When I sent my son in the trail, I had no hope left in me. Zero. My son was severely depressed, addicted to video games, couldnt have a conversation with him without it being a full verbal fight. I was terrified to be alone with him because I thought he would psychically hurt me. I dreaded my future and my son's future. I was terrified he would turn to drugs. Anasazi gave me my hope back and gave me my sweet, happy, loving son back. His depression.... gone. He hasn't raised his voice at me in 6 years. Completely changed our lives for the better. I will forever be grateful for this program. read more

Anasazi is top shelf. Don't be hesitant to engage with this organisation. Anasazi is top shelf. Don't be hesitant to engage with this organisation. read more

We were hoping this program would benefit our child, however it was a waste of time and money. This program was a glorified 7 week backpacking trip run by amateur therapist who are very young and inexperience. Anyone reading should know this needs to know it is not worth 30,000 plus expense. The organization is disorganized and the counselors are too young. Also, the follow up after your child leaves is dismal as they have inexperienced 20 something year olds calling parents to work through problems with their child after they leave the program. In the end, we did not think it was worth the high cost for what the program offers. There are other programs to look at and it is important to do a thorough review of the wilderness programs available as there are many throughout the US. My suggestion is read recent reviews before signing up and get recommendations by talking to other parents. read more

Didn't help my daughter, luckily didn't hurt her...and was a waste of $30,000 as she has shown zero improvement. They were quite disorganized & the counselor told my daughter that I was uninvolved (he even failed to deliver letters to her). The whole thing is weird. read more

I attended this program from December 30th 2021 to February 3rd 2022. Throughout this "therapy" I got severely malnourished, isolated for being transgender, had my medication for birth control screwed up by one of the trail walkers who looked to be in her mid-late twenties. They gave depressed kids knives, rope, and plenty of instances where we could've easily jumped to our deaths. That was DEFINITELY a good idea. The staff kept informing my parents about how I was having full body tremors but wouldn't actually do anything to fix the issue, same with one of the girls who was constantly cutting herself with the multiple knives this program gave us, they sure as hell didn't help her. Also since I'm a transgender guy (ftm) I was forced to be in the girls group which made me and everyone else quite uncomfortable especially one of the other people who had dealt with rape from an uncle, she wasn't having a happy time with me there because of my mere presence, I felt really bad for her. I also remember crying and screaming on multiple occasions because I felt physically exhausted but noooo we had to keep walking even though I had joint problems that they already knew about. My "therapist" there kept questioning me on why I wanted to let the pedophiles who groomed me kill me, it was our 5th time meeting... she wouldn't even stop even though I was hyperventilating and crying. She definitely wasn't certified, I wasn't even sure if she'd gone to school for psychology. I hugged my mom when I first saw her after getting out of that place, I even hugged my dad! I hated that old man but it was better than staying at that program. Please don't send your children here it's not safe, even now after working through the trauma that place brought me I still have occasional flashbacks from being there. They wouldn't let us have any hygiene products not even toothpaste or hand sanitizer, I now have a pretty big fear of feeling dirty thanks to the Anasazi foundation. They weren't helpful to me, considering I relapsed in under a month after I got back. read more

See all

This program is amazing. I have two daughters, both adopted and with attachment disorders. Helping kids who experienced early trauma attach when that vital experience didn't happen in infancy is so difficult. It's weird to think that the time away would have helped but it did! The staff really work with the kids, their therapist meets with them and us weekly and we send letters of encouragement and pictures each week. My eldest said that knowing she was away and doing this difficult thing while getting continual love and support through letters and pictures helped her know we'd never leave. It was beautiful. We've been together for a decade and she's so much less cautious in how she loves us. My youngest made a significant turn. She's continued to have some struggles, but her ability to reflect on them has grown significantly. And after they are done outdoors, the adults who work with both girls stay in contact. This has been huge for my youngest to help keep her on that forward moving path. I wish something this wonderful was available to all families. read more

First and foremost, this place saved my son's life.....and I am forever grateful. NO......It's not a fix all and NO.....all your problems won't go away. But it will build confidence; self-esteem; self-love; and self-awareness in your child. These are the building blocks for a better future (Not a perfect future). They help provide the tools for you and your child to make better choices for themselves and get over the up and overs (code for those who have experienced the program). As parents, they really helped us. We learned through this process, we are not alone (Yes - Good parents have children who make really bad decisions); we were not the cause for their choices, but we certainly were not as helpful as we could have been. In fact, sometimes I made it worse. No, insurance does not pay for this.......worth every penny I paid. The Anasazi system is a process. This will challenge your child in ways they have never imagined. Just keep in mind, there is no such thing as change without pain, no growth without discomfort. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the trail walkers!!!! You are an elite group of people!!!! Moe and Rambo...your two are impressive individuals!!!! read more

