157: Dr. Fred Peipman, Primary Therapist at Second Nature

Dr. Fred Peipman is a therapist at Second Nature and works primarily with an adolescent all-gender group. Fred shares his fascinating story of growing up on the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea and leaving there at 15 to go to school in the United States. He reveals his unique path to becoming a psychologist, his research background, and how he learned about wilderness therapy by bringing several private practice adolescent clients in Miami to enroll in different programs in Utah in the early 2000s.  Fred shares how he found his calling in wilderness therapy by working with gender-expansive, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and trans teens at Second Nature. Fred educates about creating a welcoming group, dealing with shame, and working with parents struggling with their children.   Bio from the Second Nature Website: Fred earned his B.A. from Yale University in music and psychology, followed by a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Bridgeport. After working in college admissions and counseling, as well as in mental health clinics and hospitals, he went on to earn his PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami, with a focus in behavioral medicine and adolescent mental health. Fred has since worked as a wilderness therapist, and as a psychologist in private practice providing therapy and psychological testing. In addition, he has enjoyed speaking at workshops and conferences