Published Writings

Below you will find a list of published writings and guest posting across multiple websites and media sources.

Featured
How to Evaluate Gap Year Programs with Mental Health Support
How to Evaluate Gap Year Programs with Mental Health Support
5 Reasons to Take a Gap Year for Mental Health
5 Reasons to Take a Gap Year for Mental Health
Using 529 Funds for Therapeutic Gap Programs
Using 529 Funds for Therapeutic Gap Programs
Featured
Defer College for Therapeutic Gap Program
Defer College for Therapeutic Gap Program
FAQ’s for Therapeutic Gap Program
FAQ’s for Therapeutic Gap Program
Finding a Supportive Gap Program
Finding a Supportive Gap Program
Nutrition is Important to Young Adults
Nutrition is Important to Young Adults
Difference between Academic Probation and Academic Suspension
Difference between Academic Probation and Academic Suspension
Why Sleep Hygiene Matters
Why Sleep Hygiene Matters
False Positive Drug Tests
False Positive Drug Tests
Treatment Failure
Treatment Failure
No Driver’s License?
No Driver’s License?
Enabling vs. Accommodating
Enabling vs. Accommodating
When Living at Home is Okay
When Living at Home is Okay
“I’m Not Okay if my Kid’s Not Okay”
“I’m Not Okay if my Kid’s Not Okay”
7 Ways Wilderness Therapy Benefits Some Young Adults
7 Ways Wilderness Therapy Benefits Some Young Adults
Adaptive Avoidance
Adaptive Avoidance
Urgency not Emergency
Urgency not Emergency
Why Struggle Matters for Young Adults
Why Struggle Matters for Young Adults
Election Anxiety
Election Anxiety
Transcripts Only include Grades
Transcripts Only include Grades
When to Worry about your College Student
When to Worry about your College Student
No HIPAA? No Problem!
No HIPAA? No Problem!
Why Extracurricular Activities in College Matter
Why Extracurricular Activities in College Matter
Wilderness Therapy Alternative
Wilderness Therapy Alternative
15 Questions for a Young Adult to Ask Programs
15 Questions for a Young Adult to Ask Programs
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Pathological Demand Avoidance
Pathological Demand Avoidance
Embrace the Pace
Embrace the Pace
Heads in Beds
Heads in Beds
Who are Parent Coaches?
Who are Parent Coaches?
Highly Dependent Adult Children
Highly Dependent Adult Children
College Capable vs. College Ready
College Capable vs. College Ready

Featured
What are Young Adult Transition Programs?
What are Young Adult Transition Programs?
Home Terrorist
Home Terrorist
Top 7 Signs of Tech Addiction
Top 7 Signs of Tech Addiction
When it’s more than “just substance use”
When it’s more than “just substance use”
High-Stress Academic Majors
High-Stress Academic Majors
Indifference
Indifference
College Athletes and Mental Health Treatment
College Athletes and Mental Health Treatment
Parent and Young Adult References
Parent and Young Adult References
College Interrupted
College Interrupted
Receiving Updates on Previous Clients
Receiving Updates on Previous Clients
Free Consulting Services
Free Consulting Services
Top 4 Life Skills For Young Adults
Top 4 Life Skills For Young Adults
Non-Degree or Guest Student Status
Non-Degree or Guest Student Status
Top 10 Relapse Warning Signs
Top 10 Relapse Warning Signs
Returning to College Landmines
Returning to College Landmines
Difference Between a High School and College Parent
Difference Between a High School and College Parent
Cold Feet
Cold Feet
Failing High School, Yet Accepted to College
Failing High School, Yet Accepted to College
Top 5 Things Said by Inquiring Parents
Top 5 Things Said by Inquiring Parents
What I look for in a Program Tour
What I look for in a Program Tour
Featured
Seven Types of Boundaries*
Seven Types of Boundaries*
Healthy Boundaries
Healthy Boundaries
Treatment Drift
Treatment Drift
Wow, Cool, Bummer, Ouch!
Wow, Cool, Bummer, Ouch!
College is a Full-Time Job
College is a Full-Time Job
The Value of a Therapeutic Consultant
The Value of a Therapeutic Consultant
Things to Know Before Speaking with a Consultant
Things to Know Before Speaking with a Consultant
Collegiate Athletes and Mental Health
Collegiate Athletes and Mental Health
When to return to college after a Leave of Absence
When to return to college after a Leave of Absence
Fee-Splitting
Fee-Splitting
Hatching Turtles
Hatching Turtles
Paying for Treatment with Insurance
Paying for Treatment with Insurance
Returning to College after a Hospitalization
Returning to College after a Hospitalization
Tough Love
Tough Love
Not Having a Driver's License
Not Having a Driver's License
Is College Worth it Anymore?