My son attended Anasazi last year and he had nothing but positive things to say about his experience there. The staff is friendly and they care about the children. They also comfort the parents and give them updates on the children while they are away on the trail. My son came back with a positive attitude and was always looking forward to talking to his counselor. I would recommend Anasazi to anyone looking to get help for their child. read more

This is an incredible program. We loved it. It was the hardest experience we have ever been through, the idea that your child needs help beyond your ability to help is a tough place to be in, however the staff were super helpful and caring, they answer every email, they encourage, and help find the light on your dark days. Our young Walker has restored hope, a new outlook on life and with a completely new mindset and we as parents and as a family, walked with her as she was on the trailer and experienced similar growth and change. It was worth it. All of it. We highly recommend it. read more

My son attended the 7 week program 4 years ago. and I am very grateful that we found Anasazi. It was a safe place staffed by caring people. It allowed my son the reset he needed. Walking in the woods, one day at a time, was very healing. He still needed a lot of maturing, but it put him back on the right path. If we had not gotten to Anasazi...I don't even want to think about that. read more

I attended Anasazi as a Young Walker more than a decade ago. I was a troubled teen, doing hard drugs at school, drinking in school, sneaking out, running away etc. I fell in the wrong friends group and struggled through adolescence. My parents told me I was going to the dentist... but instead they dropped me off at Anasazi for a 6 week wilderness rehabilitation program. The first nights were hard. I went through withdrawals. The staff were compassionate but stern. No excuse I made was going to get me out. I looked around for signs of civilization for days because I intended on running. Once I finished the first few days, I was able to join the rest of the band of girls. I made friends. We shared/traded food and resources. We found a sense of humanity and community in each other. Is there emergency medicine? YES. There is a staff member who follows the bands in a vehicle the other staff can radio at any time. At one point, I walked through a bunch of poison Ivy and the staff used natural herbs and ointments from the first aid kit. It SUCKED. But if you don't regard the experience as a learning opportunity it means nothing. I was being careless. And that instance taught me how to walk with intention and awareness. This all translates to real life situations. Another time we hiked for 10 miles and the water source we were trying to make it to walk actually dried up. So we had to walk further. It taught me that sometimes opportunities we work hard for don't pan out. It's not a time to give up though and to keep going. We had to carry our packs every day. We got a new food pack once a week so the first couple of days the pack is extra heavy. But you learn to appreciate the weight because it meant sustenance. I carried another young walkers pack when they were hurt and when I couldn't go further someone else helped me. The program teaches incredible humanity, humbleness, patience, and authenticity. I've brought all these lessons with me into adulthood. By the time my 6 weeks was up... I asked for an extension. I didn't want to leave. Nature is so healing. And I felt like my truest self there. But alas, my family couldn't afford the extension. I went home and it was hard to sleep indoors and on a bed. Lights at night were over stimulating and I couldn't be around a lot of people at once. But I re-transitioned to real life within a few weeks. The first shower I took when I got home was BEAUTIFUL. It made me so grateful since I'd been bathing in creeks for 6 weeks prior. But truthfully, bathing in a creek like a pond fairy is pretty nice. I enjoyed it. And to boot, my parents were required to do therapy and classes too. It wasn't just me out there doing the work. There are a lot of horrific tales from other wilderness rehab centers around the nation, but Anasazi is the gold standard. Ezekiel Sanchez is a wonderful man and I'm glad to know him. Perhaps one day, I'll go walk and help other young walkers on their journey. Anasazi changed my life. read more

Can I give 10 stars? Our family is so thankful to Anasazi for how they helped our daughter and our family. First, the staff is so caring at Anasazi. I knew it from the time we stepped in the door that we were in the right place. At a time when families are hurting, they come along side you and help you keep walking and give you hope. The program is like nothing I have ever seen or heard about. I think the most wonderful gift was our family relationships restored and our priorities in life put back in their proper order. This gave us a foundation to build on and gave us the tools to help our daughter keep forward walking once she came home from The Trail. It not only changed our relationship with our daughter, but with our son, with each other, and with other family members. The aftercare is very helpful, and the resources they have on social media and in print are also very helpful to keep using what we have learned to build deep connection with our kids. That is truly where you can make a difference with your kids. No matter what problem you face, if you have lost that connection, you have lost almost all influence. Change is not a guarantee, and I definitely recommend researching your options and getting professional opinions. It has to be the right time and the right place, but I can say I am so so glad we found out about Anasazi. Even if your child does not need the full program, I highly recommend their Outward Mindset class for families if you are just struggling and need some help. It changed how we see each other and how we interact. LIfe-changing is all I can say. Definitely give them a look! read more

