Admissions Director: Chelsea Dickinson
Email: cdickinson@aspiroadventure.com
Executive Director: Andrew Taylor
Academic Director: N/A
Clinical Director: Carl Smoot
Milieu Director: Enrique Parrales
Year Founded: 2013
Category: Wilderness/ Outdoor
Optimum Size: Pure Life currently operates two groups of eight clients per group. We also offer an extension program where clients may participate in a local internship.
Annual number of students: 60 - 80 students per year.
Average Length of Stay: The average length of stay is 75 days.


Admissions Policy:

Pure Life Aspiro is a year round open enrollment program. Participants may enter the program at any time once they have submitted an application and have been approved by our admissions department.

Appropriate Student/ Resident:

Pure Life clients are young adults experiencing depression, anxiety, low motivation, low self esteem, substance abuse, screen addiction, and other related problems often referred to as failure to launch. We don't accept individuals actively withdrawing from hard core substance abuse, trying new medications, or actively cutting, purging, or restricting food intake.

Gender: Co-Ed, 50% Male, 50% Female

Age Range: Our average age range is 18 to 24 years old. We do receive participants in their mid to late twenties and have even treated a 31 year old.

Program Description:

Pure Life Aspiro is a research-based Wilderness Adventure Therapy program for young adults located in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. The program provides a unique opportunity for young adults to develop a higher level of intrinsic motivation, coping skills, and core identity that increases their ability to thrive. Pure Life implements a strengths-focused, integrated therapeutic model with an emphasis on adventure therapy, cultural immersion, health/wellness, community service, individual, group, and family therapy. Some of the adventure therapy components include white-water rafting, sea kayaking, rock climbing, rappelling, surfing, backpacking, and certification courses.

Staff to Student Ratio: Our minimum staff ration is 1 to 4 and our average staff ratio is 1 to 3.

Clinical Description:

We facilitate adventure therapy by using a relational model and self determination theory. We also use the Costa Rica culture to educate on the latest research of positive psychology. Our therapists meet with participants weekly for a one to two hour individual session followed by a weekly group session. Field staff are facilitating therapeutic groups in the field daily. Parents receive a one to two hour weekly call from therapists for family work and parent coaching. Families also join in on bi-weekly family group discussions facilitated by therapists. Family visits are evaluated case by case.

Psychotropic Medications Allowed?: Yes

Policy: Participants are allowed to continue to use their medications as prescribed while in the program.

Academic Description:

The Pure Life curriculum involves a 7-week life skills class involving discussions around personal development, professional development, relationship development, and goal setting. Andrew Taylor, our co-founder and Executive Director teaches all life skills classes every week. He has a Master in Business Administration and a substance abuse counseling certificate.

Pure Life has a base facility that located in a small beautiful valley in the Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica. The location allows for the facilitation of rafting, surfing, backpacking, community service activities and more.

Families are involved in weekly calls with our therapists and are invited to attend family groups that are facilitated bi-weekly. When appropriate families are invited to visit their child in our program where we facilitate a two or three day family adventure.

Our clinicians and medical department work closely with programs as our participants transition out of our program and on to their next steps. When clients give permission we are also able to share the Pure Life Success Plan, which is a compilation of their curriculum assignments and can be very useful for future family and clinical work.

Outcome Studies: We have begun the research process but do not have any outcomes to report at this time.

Spiritual Development: Positive Psychology indicates that a belief in something greater than ourselves is key to overall well being. We encourage students to find meaning in their lives through spirituality, whatever that may be for them.

Summer/ Adjunct Program: We offer a 30, 60, or 90 day extension which involves an internship program for our clients that are connecting well with the Costa Rican culture or that may have a gap in their transition and a short gap option. We call this our Chirripo transition program. Trusted participants have the opportunity to work with a local business in a less structured environment within our program.

Professional Affiliations: Currently NATSAP. OBH and AEE in 2017.

Accreditation, Licensure, Approved: Costa Rica has no licensure or accreditation requirements for a young adult program of this nature. We follow the regulations according to the state of Utah code for outdoor youth programs.

Payment Category: All of our clients are private pay. Many are able to receive insurance reimbursement on the back end through insurance specialist that we recommend. We do offer scholarships when we are able.

For more information about Pure Life Aspiro, visit www.purelifeadventure.com.