ELEMENTS

What ELEMENTS does

Elements Programs is a small, owner-operated outdoor behavioral healthcare company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Huntington, Utah, delivering wilderness therapy to adolescents (ages 13–17) and young adults (18+) struggling with mental health, substance use, neurodiversity, and behavioral issues. Its core offering is an Expedition Base Camp Model in which clients backpack through Utah's backcountry (red rock desert in winter, alpine terrain in summer) while receiving evidence-based modalities including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), the Seven Challenges program, and adventure therapy. The company runs three product lines: Elements: Adolescents (the original program), Eclipse (a neurodiversity specialty track for teens with autism spectrum disorder, OCD, and ADHD), and Traverse (launched in 2017 for young adults of all genders). Group sizes are intentionally capped at 9 clients (adolescents) and 4–10 (young adults), with field staff working 8-day shifts and therapist-to-client ratios reportedly double the licensing requirement; therapists also camp with clients for up to 36 hours, providing in-vivo therapy that the company claims materially exceeds clinical contact hours in brick-and-mortar settings.

The business is a private-pay treatment program charging a daily rate plus a one-time enrollment fee, with a 49-day minimum stay and an average length of stay of 10–12 weeks; travel, medical, and prescription costs are family responsibilities, and Elements partners with Prosper Healthcare for financing, Sky's the Limit Fund for scholarships, and FixMyClaim, SJ Health Advocates, and LCAScioli for insurance reimbursement. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and consultative: families initiate contact through phone, email, or the BestNotes-powered Parent Portal, with an in-house admissions team conducting clinical reviews (typically within 24 hours) and a referral network of educational consultants and mental health professionals feeding the funnel. The company is the third program ever accredited by the Association of Experiential Education / Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council and is licensed by the Utah State Department of Health and Human Services; academic credit up to 3.0 high school credits is delivered via a partnership with Dorius Academy. Ownership rests with seven co-partners actively involved in operations, including CEO Andrew Powell and Clinical Director Eric Fawson; no institutional investors or parent company are identified.

Name

ELEMENTS

Legal name

Elements Programs

Website

https://elementsprograms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Elements Programs is a privately held, owner-operated outdoor behavioral healthcare provider in central Utah delivering evidence-based wilderness therapy to adolescents and young adults with mental health, substance use, and neurodiversity challenges via three programs since 2008.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare / Wilderness Therapy

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB)

Keywords

• Outdoor behavioral healthcare
• Wilderness therapy programs
• Adolescent mental health treatment
• Family systems therapy
• Neurodiversity treatment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Private Pay Tuition: Elements operates as a private-pay treatment program with a daily rate for each day of enrollment plus a one-time enrollment fee. Travel costs and medical/prescription costs are separate responsibilities of the family. Families pay tuition costs up front and then apply for insurance reimbursement after treatment.
2. Scholarships: Elements offers limited scholarships each year to families unable to afford full tuition costs, in partnership with Sky's the Limit Fund. This provides fee reductions and additional financial assistance to qualifying families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elements Programs is a private-pay outdoor behavioral healthcare company that delivers wilderness therapy programs combining evidence-based clinical modalities (DBT, Seven Challenges, family systems therapy) with an expedition-style backcountry living model in central Utah's red rock desert and alpine mountains. The company sells three distinct therapeutic programs: Elements: Adolescents (boys 13-17), Eclipse: Neurodivergent Adolescents (13-17), and Traverse: Young Adults (all genders), all of which integrate daily therapy, adventure programming, family engagement, and academic credit earning.

Product overview

ELEMENTS (Elements Programs) is a small, owner-operated outdoor behavioral health treatment program in central Utah operating since 2008. The company offers three distinct therapeutic programs: Elements: Adolescents (ages 13-17), Eclipse: Neurodivergent Adolescents (ages 13-17 with specialized neurodiversity focus), and Traverse: Young Adults (all genders, young adult population). All programs are grounded in evidence-based clinical modalities including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Seven Challenges, Adventure Programming, and comprehensive Family Engagement. The programs feature an expedition-based wilderness living model with adventure activities, academic credit options through Dorius Academy, and psychiatric/psychological testing services. The company is accredited by the Association of Experiential Education and licensed by Utah State Department of Health and Human Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elements: Adolescents: Outdoor therapeutic program for adolescent boys aged 13-17 and their families, focusing on mental health issues, problematic behaviors, and substance use.
• Eclipse
• Traverse