Anasazi Foundation - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

We have always been a very close family; our sweet girl was what you would call, a "perfect child". Around 14 1/2 years old--after a head on motorcycle crash nearly took my husband's life--my daughter began experiencing depression and anxiety, which, coupled with some bad friends coming into her life, caused her to not only pull away from us, but to cling more closely to these disastrous influences. She started self-harming, and became suicidal. It got to where I couldn't even hug her anymore, we were so at odds. We just wanted to save her life, and she was pushing us away. Within two years, she had been through several therapists, and was on several kinds of medication. We were losing our minds. My husband and I thought we were going to lose our marriage over it. This was literally the worst point of my life, and the thought of all three of us driving off a cliff together was a thought that crept in over many sleepless nights. A miraculous turnaround of events led us to Anasazi. We could not tell our daughter about the decision to send her to this wilderness therapy program, as we were afraid she would harm herself. I don't think my husband and I slept that night before... I kept silent vigil over her all night. That next morning, dropping her off was so difficult. But there was something so comforting and so right about it. These people had peace in their hearts, and unconditional love for the kids that came into their care. That much was clear from the beginning. It was like nothing we had experienced with any other place we had been to, or talked with. As the weeks went by, we had seen such a change in her through the letters that she sent home. The curriculum that my husband and I engaged in--something that is truly different and completely self-enlightening--taught us to have hearts at peace, rather than hearts at war. I learned that parenting from a place of fear, frustration, really anything other than pure love, is a heart at war... even if love is driving the emotion. We learned that we needed to make changes in our home, trust her more, step back and allow our daughter to stand on her own 2 feet and learn consequences. Helicoptering would not work, nor would coddling her. When we met up with her during family camp after 8 weeks, The change in her countenance was so evident, it left me breathless!! She was open, wiser than I ever had seen her, and so excited to teach us how to live on the land. The hugs that returned upon our reunion, have not ended. Anasazi will not FIX our children. What it DOES do, is equip families and individuals to make better choices, find their worth, and appreciate the families they walk with. They will have ups and downs, and sometimes may walk backwards. But in the words of my daughter, "If I want better, I have to BE better. If I'm standing still out of fear for my future, I'm really backwards walking." She will have many hurdles throughout her life--depression and anxiety have an ironclad will of their own--and we continue to have our struggles. Our family has greatly benefited, and so has she. I credit Anasazi with much of the benefits we now experience. But as I said, few children come out of Anasazi completely healed. We all remain works in progress...just wiser. We did not see any pushing of "Mormon doctrine", or any other kind of church talk--In fact, I would call any assertion that there is, plain HOGWASH, likely from someone working with a competitor upset with Anasazi's awesomeness. We are now, and will forever be an Anasazi family. I am so proud of my young walker, and how far she has come. Because of her experience with these amazing people and program, she has decided she wants to be a therapist, and is presently taking classes at the junior college. She also wants to return as a trail walker when she becomes 21. That speaks volumes! Just about every Friday, we attend parent panel, where she is able to tell incoming parents her story, along with other young walkers who've walked the trail--she doesn't like to miss parent panel, unless she's feeling bad after a few wrong choices, which of course still happens. Her faithfulness to this program, and our continued commitment to employ the Arbinger institute principles, and everything we have learned through Anasazi, have bonded us together in a way that we never would have ever been blessed to have experienced. Would I ever go back to those dark times just to have this experience? Heavens no. But I am grateful for the growth we have all experienced because of it. Onward and upward, and forward walking (with a bit of backward walking, just to keep things interesting). read more

I can honestly say that Anasazi saved my life. When i was sent to Anasazi i was living in a downward spiral and needed a major change quickly. Anasazi and the people there, especially Zeke, Larry, Mike and Sterling were loving and supportive of my situation, and I never felt like they judged me or the decisions I had made in life. They only wanted to provide me with the tools and support I needed to make major changes in life. If I ever get to the point that I have the money, I would send all three of my kids, just so that they can experience the incredible growth that I did, even if they don't "need" it in their lives. It has been nearly 20 years now and I still draw on the lessons learned and the confidence I gained from my trip to the wilderness. Thank you Anasazi! I love you all! read more

