What Second Nature does

Second Nature is a privately held nature-based therapeutic program headquartered in Duchesne, Utah, that delivers intensive wilderness therapy for adolescents ages 13–17 alongside parallel family therapy. Founded in 1998 by a group of clinicians that included current owner Steve DeBois, Ph.D., the company pioneered the therapist-driven model in nature-based therapy, in which licensed clinicians work in the field with field instructors rather than operating from a remote office. Operations span the Uinta Basin (5,000–7,000 ft elevation, fall/spring) and the High Uintas Mountains and Ashley National Forest (8,000–10,250 ft elevation, summer) using nomadic backpacking with semi-permanent basecamps.

The core product is an immersive, variable-length therapy program integrating individual, group, and family therapy with academic instruction, psychiatric care, health and wellness (DBT, mindfulness, nutrition), and structured transition planning. Distinguishing clinical components include a proprietary Family Dynamics Assessment (quantitative, three-norm tool), Milan-model group therapy, niche group matching for populations such as trauma, autism spectrum, learning disabilities, and substance abuse, and a four-phase Earth/Fire/Water/Air treatment progression. The academic component is dual-accredited as a Utah state-licensed program and a Cognia-accredited private school—the only nature-based program in the U.S. with this distinction—enabling nationwide transfer of semester credits.

Second Nature generates revenue through out-of-network tuition covering therapy, field instruction, academic credits, family services, medical support, equipment, food, and transportation; pricing is not publicly disclosed and the program does not contract with insurance carriers, instead providing documentation for potential reimbursement. GTM is direct-to-consumer via 24/7 online and phone admissions, supplemented by formal referral partnerships with the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and a community-led motion powered by alumni family testimonials and word-of-mouth. The company is closely held, with no external institutional investment or funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Second Nature

Legal name

Second Nature Therapy Programs

Website

https://second-nature.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Second Nature is a privately held, dual-accredited nature-based therapeutic program in Utah providing intensive wilderness and family therapy for adolescents ages 13–17, delivered via a therapist-driven model with 1:3 staff-to-student ratios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare / Wilderness Therapy

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB), Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Wilderness therapy programs
• Adolescent mental health
• Outdoor behavioral healthcare
• Nature-based therapy
• Teen family therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Duchesne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Therapeutic Program Fees: Second Nature generates revenue through tuition fees for its intensive nature-based therapeutic program for adolescents. The program includes therapist-driven therapy, field instruction, academic credits, family therapy, medical support, equipment, food, and transportation. The program is out-of-network with insurance providers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Second Nature operates a multi-week wilderness therapy program for adolescents ages 13-17 on a 200-acre ranch in Duchesne, Utah, integrating outdoor living, individual and family clinical therapy, accredited academics, and on-site psychiatric and nursing support. The program is designed for struggling teens and their families and emphasizes family-of-origin work guided by an in-house Family Dynamics Assessment, plus transition planning through downstream treatment, academic, and outdoor-experience partners after wilderness.