Is College Worth it Anymore?
Dear Parents: An Expectations Letter about Transitional Programming
Dear Parents: An Expectations Letter about Transitional Programming
Helping your Kid avoid a Title IX Allegation
Helping your Kid avoid a Title IX Allegation
Bank of Mom & Dad
Bank of Mom & Dad
The Difference between a Suggestion and a Statement
The Difference between a Suggestion and a Statement
Featured
Autism and Addiction
Autism and Addiction
Skipping Steps in Treatment
Skipping Steps in Treatment
Whatever you do, Don't hit Delete!
Whatever you do, Don't hit Delete!
When to Return to College after Treatment
When to Return to College after Treatment
Treatment in Metaphors
Treatment in Metaphors
Revenge Porn
Revenge Porn
On Campus, the Truth Shall Not Set You Free
On Campus, the Truth Shall Not Set You Free
College is just what you do
College is just what you do
Picking Fruit Prematurely
Picking Fruit Prematurely
Another name for Therapeutic Consultant
Another name for Therapeutic Consultant
Earning a 1.0 GPA
Earning a 1.0 GPA
Pandemic U
Pandemic U
Treatment is a fit for the Adult Child, not for the Parent
Treatment is a fit for the Adult Child, not for the Parent
Getting Buy-in from your Kid to go to Treatment
Getting Buy-in from your Kid to go to Treatment
Top 7 Things Parents Wished They'd Done Before Their Kid Went To College
Top 7 Things Parents Wished They'd Done Before Their Kid Went To College
Transition is a process, not an event
Transition is a process, not an event
Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome
Treatment is not meant to be Fun
Treatment is not meant to be Fun
Letting your Adult Child Come Home after Treatment
Letting your Adult Child Come Home after Treatment
Not going to college is okay. Not having a plan is not Okay.
Not going to college is okay. Not having a plan is not Okay.
Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child
Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child
Top 10 Things a Parent Does that is Enabling
Top 10 Things a Parent Does that is Enabling
Removing the safety net
Removing the safety net
Rules without Consequences
Rules without Consequences
Ten Questions to Ask a Drug Rehab Program
Ten Questions to Ask a Drug Rehab Program
Not Upholding Boundaries with your Adult Child
Not Upholding Boundaries with your Adult Child
Setting Boundaries with Adult Children
Setting Boundaries with Adult Children
Five Ways to Stop Enabling
Five Ways to Stop Enabling
The Difference between Helping and Enabling
The Difference between Helping and Enabling
Smoke & Mirrors in Addiction Treatment
Smoke & Mirrors in Addiction Treatment
Featured
The Least amount of "Suck"
The Least amount of "Suck"
Stuck
Stuck
Dumpster Fire(s)
Dumpster Fire(s)
When Things FALL Apart
When Things FALL Apart
Top 5 Things Lilley Consulting Doesn't Do
Top 5 Things Lilley Consulting Doesn't Do
Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor Rigby
First-Time College Parents: Fall Semester Survival Guide
First-Time College Parents: Fall Semester Survival Guide
Tsunami
Tsunami
Resources for Parents of a Soon-to-be College Student
Resources for Parents of a Soon-to-be College Student
Treat Yo' Self!
Treat Yo' Self!
Best Way to Blow $50,000
Best Way to Blow $50,000
Perfect Parents, Perfect Kids
Perfect Parents, Perfect Kids
Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget
Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget
Everything before the “but” is bullshit
Everything before the “but” is bullshit
Dysregulation = hot mess
Dysregulation = hot mess
Cannot pour from an empty cup
Cannot pour from an empty cup
Hitting Pause on College
Hitting Pause on College
The Politics of Higher Education
The Politics of Higher Education
Pick a direction, not a destination
Pick a direction, not a destination
The only things that is “normal” right now
The only things that is “normal” right now
COVID-19: Shaken, not stirred
COVID-19: Shaken, not stirred
Hang in there
Hang in there
Featured
School's out... or is it?
School's out... or is it?
