This program is not for everyone, none of the programs out there are perfect for every situation! And, every person that goes there has different needs and different reasons for being there. PQ provided compassionate staff/therapists and support that we were not equipped to provide at home. We tried it our way, and that didn't work. For many parents this will be one of the hardest decisions they ever make. Our son has continued his journey by participating in a residential and transition program. He is happy and healthy, and 13 months sober! He is stable on his medications and continues to progress and have success. We are very proud at what he has accomplished! And we are very thankful to PQ for the role that they played. read more

This is not what treatment should be, bad experience overall and it feels like you're caged in.

Pacific Quest is truly a one of a kind environment. I had the blessing of working for them back in 2014. I know this was a long time ago from the moment I am writing this review, but it also speaks volumes that I still am impacted by its transformative experience. I still see the smiles of students as they came to a realization while we worked in the gardens and often found analogies between the life of the plants and our own. Sure, it has cons and I can see how some of the students had the negative experiences I see in other reviews here. After all, it is a therapy program in the modern world with regulations to follow and many many rules in place, almost all of which I came to see the reasons they were implemented. The management team is compassionate and they worked countless hours pouring their hearts and energy into doing the best they could for both students and staff. I worked at Pacific Quest for only half a year. They were very understanding when I had to cut my contract short to return home to care for my mother who was growing very ill. I was incredibly grateful for this as she passed the following year. If you're thinking to work here, I recommend it. Be prepared to be exhausted after your 8 day stint, for you will have devoted pretty much everything you have during those days. Good thing you have 6 days after to recover on a paradise island :-) Parents if you're considering placing your child in the caring hands of those here at PQ, know that it's a great choice for many. Just do your best to prepare them for it and leave the possibility of getting them there by force to be the last resort. I met a few students who at least told me they would have come willingly but their parents opted to not even tell them beforehand, afraid they would resist or run away. Reasonable fear, some do resist, but I think it relieves a lot of the potential stress when they have more of a warning before entry. I myself was in a different wilderness therapy program when I was 14. I was told only hours before the early morning flight to Arizona, and allowed to call only one friend to tell them I'd be leaving. I know I would have gone willingly and would have appreciated more time. There were rumors when I returned later that year that took time to dispel and made my transition "back to normal life" all the more difficult. This would have been very different had I had time to just tell a few more people and say my goodbyes. And remember that the work you do on yourself in the time they're away will be reflected and rewarded in your relationship for all the rest of your years. After my return, my mother had shown me the workbook she had completed while I was away. I still have it to this day (16 years later) and cry almost every time I read it with gratitude! Don't skip your work and never stop it! read more

I cannot begin to put into words how grateful I am to everyone at Pacific Quest. My son was reluctant to say the least, but the staff was still able to connect with him. He learned a lot about himself, more than he even realizes, and has demonstrated that in how he is living his life today. He has a lifelong journey ahead of him, but I am confident he is now on a healthier path. read more

I'm beyond grateful for my daughter's time in the YA program at Pacific Quest. The quality of care is exceptional. The staff are warm, caring and professional. The holistic approach to the environment, meals & nutrition, family systems is all important and relevant. I found the therapists and support staff to be thoughtful and thorough. My daughter loved her therapist and really misses working with him. She healed a great deal and now understands herself and how life works in ways I wasn't able to teach. She's becoming the best version of herself! If your teen child needs such support I highly recommend Pacific Quest. read more

Pacific Quest was a profoundly transformative experience not just for our 16 year old son but for our entire family. Our son struggled with social anxiety and depression due to his low self-esteem. He found it difficult to be authentic and vulnerable and used technology to isolate himself. Sending him to PQ was one of the hardest things we did as parents but we are so grateful we made that decision. Dr Konik's therapeutic expertise connected deeply with our son in a way that no other therapist ever had in the past. The rites of passage built into his journey at PQ enabled him to process putting his "old story" behind him so he could fully embrace the person he truly wanted to become. PQ was not an easy experience for him. To be cut off from technology, and live in a highly structured, controlled community was a difficult transition for him, and it took time for him to adjust. It took time for us as parents as well, since communication at first is minimal. But it's important to recognize every part of the process is intentional, impactful and caring. Our son is in a much better place than when he first went to PQ. I hope this review helps other families who are considering PQ for their struggling child. It is a stressful decision, made all the more so by all the misleading online chatter around PQ. All I can say is that for our son and family, PQ was absolutely a gift of profound and positive transformation. read more