I was sent to Anasazi in the summer of '99, at the tender age of 16. I had been experiencing considerable turmoil with my parents for a few years at that point, and my self-esteem was nearly non-existent. Thus, I found myself in a perpetual cycle of endless groundings and intense arguments. I became predictably and understandably miserable, passive-aggressive and avoidant... you can imagine the rest (no legal or academic trouble though). On the trail, I conquered many fears and obstacles, both physically and emotionally. I discovered my own abundance of strength, determination, persistence and self-worth in the 2+ months hiking through the Arizona wilderness. While I cannot say the difficulties with my family were resolved at the end of my journey, I was a changed individual with newfound courage, clarity and confidence. For that, Anasazi will always have a piece of my heart, and my unwavering vote of confidence. HOWEVER, for all those parents anxiously reading reviews in consideration of shipping your child away in hopes that the returned product will be a cookie-cutter reflection of your unrealized offspring dreams... take a close look at yourself before you invest in what you imagine will be a miracle transformation. Your child may return as a new person, or possibly as a happier, more appreciative version of their former self, but that will quickly vanish if you do not commit to embarking upon similar emotional exploration. While I do not believe that the parents are always to blame, I do believe that a family is a system of working parts. Just as your home may look beautiful with newly installed flooring, that luster will soon fade if the underlying foundation lacks proper care and maintenance as well. You get my drift... Similarly, if your child returns home and does not encounter the support and encouragement he/she needs to continue with their 'forward walking', a regression to previous behaviors and attitudes may make an unwelcome reappearance. From my understanding, the required involvement for the parents of 'Youngwalkers' is far more intensive today than during my walking in '99, but again, don't bother if your intention is to BS your way through those responsibilities. This is true of any treatment geared towards restoring functional family dynamics, and by no means an indication of inadequacy on the part of Anasazi. If necessary, I would not hesitate to send my own daughter to Anasazi. Regardless of the outcome, at least I could rest assured knowing that I had afforded her the most amazing gift of potential self-realization I could possibly imagine. Thank you, Anasazi. Peace, Chanting Quail Star read more

What makes Anasazi different than other adolescent intervention programs--- They are non-profit. The best interest of the kids and families is the bottom line. This also allows them to be considerably more affordable. They even do fund-raising year round in order to provide scholarships to those who otherwise could not afford help. They embrace spirituality. Having worked with other programs, I saw the difference that made. In this natural environment and humbling experience, almost all of the kids begin to think more deeply. At Anasazi, this is a big part of recovery and study shows that recovery attached to faith is far more lasting. They do not speak in the language of or point the children to a particular religion but use the foundation of the faith that may be a part of their family and use a language that can easily apply to principles taught across denominations. Anasazi asks their trail staff (trailwalkers) to walk the walk. Trailwalkers are trusted to live a code of conduct, even off of the clock, that is in congruence with the principles that they are teaching on the trail. No one will buy what you're selling if you don't believe in it. This is another very recognizable difference that I noticed as I have worked with other programs. Along the same lines, as trailwalkers we were trained to avoid ego trips and power trips. We were told to be careful how we label the youngwalkers and avoid terms like "troubled youth" as we all have troubles. We were told that we should be working right alongside the kids, to set an example. We were to improve our own family relationships, overcome unhealthy habits, and improve our "way of being" or way of walking in the world. As a result, MY life changed exponentially for the better! Most adolescent intervention programs focus on changing behavior. Essentially bribes and/or threats. But this is manipulation and it invites the kids to manipulate---to say and do what you want them to, while they are with you, so as to advance in levels or graduate the program. Anasazi focuses on teaching principles and changing hearts. "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care". At a previous job, I was warned to not ever let my relationship with the kids be personal, to not invest basically. At Anasazi, there are boundaries to be sure, but we were to empathize with these kids, to remember the sacred trust of their parents and their great worth to their Creator and to treat them as we would want to be treated. I was surprised to find that if I loved the people I was serving, I did NOT "burn out" as I had been warned but was all the more energized and motivated. Anasazi has been one of the best parts of my life. I know that it changes hearts and lives! read more

My wife and I turned to Anasazi when our son needed help. Sadly, Anasazi was not a good fit for our son or our family. Our son spent his entire time out on the trail pushing back and rejecting the Anasazi way. He would not eat the food, which caused a great deal of concern for Anasazi, but not enough concern for them to do anything constructive. On our weekly calls, Anasazi stressed that he was not getting sufficient nutrition and they would need to send him home as his lack of strength was putting him in jeopardy. Instead of sending him home, or modifying the food for him, they kept him on the trail and repeated the same tale of woe each week. While I made plans for bringing him home early, my wife continued to hold out hope that he would finally submit and conform. He never did submit or conform. I went to Arizona to spend time with our son on the trail. The ride to get to the campsite was inordinately long and we arrived just 30 minutes or so from sunset. I was the last person to receive an assigned campsite and there were just a few minutes of sunlight available for my son and me to set-up our campsite for the next two nights. Unfortunately for my son and me, he had never mastered the art of "popping a coal" to start a fire for the night. Two counselors came over to assist my son and he finally got the spark for a fire. Had he not been able to light a fire, we would have had to make do without fire. We received a bag filled with provisions for the next two days with the same food my son would not eat. He lost a significant amount of weight while on the trail and he did not eat much over the next two days. We survived the reunion process, and I brought him home to Connecticut. Time has been a better teacher for my son than Anasazi could have ever been. Anasazi was a costly (in more ways than just money) and aggravating experience for my entire family. We will be paying for our Anasazi experience for a very long time. Before you select Anasazi for your troubled teen, do your homework and make sure it is the right fit. read more