Duck Syndrome 2.0
Duck Syndrome 2.0
Congratulations! You've been admitted to Zoom University for August 2020
Congratulations! You've been admitted to Zoom University for August 2020
Please, stop the bus(!) on adjusting academic policies
Please, stop the bus(!) on adjusting academic policies
Programmatic Adjustments: How 7 Levels of Care are shifting during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Programmatic Adjustments: How 7 Levels of Care are shifting during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Treatment Journey is “Clear as Mud”
The Treatment Journey is “Clear as Mud”
New Normal
New Normal
New Game Introduction: “Last One Standing”
New Game Introduction: “Last One Standing”
Treatment Predictions in COVID-19: Taking aim at a moving target
Treatment Predictions in COVID-19: Taking aim at a moving target
Putting my oxygen mask on
Putting my oxygen mask on
I miss hugs
I miss hugs
The Psychological Trauma of Coronavirus
The Psychological Trauma of Coronavirus
Telling my parents to quarantine
Telling my parents to quarantine
Leap Year?
Leap Year?
Resentment
Resentment
I Love Data!
I Love Data!
Single? No. Married? No. Building an Empire? Yes, please.
Single? No. Married? No. Building an Empire? Yes, please.
No one is excited to go to treatment
No one is excited to go to treatment
Cringeworthy Online Reviews
Cringeworthy Online Reviews
Living in Absolutes
Living in Absolutes
Featured
Not going to college is an option!
Not going to college is an option!
Defer and Mature
Defer and Mature
Entitlement
Entitlement
Ten Common Mistakes Parents Make (when selecting residential placements)
Ten Common Mistakes Parents Make (when selecting residential placements)
Deferral Request Rejected
Deferral Request Rejected
The Reinvention of the Gap Year
The Reinvention of the Gap Year
Failure Deprivation
Failure Deprivation
Congrats Grad! (Now find your own job!)
Congrats Grad! (Now find your own job!)
When outpatient care isn’t enough
When outpatient care isn’t enough
Treatment Program Comparison: NOLS vs. Wilderness Therapy
Treatment Program Comparison: NOLS vs. Wilderness Therapy
When Telehealth is not enough
When Telehealth is not enough
Bringing Home the Elephant: The Rise of At-Home Overdoses during Quarantine
Bringing Home the Elephant: The Rise of At-Home Overdoses during Quarantine
Time alone does not heal all wounds
Time alone does not heal all wounds
Caregiver Fatigue
Caregiver Fatigue
Stress and Trauma Within the COVID-19 Pandemic
Stress and Trauma Within the COVID-19 Pandemic
One Diploma, comprised of Coursework from Eight Colleges
One Diploma, comprised of Coursework from Eight Colleges
The Substandard Collegiate Experience
The Substandard Collegiate Experience
Taking a Gap Year during College
Taking a Gap Year during College
Wilderness Therapy Programs as a Gap Year Option
Wilderness Therapy Programs as a Gap Year Option
College or Gap Year? How COVID-19 is Reshaping the Fall 2020 Semester
College or Gap Year? How COVID-19 is Reshaping the Fall 2020 Semester
Featured
Gap Year Programs for Students with Autism
Gap Year Programs for Students with Autism
The difference between Sobriety and Recovery
The difference between Sobriety and Recovery
Top 5 reasons students may fail classes post-COVID-19
Top 5 reasons students may fail classes post-COVID-19
Higher Education Moving Forward: Some Questions for the Future
Higher Education Moving Forward: Some Questions for the Future
College Success With Learning Disabilities: More Than Just Academic Accommodations
College Success With Learning Disabilities: More Than Just Academic Accommodations
College Is Hard Enough Without A Learning Disability: An Insider’s Guide To Navigating College’s Hidden Curriculum
College Is Hard Enough Without A Learning Disability: An Insider’s Guide To Navigating College’s Hidden Curriculum
Transitioning out of IDEA and into ADA
Transitioning out of IDEA and into ADA
Students with Learning Disabilities: Rethinking How We Assess College Readiness
Students with Learning Disabilities: Rethinking How We Assess College Readiness
How to Navigate life after a Title IX accusation
How to Navigate life after a Title IX accusation
Now is the best time to go to treatment
Now is the best time to go to treatment
Questions to ask a Program during COVID-19
Questions to ask a Program during COVID-19
The reason why Extended Care matters
The reason why Extended Care matters
Social isolation is relapse
Social isolation is relapse
How Community-Integrated Programs are adjusting to COVID-19
How Community-Integrated Programs are adjusting to COVID-19
Residential Treatment during the COVD-19 crisis
Residential Treatment during the COVD-19 crisis
College Support Programs expand to support college students across the country
College Support Programs expand to support college students across the country
Virtual Meeting Etiquette
Virtual Meeting Etiquette
Recognizing Substance Use Disorder in your College Student
Recognizing Substance Use Disorder in your College Student
Virtual Psychological Testing during COVID-19
Virtual Psychological Testing during COVID-19