Product overview

Second Nature is a unified nature-based family therapy program for adolescents ages 13-17 offering an integrated clinical treatment experience. The core product is the Nature-Based Therapy Program—a therapist-driven wilderness therapy model conducted in Utah's Uinta Basin and High Uinta Mountains. This is supported by the Family Therapy Program (parallel parent work with coaching, letter writing, and family intensives), the Accredited Academic Program (state and Cognia-accredited school credits), and clinical services including Psychological Testing, Medication Management, and Health and Wellness (DBT, mindfulness, nutrition). The proprietary Family Dynamics Assessment differentiates their family systems approach. The Parent Portal provides ongoing family engagement throughout treatment. Second Nature operates as a single integrated program rather than a modular platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wilderness Therapy Program for Adolescents Multi-week immersive wilderness therapy program for adolescents ages 13-17 incorporating outdoor living, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, on-site psychiatric services, nursing coverage, and an accredited academic component. Designed for struggling teens and their families seeking intensive intervention.
• Family Therapy Program Family-of-origin focused therapy delivered on- and off-site by the founders/primary therapists, including parental work while the teen is on wilderness.
• Psychiatric and Nursing Services On-site psychiatric services, psychotropic medication management, and 24/7 nursing coverage for students on the wilderness campus.
• Accredited Academic Program Accredited K-12 academic instruction provided on-site so teens continue progressing in school during the program, with detailed credit-evaluation transcripts shared with transferring schools.
• Family Dynamics Assessment In-house clinical assessment tool that identifies family roles and covert/overt dynamics to inform family-of-origin therapy work.
• Transition Planning Services Discharge and aftercare planning via partnerships with therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient providers, and outdoor-experience or academic programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Parent YOQ scores improved 67 points and student scores improved 40 points, exceeding reliable change thresholds (13 points parents, 18 points students)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of New HampshirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Nature participates in collaborative research projects with the University of New Hampshire to assess treatment outcomes of adolescent clients. This partnership contributes to evidence-based practice and outcome tracking.
• Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council (OBHIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Nature is involved in research with OBHIC (now named Outdoor Research Collaborative), an industry association exploring and tracking the effectiveness of outdoor therapy programs. The organization has been involved since OBHIC's formation in 1997.
• National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Nature participates in research with NATSAP, an industry association for therapeutic schools and programs. NATSAP membership provides professional standards, research collaboration, and industry advocacy.
• University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFor students requiring substantive psychiatric care, Second Nature contracts with UNI for psychiatric assessment and ongoing medication management during the student's stay. UNI personnel coordinate with the therapist and medical staff to ensure safe and effective psychiatric care.
• CogniacoreOthersSecond Nature holds national accreditation through Cognia, which affirms commitment to high standards of educational quality and professional practice. This dual accreditation (with Utah state) ensures academic credits are transferable across state lines.
• Sky's the Limit FundminorOthersNon-profit organization that provides financial support and resources for families seeking therapeutic programs. Listed as an additional resource for families.
• All Kinds of TherapyminorOthersOnline directory and resource for families seeking therapeutic programs. Listed as an additional resource partner.
• Association of Education and Employment (AEE)minorOthersIndustry organization for education and therapeutic program professionals. Listed as an additional resource for families.
• Utah Department of Human ServicesminorOthersState agency that licenses and monitors Second Nature's operations. Listed as an accreditation/affiliation partner.
• PBJF / Wilderness 4 LifeminorOthersNon-profit organization supporting wilderness therapy and outdoor behavioral healthcare. Listed as an additional resource for families.
• Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecond Nature refers families to IECA for assistance finding professional educational consultants who can help navigate the out-of-home placement process. Educational consultants provide quality assurance, advocacy, and independent collaboration of treatment.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Trails Carolina: A wilderness therapy program for adolescents and young adults operating in North Carolina. Directly comparable to Second Nature in target demographic (struggling teens), therapist-in-the-field delivery model, and reliance on educational consultant referrals.
• Open Sky Wilderness Therapy: Utah- and Colorado-based wilderness therapy program for adolescents using a similar backcountry, family-systems-oriented clinical model. Closely comparable on geography, clinical approach, and family-involvement emphasis.
• RedCliff Ascent: Adolescent wilderness therapy program based in southern Utah with a similar nomadic backpacking and basecamp operational model. Comparable on clinical framing, NATSAP membership, and out-of-network private-pay structure.
• Evoke Therapy Programs: Wilderness and residential therapy programs for adolescents and young adults. Comparable in clinical philosophy, family-systems emphasis, and private-pay admissions model.
• Pacific Quest: Hawaii-based wilderness and horticultural therapy program for adolescents and young adults. Comparable on nature-based clinical immersion and adolescent mental-health positioning.
• SUWS of the Carolinas: Wilderness therapy program for adolescents ages 10-17 with a clinical/therapeutic framing similar to Second Nature's therapist-driven approach.
• Anasazi Foundation: Arizona-based wilderness therapy program for struggling adolescents and young adults with a similar wilderness-immersion clinical model and family-involvement component.
• BlueFire Wilderness: Adolescent wilderness therapy program operating in Idaho using a small-group, clinically integrated model that competes for the same consultant-referred family segment.
• Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy: Wilderness therapy program for adolescents and young adults in Oregon and California with comparable clinical wilderness immersion and family-systems focus.

Others

• NATSAP (National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs): Industry association for therapeutic schools and programs of which Second Nature is a member. Adjacent peer in the sense that it defines professional standards, aggregates research, and channels referrals across the wilderness therapy category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/second-nature-wilderness-family-therapy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Second Nature