I went there nearly 25 years ago. I think about my experiences here all the time and I know it changed the course of my life. It's a cause I fully support and am happy to give back to. Love this program! read more

I am forever grateful for the Anasazi program! It literally saved the lives of 2 of my children. My oldest son, shortly before he turned 16 started making some poor choices. We were worried! We saw the path that he was headed down and it caused us great concern. His actions and behavior were hurting the whole family, himself and those who loved and cared about him... He had told me a few weeks before we sent him to Anasazi that he just wanted to go out into the woods and figure things out. A few weeks later I found the Anasazi program. It all made sense. Our son would be out in nature learning about himself and seeing how his actions affected himself and others. He would be learning lifesaving skills that would allow him to survive anywhere. He would be away from peers that were not good for him and dragging him down an empty path and be able to look at his life and see where he wanted to go and become and make decisions that would provide success and happiness for him. Also, Anasazi provided us, as parents, the opportunity to look at ourselves and see where we were contributing to the challenges he was experiencing. it wasn't just about changing him.... but it was about changing us too. While he learned about the wilderness, survival skills, forward walking, learning to ask and tools to get along with others in a positive way we learned about how we were part of the problem and how to make changes to our parenting style to create a better and positive relationship with him. He spent the first 4 weeks on the trail pretending that he got it... at week 6 we received a call from Anasazi that he might be on the trail a bit longer... He had finally stopped playing the game and decided to take on his life. He told us in a Christmas letter that when he woke up Christmas morning and felt the ground beneath his back and had the sun over his head he knew that there was a greater plan. He stayed on the trail 13 weeks! Unusual even at that time, it was his choice to really get to know himself and realized he had only played the game the first 5 weeks and wanted to get everything out of it that he could. What a joy it was to pick him up and spend 3 days on the trail with him as he took care of us and we continued to work out our differences with him. We all still work on walking forward and making good choices but now we all have some skills that can assist us! When anyone has serious challenges with their youth and they ask my opinion my first response is Love them no matter what and send them to Anasazi it's the best gift you can give your child and your whole family! Let's fast forward 10 years... I had a daughter who was struggling! She was being bullied at church and finally decided that it would be better to end her life. She made a video that she wanted to be shown at her funeral and thank you God, I found it. She had taken it to school to give to one of her friends. When I found the video. My husband and I picked her up from school before she had a chance to give it to her friend. It didn't take us long to make a call to Anasazi to find out if they worked with suicide ideation. So, almost10 years to the date we took our beautiful daughter out to Anasazi. As we arrived she jumped out of the car to run away. She ran for about 3 miles before she stopped. A beautiful trail walker ran with her to protect her and be with her until she stopped. She finally came back to the Anasazi office willing, but not necessarily ready, to go out on the Anasazi trail. She called her older brother who had walked the same trail. He shared his love for her and told it would change her life. Little did she know that day that her life would never be the same. She grew in skills, and an appreciation of nature, grew closer to her supreme being and learned how strong she was. Learned new skills about defending herself against bullies and how not to give them power! As a family we once again grew closer, learned new skills and remembered forgotten ones. WE all learned about forward walking and learning to ask. Eight long weeks later we picked up our loving daughter with a new outlook on life! She came home and made changes to allow the new young woman, that she was, to keep the skills she had learned. While she had changed, her old freinds had not and she needed a new start! A new school, new friends, new sports and new clubs! Once again there are constant opportunities to use our Anasazi skills as challenges present themselves to choose to make a choice to walk forward and make positive choices. Thank you God for Anasazi! Anasazi is a gift to all and especially families facing children that are making poor choices! read more

I feel like Anasazi is one of those places where you are happy and people are actually wanting to get to know you and they actually care about you and they aren't going to force you to take there advice. They are willing to talk if you are willing to listen. I am a young walker. I will forever have Anasazi as my walking. You meet people there and the people that are there all come together and they kind of become a family and they become people that can listen to you. There's no fighting, there is no hate it is all love. I was Soaring Juniper Butterfly and left as Sparrow Soars in Starry Skies. read more

