A Spring Update from AIM by Danny Conroy
Happy springtime! Boulder is in full bloom as I write this. The foothills are turning green, and the trees are budding. After a long winter, the rejuvenating rays of sunshine and color welcome new life and rebirth. This is the AIM communities’ 25th springtime. It amazes me that most of our current program participants were not born when we first opened our doors to young adults. We are given time to pause and reflect, nearly three decades behind us.
From one perspective, so much has changed:
Our history is our prologue, uniquely shaping us to consistently ask ourselves how we, as an organization, can best serve our clients today. What has changed since our early days?
What started as an idea to provide a place for young adults to discover themselves has morphed into a global industry.
The clients who come to us today have been raised during challenging times. Most have grown up with smartphones and social media, which has drastically changed the landscape of mental health for all of us.
The stimulus young adults receive daily and the sheer amount of input has changed, and it’s changing them. Almost all of our clients report feeling anxious and depressed. Many refer to themselves as a symptom when they first arrive here. ‘I am anxious, I am depressed”.
Many self-diagnose. Many are on multiple medications. Most feel damaged and believe there is something wrong with them.
And in parallel, almost nothing has changed:
Though the landscape of adolescence, mental health, and behavioral sciences has experienced extreme change, here at AIM, our primary purpose has remained consistent in serving our participants, allowing them to achieve their highest potential through Actions, Intentions, and Manifestation.
We focus on what is right with our clients. What are their unique gifts and assets? How can we help them manifest those with integrity? How do they learn to ground themselves in a world that comes at them hard and fast via social media and a million other externalized forces?
Over the years, we have adapted our programs and functions to flow alongside these changing times. Today, we have variable lengths of stay in our residential and evolve programs, allowing us to uniquely provide a path to success for any right individual who comes our way.
This poises us to sustain and adapt to the ever-changing needs of our participants and the industry itself. Today, we proudly offer four unique programs within the AIM family of services, including:
Our Evolve Program is entirely customizable for the individual’s needs.
AIM Health, our fully licensed, accredited, and Joint Commission Certified clinical outpatient program, provides cutting-edge intensive outpatient and partial-hospitalization programming to help our clients connect with themselves and choose new wellness paths. We offer short-term assessments for clients who are still determining the next best step for themselves or their families. We accept insurance for all clients, including locals.
AIM House, our residential program, is designed for individuals seeking support and momentum as they transition from a variety of settings—be it home or college, residential treatment centers, wilderness programs, or therapeutic boarding schools.
Madelife is our creative accelerator and gap year programming, which allows young adults to realize the creative career and education of their dreams.
With the end of the school year, the beginning of the summer, and the seasonal renewal that is only natural now, we feel nothing but extreme gratitude and optimism for what is to come.
We are uniquely positioned with a staff that embodies our work – they are past residents, parents, clinicians, and individuals who feel deeply about ushering in a new paradigm for young adults to thrive. We could not be happier you are here; please keep reading to learn about what’s new with AIM House, AIM Health, and madelife.
Danny Conroy, Co-Founder