Dr Burdick’s World Education Consulting successfully made the inaugural trek to Wales from start to finish. The young adults and older adults found soulful ground to sharing direction of life in the South of Wales from Chepstow to Knighton on Offa’s Dyke trail. A highlight was Hey-on-Wye and opportunity “to chill” after 17 mile days…and the cultural aspects of the trek in finding friendly people in route who genuinely cared for our welfare, as we intruded upon their villages seeking shelter and food. Hopefully you can make the next one with us.

The 3rd Annual Conference on Emotional Well Being was held in Rome, and I was an invited speaker at the conference. I am pleased to say that it was well attended by teachers, parents, and mental health practitioners from Rome. St Stephens school was the location, and a number of student ambassadors were on hand to make sure the event flow evenly, without a hitch. My presentation dealt with self esteem in adolescence and the teaming that goes into making sure self confidence happens in the growing years. Audience participation was welcomed and many stayed afterwards to get more information on the topic of promoting self esteem. I was happy to provide information on both wilderness treatment, as well as Legacy Trek the new non-profit that I co-founded to help promote self esteem and narrative therapy. Thanks to all, and see you in Rome for the 4th Annual Conference!

In Beijing, Spring has sprung. The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, and so many more sights looked fantastic to me. However, the highlight of my trip was constructing favorable education foundations with top secondary schools in forming solid Sinio – American relationships. These relationships allow for immediate opportunities in introducing Chinese youth to American values in keeping with Chinese tradition. It is my humble opinion after visiting, that China will continue to change rapidly, and the US is smart to work toward friendly relations and business partnerships with the Chinese. While there are still differences in culture, there are distinct similarities the two countries share in commitment to family values and formal education. If you are interested in partnering with Dr Burdick and World Educational Consulting in appreciating Chinese Culture, studying, traveling, eating….email info@weconsult.me and we will make it happen.感谢您考虑中国。

….on the two worlds that sometimes collide: Recovery & Education. It isn’t easy to discern what the best path is to take when you are working with “at-risk” youth with a addiction profile. Dr Burdick presents a compelling argument on the proper way to ferret out such decisions, using the approach proposed by Jane Eigner Mintz of the interventionist work, as well as perspective shared by Karen Kellijian, recovery program consultant. In a synopsis, it is important to get good history, and have a well rounded knowledge of the recovery options available before placing youth in emotional boarding schools. It is equally important in considering the family needs, as one progresses through treatment needs of that individual. Tucson was well received, and educational consultants will receive further education from Dr Burdick and Jane Mintz on how discernment is so important in these cases.

Two alternatives to traditional wilderness are SeaChange and Pacific Quest both in Hawaii. Two different types of programs with unique philosophies, types of students, and lengths of stay. I find I work well with both of these programs in providing both the consultation and psychological testing that matches the unique qualities of either program. Narrative technique is integrated into the day-to-day therapeutic milieu and is useful to prolong long term change and re-integration into family structure. Plus, the family programs are identifiable not only by the curriculum but the language learned to be spoken and shared among the family members. I was excited by what I saw as extraordinary changes and growth with both programs. The weather was not perfect in January, however, it’s hard to complain in short sleeves and shorts. One of the other schools toured is HPA or Hawaii Preparatory Academy. Whether you’re into the arts, film, languages, sports, horses, eco-friendly design, and remarkable international friendships, HPA could be a terrific choice for the right student. My third visit, HPA has “grown up” with major enhancements.