Our son went through the Anasazi program not long ago. It was a wonderful experience for him. He loved it all. He learned a lot about himself and that he could do hard things. He loved all the survival skills he learned. As parents we were so grateful for the experience and the way Anasazi works with the parents as well as the child. I cannot say enough good about all the good the Anasazi Foundation does to help these young people. I wish I could have sent all my children. read more

Anasazi provides a non-punitive residential experience steeped in backwoods camping culture. Highly Mormon or not, (and if homophobic, I didn't sense that) if your beliefs are strong and your kid has learned them, then two months with Anasazi won't likely change or hurt those beliefs. All the other reviews are correct - how your kid's home life will be upon their return is directly related to how much work you have done as parents to help them embody what they've experienced on the trail. That includes recognizing that they're on their own trajectory and their screw ups are theirs and not yours to make better. There are kids who go into psyche hospitals afterward, and those that experience a short or longer term turn-around. STUDY and LEARN, (and not just Anasazi materials: "When a Stranger Calls you Mom" by Katherine Leslie, "Screenagers" Documentary by Delaney Ruston, ChildMind.org to name very few) while your kid is away and you'll have a better chance of surviving the teen years. Our hope is that our kid will live long enough to mature and embrace the Anasazi spirit some day. He hates it right now. He may still be doing drugs - we don't know; he's having sex with too many girls; he lies most of the time; he can't hold down a job. But, he now talks to me w/o hate and can look me in the eye, and I have no illusions as to how long that will last. A note to parents before the Family Camp - Anasazi doesn't prepare you well enough for it, and although they want you to "rough it" like your kid has, it can be detrimental to you being healthy enough to begin the healing journey when you return home. Inform yourself re: backwoods camping and then: Request a cot. Take a travel pillow to help with sore backs and hips. Take a small shovel for digging a bathroom hole. Get some recipes together for the ingredients they have, (and a decent pot to cook them in) so that your food will be nutritious - your kids will serve you salt and sugar basically. Saturate your undergarments in bug spray - long pants and sleeves aren't enough. Our campground was in a cow patty field, so you can imagine the biting bug issues. After two weeks, I am still suffering from over 100 painful and itchy bites. Take hand wipes (to pack out) b/c eating food prepared by your kid's very dirty hands (no real bathroom hygiene for 8 weeks anyone?) may make it hard to eat. It's important to bond with your kid over their experience - try what they prepare for you, let them set up camp, "take care" of you, but reintroducing them to you as an experienced adult who plans for what is personally needed is important too. Anasazi is not a cure-all. Good Luck. read more

I'm not one to write reviews, but after reading the one star about how "they pressure you to be Mormon", I felt it was important to post one. That couldn't be further from the truth! This is not about religion. I am Catholic & my husband is not. My ex husband is Baptist. He participated as well & we were praised because we were there together. Not judged because we had a split home family. It has been almost a year since we tricked our daughter into thinking she was going to AZ on vacation, got on an airplane & brought her to Anasazi against her will for 49 days. It was one of the most difficult times of my life so far, but deep down I really felt we were at the right place & it was the right decision. I can not say this enough....It was the right decision & she would go again willingly if she felt the need. My family was desperate to find immediate help for our 14year old daughter who went from having strong goals & straight A's to self destructive behavior that led to running away across the country alone. There was nobody local that I could find to help us without a month wait. I've never felt so helpless. I was terrified because I had no idea why or what caused such a drastic change in her behavior. I started asking everyone I knew for help & that's what led me to finding Anasazi. They made the process fast & easy & answered when the website said they were closed. There is something special about the people who work at Anasazi. They are so full of love, it's impossible to not feel it. Impossible to not rub off onto whoever gets to experience this place. The making of a walking is not about what you "did" to get you there. It's about finding your greatness in yourself...& when you're surrounded by the beauty of nature & amazing trail walkers who see nothing but the good in you, you have an awakening. You learn to love & believe in yourself. Then you can begin to heal and accomplish what you never thought possible. When I saw my daughter at final destination, she was glowing & proud. She knew she was loved. That's the feeling none of us will ever forget. The Anasazi way has been forever instilled in her heart. She will tell you today that it took a couple weeks to accept where she was, and that this experience was hard, but she was the happiest she's ever been when she was on the trail. She plans to go back as a trail walker when she is 21. Although nobody is "perfect" & we still have our struggles, it is nothing compared to what we would be facing had we not found Anasazi. They have given her the tools to survive "herself". They have taught our entire family how to be aware or our own thoughts & how to communicate effectively. Thank you Anasazi. If you're a cult, then I'd join it. If you are thinking about sending your loved one, don't hesitate. Go sooner rather than later. In 49 days, there was a change for the better in all of us that would have taken years to accomplish, if ever. read more