Getting the Most of a Virtual Campus Visit
Getting the Most of a Virtual Campus Visit
Featured
Dating in Young Adulthood
Dating in Young Adulthood
5 Things Parents do Right when your College Student Struggles
5 Things Parents do Right when your College Student Struggles
College from home
College from home
How Non-residential Therapeutic Programs operate during COVID-19
How Non-residential Therapeutic Programs operate during COVID-19
Wilderness Field Staff as Front Line Care during COVID-19
Wilderness Field Staff as Front Line Care during COVID-19
Tele-Therapy: New age therapy for young adults during COVID-19
Tele-Therapy: New age therapy for young adults during COVID-19
What to do when your college student withdraws from school
What to do when your college student withdraws from school
Finding a Parent Coach during COVID-19
Finding a Parent Coach during COVID-19
The Most effective College Retention Initiative
The Most effective College Retention Initiative
Coaching Young Adults after Treatment
Coaching Young Adults after Treatment
Wilderness Therapy: a healthcare respite during a public health crisis
Wilderness Therapy: a healthcare respite during a public health crisis
Mental Health Interventions
Mental Health Interventions
Trust, but Verify
Trust, but Verify
Researching Collegiate Recovery Programs
Researching Collegiate Recovery Programs
Staying at home is not okay
Staying at home is not okay
Comparing Apples to Apples
Comparing Apples to Apples
Not all Treatment is Created Equal
Not all Treatment is Created Equal
How to ensure Success in Treatment
How to ensure Success in Treatment
What Success in Treatment Looks Like
What Success in Treatment Looks Like
College isn't going anywhere!
College isn't going anywhere!
Featured
Kicked out of college
Kicked out of college
How to respond when your college student won’t return to college
How to respond when your college student won’t return to college
Not returning to college is okay. Not having a plan is not okay.
Not returning to college is okay. Not having a plan is not okay.
What it means to be "off track" to graduate
What it means to be "off track" to graduate
Winter enrollment in an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare program
Winter enrollment in an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare program
Treatment is a gift
Treatment is a gift
It’s all about perspective.
It’s all about perspective.
All the feels when dropping your young adult off into treatment
All the feels when dropping your young adult off into treatment
Getting your 18 year old (or older) into Treatment
Getting your 18 year old (or older) into Treatment
The Dangers of Vaping
The Dangers of Vaping
College collaborations with off-campus mental health resources
College collaborations with off-campus mental health resources
Treatment is not a quick fix
Treatment is not a quick fix
Things won’t change, until things change.
Things won’t change, until things change.
The heat is [metaphorically] rising on college campuses
The heat is [metaphorically] rising on college campuses
Academic Advisors as liaisons to student’s getting help
Academic Advisors as liaisons to student’s getting help
How Psychological Assessments can be beneficial
How Psychological Assessments can be beneficial
The Cognitive Distortions of College Students
The Cognitive Distortions of College Students
Implications of withdrawing from college
Implications of withdrawing from college
High school athletes who stop playing sports when they transition to college
High school athletes who stop playing sports when they transition to college
The Art of Letting Go: Grieving your child, and learning how to be a parent of a young adult
The Art of Letting Go: Grieving your child, and learning how to be a parent of a young adult
5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Their Kid Struggles at College
5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Their Kid Struggles at College
Brace yourself: What parents can expect after your young adult enrolls into a treatment program
Brace yourself: What parents can expect after your young adult enrolls into a treatment program
Understanding “Early Alert” in college academics
Understanding “Early Alert” in college academics
First exams in college and their link to suicide
First exams in college and their link to suicide
There is no shame in acknowledging your humanness
There is no shame in acknowledging your humanness
Mental Health is not a bad cold
Mental Health is not a bad cold
Ring the warning bells!
Ring the warning bells!
When the Honeymoon of the college transition wears off
When the Honeymoon of the college transition wears off
What can happen when your college student gets sick
What can happen when your college student gets sick
Incoming College Students Must Register a Disability ASAP or Before Going Off to College
Incoming College Students Must Register a Disability ASAP or Before Going Off to College
Featured
Consultant as Contractor
Consultant as Contractor
Self-Care is not Selfish
Self-Care is not Selfish
True words are not charming...
