Gain the Ridge Consulting

02/27/2026

Great conversation with Beth Hillman, podcast host of Parenting Post Wilderness and owner of Beth Hillman Coaching, a parent and life coach who supports families and parents of struggling adolescents and young adults.

We explore what made Open Sky distinct and our why behind it. As well, we discuss important matters for parents considering an out of home placement and what distinguishes a great program from an average one.

Enjoy and share your comments with me.

Podcast Episode · Parenting Post-Wilderness: Parenting a Struggling Teen Before, During and After Treatment · February 24 · 52m

01/12/2026

Check out one of my latest articles about what a crisis taught me about leadership. https://www.gaintheridgeconsulting.com/leadership-blog/when-things-go-wrong-what-a-crisis-taught-me-about-trust-and-leadership

01/12/2026

Check out one of my latest newsletters

🫤 Leaders don’t get to choose when a crisis hits—but we do get to choose how we respond.

➡️ In my career, one incident pushed Open Sky to the edge and exposed something as worrisome as the crisis itself.

💁‍♂️ What happened next taught me critical lessons about trust, culture, and the hidden cost of the blame trap.

✅ If you lead in a high-stakes environment, this is a story—and a shift in mindset—you won’t want to miss.

🤟 And, if you are attending NATSAP's annual conference in February, I will be presenting a 90 minute workshop on this very topic!

🫤 Leaders don’t get to choose when a crisis hits—but we do get to choose how we respond. ➡️ In my career, one incident pushed Open Sky to the edge and exposed something as worrisome as the crisis itself. 💁‍♂️ What happened next taught me critical lessons about trust, culture, and...

10/21/2025

What? $13,000 and you tell me "Don't worry"???

A lesson in communication... Respect > Reassurance

I opened a health insurance statement recently and saw the words: “Don’t worry – it’s not a bill.” Just below the fold, I then saw "What you owe: $13,000." It was a reminder of something leaders too often forget: when the topic is compensation, benefits, or employment status...reassuranc

10/11/2025

Got to meet the one and only Michael Easter, author of The Comfort Crisis…. An inspiring book that perfectly articulates the profound growth-inducing impact of purposefully challenging experiences like . May our society not fear challenge to build resourceful and resilient and fulfilled young people. Thanks for authoring this book…🙏

Thanks YATA!

09/04/2025

I am honored to be selected as a trustee for Deer Hill's board. Deer Hill has been in operation over 40 years serving young people by creating wilderness immersion experiences in the greater Southwest and a reciprocal service experience with many of the indigenous communities in our region. Their work is both educational and transformative.

To learn more about this storied organization, it's founders and it's mission, check out the website:

Find outdoor adventure near Durango, CO at Deer Hill Expeditions' overnight summer camps. Explore youth summer wilderness programs for teens

08/27/2025

Insights from Joint Replacement Surgery - part 2. Check out my latest blog.

Real resilience isn’t built from laminated reminders or slapping a sign (or bracelet, in my case) on something — it comes from how leaders empower staff, create redundancy, and design systems that catch mistakes before they cause harm.

Real resilience isn’t built from laminated reminders or slapping a sign (or bracelet, in my case) on something — it comes from how leaders empower staff, create redundancy, and design systems that catch mistakes before they cause harm.

08/08/2025

I didn’t expect jaw surgery to teach me about resilience — but it revealed more than I ever imagined.

Check out my latest blog about it:

My recovery wasn’t about grit or willpower in the moment. It was the result of nearly a decade of consistent effort. A choice, made years ago, to prioritize my physical and mental health through structure and habit.

07/09/2025

🥴 There is a lot to accomplish as a leader. A lot to have in mind. A lot of plates to spin. A lot to do. Every single day.

📖 The list can feel endless at times.

👎 So, taking time to ask for feedback on how my actions impact their success wasn't high on my to do list.

✅ It should have been!

▶️ Read more about my recent discovery and it's practical, everyday application.

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Overlooked but critical, learn about a practical application for seeking feedback from those you are entrusted to lead

06/16/2025

Awkward Spring: The new story emerging in our field and a call to action for all mental health providers to purposefully incorporate nature immersion in your treatment approach.

We’re emerging from the winter of wilderness therapy—a season marked by the closure of many traditional, immersive programs. These programs saved countless lives, but a wave of criticism and vilification overtook the narrative. We need a story that meets this moment— A story that honors past h...

06/12/2025

🤔 A reflection on the new emerging season of wilderness therapy.

✅ And a call to all to engage your clients with the outdoors.

🏕️ Let’s get your clients outside. Let’s equip your staff to feel confident and safe. 🥾

💢 Let’s build programs that are not only effective, but life-giving.

🌻 🌲 Because the truth is: nature heals. And we need more of that right now.

➡️ If you’re ready to begin or refine your program's approach, I’m here to help.

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Since returning from this year’s Wilderness Therapy Symposium, I’ve been sitting with a single word: awkward. When I mentioned this to a couple of colleagues, they nodded in understanding.

06/02/2025

Check out my latest blog:
An Honest Reckoning: Reflecting on the Field’s Response to Accusations of Harm and What We Must Do Differently

www.gaintheridgeconsulting.com/leadership-blog/our-biggest-challenge-is-our-greatest-opportunity-reflecting-on-the-fields-response-to-accusations-of-harm-and-what-we-should-do-about-it

I'd love to hear your thoughts too so reach out directly or message below.

It’s time we take this as an opportunity to grow and advance the behavioral healthcare field and adopt an approach that works to maintain trust when harm happens. I suggest the field adopts a standard, borrowing directly from the medical community by requiring programs to have a communication and ...