I can't say enough about the Anasazi Foundation. It was one year ago this month that our son spent 49 days with them on the trail learning about himself and how to walk forward. The trail walkers are amazing people who walk the walk. Everyone who works with Anasazi is amazing and I'm so glad our family found them. It saved our sons life and we are grateful everyday. Right now we are preparing to send gifts to the young walkers who are on the trail during this holiday season. Our son was there on Christmas and was important for him to know he was loved and missed. Thank you Anasazi! read more

Our daughter has been off the trail now for 1 year. She has so many seeds of greatness and is amazing with the skills and knowledge she learned from Anasazi. She busted one of the biggest coals we've seen in 23 seconds just the other day. Thank you again to your organization and all the trail walkers! read more

I know of Anasazi because I was able to do some Trail Walking for about a year. I am happy to be able to click on All Five Stars & write a Stellar review here on yelp! I would've stayed longer than a year if my situation allowed. I'd happily go back someday too! I always tell my friends about how great it was. I tell them that they should either go through the program or try to get hired as staff! Either way, this company will have an enormously positive impact on your life! So, I thought you should know what my time there was like: Do you ever watch people on t.v. having exciting experiences and come away from it being changed? Anasazi is where you get exciting experiences out in mother nature & it's better than those t.v. shows because you can have your whole family come away from it being changed for the better! I got to: *do cool things, *learn new things, and *discover things about myself. 1.) I got to: see things like big rock caves, endangered bald eagles flying above the cliffs, & waterfalls. I got to swim across a river, eat wild mint and wild onions, & climb almost anything I could see :-) 2.) I got to learn: the best way to cook out on an open fire, how to make fire using no matches, & how to carve my own spoon to eat with. I also learned how peaceful it can be out in nature when I'm surrounded by a group of the most quality people I know! 3.) I discovered things about myself like: how strong I really am, that to stay at peace I should listen to myself more than others, & whenever I do something for my family I am really doing something for myself. I learned what I'm made of at Anasazi. It was my cathartic experience! read more

Anasazi Foundation is an absolutely incredible program. As a young-walker (Nov-Dec '07) at their program I was given the opportunity of a life time. Everyone was so gracious to me there. I was loved and cared for through my entire experience. These people have the biggest hearts I've ever known. During my experience there I saw the most beautiful parts of our world. I was given the opportunity to make all of my own decisions and learn from either the positive or negative consequences. Anasazi opened my eyes and showed me that I ALWAYS have a choice. Since then, my life has changed drastically. I am the happiest and most successful I have ever been. Not a day goes by where I don't want to go back to the trail. Not a day goes by that I don't remember what I learned there and how it felt being there. I plan on going back to be a trail-walker soon, so that I can help change teens' lives. Just like mine was changed. I know if my parents could, they would send all of their children there. It was the best experience of our lives and it's the BEST place and ONLY place I would ever recommend to worried parents. I thank my parents every day that they gave me the opportunity to go there. I love you all at Anasazi. Thank you for all that you do and for all the precious lives you've helped save. read more

A great place for a new beginning. A safe place for awakenings and Forward Walkings. I went through the program myself and found great peace and healing! read more

My wife and I sent our daughter here. We were amazed how quickly our daughter began to deteriorate from a logical rational individual to an irrational teen ready to make decisions that could have disastrous consequences. We lost all ability to communicate with her and she routinely defied our values and boundaries. Anasazi was a great challenging experience for her. The trail is difficult and pushed her to great lengths physically spiritually and emotionally. She developed a very strong camaraderie with her band of "young walkers." It taught her many things that I see she is still processing. Most importantly it kept her safe and changed her mind about many destructive things she was preparing to do. Our relationship with her is not magically healed and will require many years of work. But at least now we have better peace of mind. When outside our direct control she is better equipped to make good decisions. There are many great people that work here. They are sincere and have a strong desire to help the young adults and children. Most of the staff are Mormon. This in no way has a negative influence on you if you come from a different background. We are a traditional Jewish family and never felt as outsiders or frowned upon for our beliefs. I would say just the opposite. We were welcomed. They showed great interest in seeing how we relate to the Creator of the Universe. My advise to parents considering this program is not to wait. Dont deny that a problem is brewing. The sooner you can stage an intervention for your child struggling with making the right decisions the more likely you will achieve a positive result. We were trying to let her complete the school year but things deteriorated daily and we decided to pull her out before school year was done. This has created some other challenges in scholastics but we have no regrets. Good Luck to all on your journey. read more