True words are not charming...
Reflections on a winter in the field
Reflections on a winter in the field
Confrontation: You Attract What You Avoid
Confrontation: You Attract What You Avoid
Thankfulness vs. Gratitude
Thankfulness vs. Gratitude
#Resiliency
#Resiliency
Trust the Process
Trust the Process
Life Is Not Linear
Life Is Not Linear
You cannot grow in someone’s shadow
You cannot grow in someone’s shadow
Rising Tides Lifts All Boats
Rising Tides Lifts All Boats
Checking e-mail in College
Checking e-mail in College
When a Therapist calls to ask for program recommendations
When a Therapist calls to ask for program recommendations
Colleges liable to student mental health
Colleges liable to student mental health
Digging into Horticulture Therapy
Digging into Horticulture Therapy
The connection between concussions and mental health
The connection between concussions and mental health
It hurts to live in Colorado
It hurts to live in Colorado
It's okay to not be okay
It's okay to not be okay
When enrolling in college becomes more important than a young person’s health.
When enrolling in college becomes more important than a young person’s health.
A stutter-step before your young adult launches to college
A stutter-step before your young adult launches to college
Without treatment, transferring colleges won't save a student!
Without treatment, transferring colleges won't save a student!
August is National Wellness Month
August is National Wellness Month
What it means to be the "High Country" Consultant
What it means to be the "High Country" Consultant
The same ol’ story
The same ol’ story
Addiction Treatment as an Investment: Don't let program marketing fool you!
Addiction Treatment as an Investment: Don't let program marketing fool you!
Gifting the entire toolbox before College
Gifting the entire toolbox before College
What's in a name? Well, apparently everything.
What's in a name? Well, apparently everything.
Featured
College Students & Destructive Perfectionism
College Students & Destructive Perfectionism
6 Ways to Protect Your Child from the Dangers of Social Media
6 Ways to Protect Your Child from the Dangers of Social Media
10 Ways Keep Your Child Safe on the College Campus
10 Ways Keep Your Child Safe on the College Campus
9 Key Steps Your Child Must Take to Succeed in College
9 Key Steps Your Child Must Take to Succeed in College
A Radio with a “Rescue Button”
A Radio with a “Rescue Button”
Stages of Grief for a First-Time College Parent
Stages of Grief for a First-Time College Parent
Top 7 Books for First-Time College Parents
Top 7 Books for First-Time College Parents
Prepping For College Self Care
Prepping For College Self Care
6 Forms You Really Want Signed Before Your Student Enrolls in College
6 Forms You Really Want Signed Before Your Student Enrolls in College
Understanding Privacy Laws that Obtain to Your Young Adult College Student
Understanding Privacy Laws that Obtain to Your Young Adult College Student
It’s time to let your young adult handle things
It’s time to let your young adult handle things
Pre-College To-Do List: What students need to be able to demonstrate doing independently before moving into college in August
Pre-College To-Do List: What students need to be able to demonstrate doing independently before moving into college in August
What to Do When your Adolescent / Young Adult is Using Opioids
What to Do When your Adolescent / Young Adult is Using Opioids
Mental Health in Higher Education as a Financial Incentive
Mental Health in Higher Education as a Financial Incentive
The Differences between Therapeutic and Traditional Boarding Schools
The Differences between Therapeutic and Traditional Boarding Schools
Avoid asking “Are you sure you can’t finish?”
Avoid asking “Are you sure you can’t finish?”
Navigating the Collegiate Recovery and Treatment World
Navigating the Collegiate Recovery and Treatment World
“My Young Adult is F.I.N.E.”
“My Young Adult is F.I.N.E.”
A University Withdrawal the Friday before Finals
A University Withdrawal the Friday before Finals
College Suspension: It Happens
College Suspension: It Happens
How to Prepare High School Students for the Transition to College
How to Prepare High School Students for the Transition to College
Avoiding Google to find mental health treatment programs
Avoiding Google to find mental health treatment programs
How we can explore mental health treatment as a retention initiative
How we can explore mental health treatment as a retention initiative
How Safe is the At Risk Program You are Considering for your Child? Learn to Ask the Right Questions the Right Way
How Safe is the At Risk Program You are Considering for your Child? Learn to Ask the Right Questions the Right Way
Winter Break Conversations: College Isn’t Going Anywhere
Winter Break Conversations: College Isn’t Going Anywhere