Read the five-star reviews... it's only parents read one star and you see the kids that had to be stuck there. I went three years ago and when I got home I would have nightmares every night. To this day I do they say they help treat trauma but they did the opposite. One of their policies was that your child must be informed where they were going. My parents never told me, I was gooned. I was scared I would never leave so I just smiled and said that I was happy. I had to mask how broken I had become. My parents said that I was way better after I came home. The secret I never told them was that I was scared to mess up. Before I left the staff would tell me my parents were thinking of putting me into boarding school. One person even said that if I "messed up" one more time I would be sent away. I was heartbroken but come to find out my parents had never even thought of sending me away. Please don't spend all that money to have a traumatized kid. I wish I could say I exaggerated this review. read more

Excellent! Compassionate & caring, with a respectful approach to teens and their unique perspectives and backgrounds. Pacific Quest staff is trained extensively and go above and beyond for each individual and family. Therapeutic activities and an emphasis on team building and positive choices and activities in a beautiful, safe, natural setting. I cannot recommend this program more highly. I have referred many struggling families to PQ and have received positive feedback from all. The goal of everyone at PQ is to support these kids in every way possible and give them a fresh perspective going forward. read more

I went to Pacific Quest at the darkest point of my life, when I was 15 years old. Going to PQ was life-changing. At 22 now, I look back with immense appreciation for all that PQ instilled in me. From the devoted, empathetic, and impactful staff, to tremendously helpful therapists, everyone who works at PQ has a mission to truly help those who are in the program. PQ gave me experiences like no other. Although I may not have truly appreciated it in the moment, going through each camp and seeing myself grow as I progressed through the program instilled in me a sense of hope that I have control over myself and my emotions, and this I am forever grateful for. The structure of the program provides opportunities to reflect and be okay with being with oneself, and towards the end of the program, community is emphasized and togetherness truly shows residents that they are not alone in their struggle with mental health problems, and gives residents goals to work towards, as they gain more freedom in the program. In all, I am forever grateful for my experience at PQ, and over 5 years later, I take with me lessons, every single day, that I learned from my time at PQ to help me live a successful and empowering life, even though I still have days where I struggle. I cannot thank PQ enough for all they have done to help me become the person I am. My 3 months in Hawaii have changed me, for the better, for the rest of my life. read more

If there are any parents or individuals on this page looking for more information on what happens at this facility, please message me and I would be more than willing to share what I experienced during my time at pacific quest. My parents have deep sadness for my experience here--they were lied to and scripted on how to treat and speak to their own child and the turmoil that created between us was something we had to work through once I was safely home. I would urge you to not trust the employees here. The owner, Kellyn, responded to my initial review mostly to credit his own facility's licensing which at least validated the fact that they put their own image before the children and young adults who attend their program and leave with trauma. It is appalling to know there are people and advisors continuing to recommend this program to parents seeking help for their children. It saddens me to know they are still open and operating, and if there is anything I can do to help someone else find a different answer to their struggles, please reach out. I went to a far more accredited facility after my time at Pacific Quest, my problem is not with getting help but with this specific facility. This is not the place for you, your child, your friend. When you are already in distress you do not want to suffer more for peace. I can't stress enough that you should not attend Pacific Quest. read more

Pacific Quest is an excellent program to help young people overcome their mental health struggles. When are daughter was suffering from depression and anxiety leading to suicide ideation, as two physicians we researched and sought out the best mental health care available. We found it at Pacific Quest. It is a superior organization from top to bottom. We visited PQ and were very impressed with the staff, the environment and the community as a whole. The therapists are high caliber, and the clinical staff has designed a unique in-depth program to help young people struggling with mental health issues. The program is challenging, and our daughter embraced every bit of it. She emerged a stronger, healthier individual, and we are eternally grateful to PQ. We can confidently give Pacific Quest our highest recommendation! read more

Our son is just completing his stay at Pacific Quest. To say it has been transformative is an understatement. He has gained so much insight into himself and has developed a confidence in himself and his abilities that was impossible to imagine a few short months ago. The therapeutic support for our child and for us as parents has been incredibly helpful for all of us. Everyone we have dealt with, from our child's therapist, the program staff, administration, medical staff, etc. has been kind, thoughtful and focused on serving our child's needs and ours with compassion and clear-headedness. For families seeking a way to break out of long-running patterns that impede your child's growth and are in need of a "reset", we have nothing but strong recommendations for Pacific Quest. We always knew our child was safe and being well cared for. And he is now well on the way to unlocking his true self. We couldn't be more pleased with the Pacific Quest experience! read more