This place is awful. They are unaccredited but have been around more than long enough to receive accreditation if they were legit. On their website they state they have an MD and psychologist on their staff team, but that's stretching the truth. They have a psychologist on their advisory board (i.e. isn't staff) and it is unclear if their MD even works with clients directly at any point. This organization is deceptive and destructive, and will not help your kids/loved ones. Don't fall for it. Everyone I know who went, myself included, developed new or worsened psychological issues as a result of this place. I have been plagued with thoughts of suicide, and I know several people who have either overdosed and died or committed suicide after going here. Instead of sending your kids here or to another similar place (most if not all of them are just as toxic), save your hard earned money and send your kids/loved ones to an actual licensed psychologist who uses research backed methods and knows what they're doing and can legitimately help your kids without doing more harm. Preferably a clinical psychologist. Insurance will typically actually pay for those because they are actually legit and accredited. Please, I beg you, don't do this to your children/loved ones. read more

Our son needed treatment for severe depression and we did not know where to turn. The recommendation was to find placement in a residential treatment center for 3 to 9 months. We were overwhelmed by the immediacy and urgency of the situation, trying to research programs in and out of state, and battling with the insurance company. If you need to send your teen into a therapeutic recovery program, it can be heartwrenching. I cannot emphasize how lucky we were to have found Anasazi. This is not the kind of program where you drop your child off and say, "Here - fix my kid." This is the kind of program that asks you to work on yourself and your family whild your child works extremely hard both physically and emotionally. It's been 6 months since we went to family camp with our son, and he still talks about how great Anasazi was. The biggest change I see in him is his self confidence. He still has his struggles, but he really talks to me now, and he no longer turns to self harm. I feel that he got more out of 6 weeks at Anasazi than he could have at any 6 month residential program. Anasazi truly helps heal individuals and families. read more

I climbed the mountains in Anasazi, and I wont forget the pain, that brought such joy. I was slow uphill but was given a place, to help the slower ones. I was weak but found strengths I never knew I had. I saw places that never existed in my soul before. A barren desert never looked so rich in color and bounty. The earth gave me tools, the wilderness gave me fruit, the night fire gave me warmth, the wind and rain gave me rest, the crest of the mountains made me feel free, the creek reflected truth, the friends I made gave me a song to sing and that endless sky gave my soul, wings. After enough time, I saw that what I thought was barren inside me, was really just waiting to be grown. Anasazi, with all its natural but hard ways, actually set my soul free. I had so many things that I finally let go of, literally and emotionally. I left it and all the burdens were lifted. I went in with some hidden despair and when I left, I had a full rainbow of hope. I left stronger with the understanding that I was changed and could make a difference for someone positively with those changes. I still truly believe when I drive by a mountain that I could conquer it, if I wanted. That all was made possible through the patient lessons as hard as they were and love shared there with the Anasazi staff. I still feel the poetry of it all when I was there walking forward in my life with the Great Spirit and his creations, and with my friends at Anasazi. ~Flower Plucking Young Beaver read more

I can find absolutely nothing negative to say about this program. I would not have my son back were it not for Anasazi. Their employees are above reproach. They live the highest of standards. They provide a safe and loving environment for the young walkers to recover in. The guide and don't push. They encourage but don't force. They offer an enviornment free of all the things that brought our children there. First and formost the young walkers are told how special and important they are. They are never made to feel like a "bad seed", a bad kid, or a trouble maker. They know they are there because they all have a seed of greatness within them. They learn to find it. They learn to count on themselves and they learn to count on one another. They learn that they can make correct choices and that they will make wrong choices. They teach them how to move forward from their wrong choices and not let it swallow their whole life. The learning experience does not stop with the child. It encompasses the family which also speaks to the child that they are not the only one learning and working. We have incorporated many things into our home that we learned from Anasazi. It has been a life changing experience. Meeting Ezekial Sanchez, one of the founders was an amazing experience. He is so real and genuine. He would take no credit for positive changes we saw in my son. He would only forward the credit to my son and the work we, as parents, also put into the program. He is still serves an active role in the program and speaks personally to each parent as they entrust children with him. 2 years ago I didn't know if my son would even graduate high school. Now he is in college studying psychology. He misses the trail. I sent my son to Anasazi worried that he would hate me forever for sending him away. Today he tells me it was the best thing I ever did for him. If I had one charity that I would donate to each year, it would be Anasazi. I wish I know a celebrity that could do the TV show Celebrity Apprentice and win thousands of dollars for Anasazi. read more