Whole Hearts, Minds & Bodies
San Francisco

Youth ages 6 to 24 living or attending school in San Francisco and neighboring counties with moderate to severe symptoms of distress. These needs range from complex trauma and substance use to clinical depression and anxiety. Previous participants have included wraparound-eligible youth, students receiving tier 3 support, and youth receiving specialty mental health services.

Whole Hearts allows young people to get intensive support while they stay in their communities. For young people and families who may be hesitant about traditional behavioral health programs, Whole Hearts offers an approach outside the traditional setting, one that has worked when other clinical interventions have not.

Youth and therapeutic mentors work together weekly, one-on-one. Youth are usually picked up from their home or school to participate in a nature-based activity with their mentor, share a meal, and return home three to four hours later. The program’s nature-based experiences occur in places ranging from parks close to the youth’s home or school to locations such as the Presidio, Fort Funston, McLaren Park, and San Bruno Mountain.

Young people are matched with mentors who share similar backgrounds, interests, and lived experiences, which sets them up to build rapport and connection early. A mentor with therapeutic training most relevant to a young person’s needs gets paired with that young person.

Whole Hearts therapeutic mentors are trained in the 4Roots framework, Gateway’s science-based method to help young people learn, heal, and thrive. The framework is based on the science of healthy development, which shows that there are four roots for healthy, holistic human development: authentic relationships, nature connection, embodied peak experiences, and helping others. Mentors are associate-level therapists, counselors, and social workers; graduate-level-trained therapists working on practicums or internships; or highly skilled youth-serving professionals.

Young people’s time in the program depends on their needs, which is determined through assessments. The duration varies widely. Some young people need six months, and others need over three years.

There is no cost to participants who are Medi-Cal eligible. The program also provides any gear needed for outdoor activities.

Whole Hearts provides continuity of care for young people involved in multiple services and programs. Mentors meet with other service providers, as needed, to coordinate treatment plans and strategize how to deliver support without disrupting existing care.

The Gateway Mountain Center website will have an online referral form that service providers can use to recommend youth and their families. Whole Hearts staff will contact families directly to set up an intake meeting. Updated information and referral forms will be posted on http://gatewaymountaincenter.org/referral-sf. Please reach out to sfteam@sierraexperience.org or (415)289-9422 for more information.

Therapeutic mentors often work with families and other support networks so that young people continue to thrive after they participate in the program, but parent participation is not required.

Therapeutic mentors help young people balance the fears and rewards of taking risks and challenging themselves in nature. The program activities range in rigor. Activities may be more intensive, like rock climbing or hiking, or mentors and youth may simply take short walks, play, and explore nature in ways that help them foster belonging within themselves.

We recognize the importance of addressing concerns and grievances promptly and effectively. Our organization values transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in all aspects of our operations.

We encourage all clients, staff members, and other stakeholders to utilize this system when they observe or experience any situation that may compromise our commitment to mental health equity, ethical practices, or the well-being of our clients and staff.

We encourage feedback to be shared directly with the therapeutic mentor, but understand that’s not always possible.

An anonymous Grievance & Concern Reporting Form is available here. All reported concerns will be taken seriously, reviewed thoroughly, and addressed in a timely manner to maintain the integrity of our services and the trust of our community.