Products and services

• Elements: Adolescents Specialized outdoor therapeutic program for adolescent boys ages 13-17 facing mental health issues, anxiety, depression, learning differences, internet/screen overuse, substance use, and problematic behaviors. Combines an Expedition Base Camp wilderness living model with evidence-based therapy including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Seven Challenges modalities, along with comprehensive family engagement.
• Eclipse: Neurodivergent Adolescents Specialized outdoor therapy program for neurodiverse adolescents (ages 13-17) with autism spectrum disorder, OCD, ADHD, and processing gaps. Led by Dr. Neal Christensen with PEERS certification and specialized treatment approaches including DBT, Seven Challenges, and social skills training. Designed for teens who may not benefit from traditional outdoor therapy approaches.
• Traverse: Young Adults Outdoor treatment program for young adults (all genders) struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use, trauma, neurodiversity, and technology overuse. Features 8-10 week nomadic backpacking through Utah's scenic backcountry with mixed-gender small groups of 4-10 clients, individual and group therapy, and focus on personal, academic, and professional goals.
• The Family Element Comprehensive family programming bundled with Elements enrollment, including Parent Visits, Parent Guide sessions with licensed therapists, Parent Support Groups, and Spotlight Seminars, plus optional three-day Family Focus intensives for deeper family therapy work. Designated as a core companion offering.
• Adventure Programming Comprehensive adventure activities integrated into Elements programs including rock climbing, rappelling, canyoneering, slacklining, team building, yoga, mindfulness, leather working, drum making, mountain biking, fly fishing, and stand-up paddleboarding, facilitated by AMGA-certified instructors using the Choose Your Challenge model.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of Parents and 92% of Students reported being Satisfied or Very Satisfied with treatment at discharge
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Dorius AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElements partners with Dorius Academy (Cognia accredited) to provide academic credit for clients. Students can earn up to 3.0 high school credits including Character Education, Language Arts, Health Education II, Physical Education, and outdoor recreation courses. Transcripts are provided upon program completion.
• Sky's the Limit Fund (STLF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit dedicated to helping families afford outdoor therapy. STLF was founded by parents of outdoor therapy clients who experienced the treatment's power. Through this partnership, families may receive both program fee reductions from Elements and additional financial assistance from STLF.
• FixMyClaimsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInsurance claim recovery service helping families see returns on the cost of treatment by assisting with superbill submissions and reimbursement processes.
• American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational industry leader in training and certification for climbing and mountaineering. Elements requires adventure program staff to obtain Single Pitch Instructor certification through AMGA, aligning with highest quality programming and risk management standards.
• Utah State Department of Health and Human ServicescoreOthersState regulatory agency providing licensing oversight for outdoor therapeutic programming. Utah has the most robust laws for outdoor treatment in the US, regulating nearly every detail of outdoor life, staff qualifications, grievance processes, and confidential communication.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anasazi Foundation: Arizona-based wilderness therapy program serving adolescents and young adults using a similar expedition-based model. Directly comparable therapeutic philosophy with emphasis on self-reliance and family engagement.
• InnerChange: Utah-based wilderness therapy program serving adolescent boys. Comparable operating model, clinical approach, and family systems focus within the same Utah wilderness therapy cluster.
• Second Nature Wilderness Programs: Utah-based wilderness therapy program serving adolescents with similar backcountry expedition model and evidence-based clinical approach. Operates in the same regional cluster as Elements.
• Trails Carolina: North Carolina-based wilderness therapy program for adolescents and young adults. Comparable clinical model, expedition-based delivery, and family engagement programming.
• BlueFire Wilderness: Idaho-based wilderness therapy program for adolescents and young adults. Comparable clinical modalities, expedition format, and family programming structure.
• Pacific Quest: Hawaii-based wilderness and outdoor therapy program for adolescents and young adults. Comparable clinical modalities and family engagement approach in a different geographic market.
• Evoke Therapy Programs: Utah-based wilderness therapy program offering similar adolescent and young adult programs. Uses comparable outdoor behavioral health model with clinical and family engagement components.
• SUWS of the Carolinas: Idaho-based wilderness therapy program serving adolescents. Similar population focus, clinical modalities, and outdoor behavioral health framework.
• WinGate Wilderness Therapy: Utah-based wilderness therapy program for adolescents with similar expedition-based model. Competes in the same regional cluster and target demographic.
• Open Sky Wilderness Therapy: Colorado/Utah-based wilderness therapy program serving adolescents and young adults. Similar evidence-based approach with strong family systems focus and adventure programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/ZXuvmwXTTwQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elements-programs
• Instagraminstagram.com/elementswilderness/?hl=en

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ELEMENTS