Impact on Families :: Providing individualized, high impact thereapy to you and your child.

About Us

We provide individualized, high-impact therapy to you and your family. By accurately identifying therapeutic issues, increasing communication, and repairing relationships, we can provide a comprehensive treatment plan especially designed to unify your family as quickly as possible.

Top ^

Why Impact on Families?

Our founder, licensed psychologist Dr. Karen Checketts, has worked with families for over twenty years. In doing so, she has learned the crucial role that the initial phase of treatment plays in helping your family develop lifelong habits and routines, which in turn lead to more cohesive family relationships, better decision making, and all around healthier lifestyles. Our unique intervention style, combined with continued work, can mean the reunification of your family and continued growth and development of your child for the years ahead.

Top ^

Our Team

We have decades of experience helping teenagers, young adults, and families who are in crisis. Our expertise is the ability to identify destructive patterns and begin to develop healthier family dynamics. Remember, no one has to be alone when dealing with problems that are impacting your family. We are here and ready to help.

Dr. Karen Checketts is the Founder and Director of Impact on Families. She is also a licensed psychologist. Dr. Checketts began working with teenagers and young adults in the late 1980’s. She has worked in several different settings and has developed a great love for teenagers, young adults, and their parents. She understands the difficult personal and life challenges teenagers face and takes a practical approach to helping youth and their families. She decided to pursue a doctoral degree in counseling psychology which focuses on client strengths and building on a person’s resources. Most recently she has been working with teenagers and young adults in Residential Treatment Centers and Wilderness Programs. Dr. Checketts is committed to helping families heal their relationships, build a strong level of commitment to each other, and develop the skills necessary to face life’s challenges as a team.

Professional Highlights

Ph.D. graduate Penn State University Counseling Psychology
Member Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society in Psychology
Recipient RSA Fellowship
28 years of experience
Program development for Iowa State University, Penn State University, and inpatient, outpatient and Residential Treatment Centers
National reputation for working with adolescents and their families.

Specialties
Adolescents ,Young Adults, and their families. Depression, Anxiety, Couples Counseling, Eating Disorders, Addictions, Trauma & Abuse, Holistic Wellness, Psychological Testing, Stress Management, Women's Issues, Men's Issues, and Group Therapy.

Dr. Rick Beisinger is a Licensed psychologist. Dr. Biesinger has had a passion for people for many years. He pursued his passion and obtained a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. For the past several years he has focused on treating children and youth with a wide range of behavioral and emotional difficulties. He also conducts therapy with families and adults who struggle to maintain a level of cohesion in their homes. In addition, he specializes in psychological testing and uses the data from these evaluations to develop appropriate treatment plans tailored to each individual.

As part of your individualized experience we have you complete a recreational assessment. From the information gained we pair you with the recreational therapist who will have the greatest impact on your and your family. Our goal is to provide experiences which help heal broken relationships, foster increased communication and provide an opportunity to practice the skills you have learned throughout the day.

Top ^

Our Approach

When looking at research and literature in the field of psychology, the cornerstone for treatment of teens has been extensive family involvement and therapy. In addition, research of current programs indicates that treatment outside of the home, and with limited family intervention, is often not enough.

Impact on Families was created with the intention of helping families build the foundation they need through encouraging parents to experience and understand the treatment, the steps needed to change their family system, and their role in growth and development of their child.

Many young adults are resistant to treatment mainly because they perceive that it identifies them as "the problem." Often they are merely reacting to their parents out of a feeling that they are not being understood or heard. By the end of the week at Impact on Families, you and your child will have a better understanding of the changes that need to be made, motivations to make the changes, and a commitment to follow the treatment recommendations.

We recommend removing your child from their environment in order to help them see the effects of their behavior on themselves and their family members with a fresh perspective.

Impact on Families also provides an opportunity for you to gain a better understanding of how your interactions impact your child. Research shows time and time again that family involvement and change are critical components of successful treatment for young adults. If the family system does not change, it is highly unlikely that your child will make better decisions, engage in healthy behaviors, or sustain a positive relationship with you.

Our treatment team will address your child's larger, underlying problems such as depression, past trauma, and behavioral problems, as well as more overt problems within the family; poor communication, unresolved anger and resentments, and the struggles of working together as a family unit.

Top ^

Therapeutic Modalities

Our program is a 7-day family focused experience. We suggest removing your family from your home environment, therefore eliminating distractions and allow you to focus on one another. Once you have been enrolled in our program, you will travel to Utah and stay at our facility, a cabin located in the beautiful mountains of Heber City, Utah. During the week, you will participate in a number of multi-family group therapy sessions and experiential activities designed to help get your family back on track.

We chose a group therapy model because of the power of group therapy to accelerate healing, develop a supportive environment, and provide a peer component that is vital to effective treatment with teenagers and young adults. Please feel free to call us and ask questions about our treatment approach.

Therapeutic Milieu Model – Behavioral Stabilization, Safety, Evaluation, Relationship Development, Communication Skills, and Real-Time Learning.

On-Site Comprehensive Clinical Team - Licensed Clinical Psychologists (providing testing and therapeutic intervention). Our diverse clinical expertise includes:

Family and Group Therapy
DBT
Motivational Interviewing
Substance Abuse Intervention
Mental Health Diagnosis
Behavioral Management

Family Intervention – Strengthening your family by fostering communication, rebuilding trust, healing resentments, and teaching effective parenting strategies.

Experiential Therapy – Recreational activities, yoga, and therapeutic interventions designed by trained and certified staff to meet the needs of the families, while accommodating different learning styles.

Home Environment – A nurturing staff, home-cooked meals, and a quiet, rural environment for nature walks, fresh air, and rejuvenation.

Top ^

Our Expertise

The Impact on Families staff undergoes comprehensive training sessions and holds professional licenses in their respective fields. Our founder, Dr. Karen Checketts, is a Licensed Psychologist, and has worked with adolescents and their families for over 20 years. We will collaborate with your referring professional to provide effective treatment recommendations. We believe that providing high quality treatment leads to a greater prospect for success.

Intervention is the first step in changing the tide and bringing your family back together. We consider an intervention successful when the members of your family have agreed to move forward and seek continued help. Our goal is to provide a successful intervention and carefully develop a sensitive and thoughtful treatment plan for your family. Each plan will be personalized to fit the needs of your family.

We recognize that each situation must be approached differently, because no two families or individuals are alike. At all phases of the intervention we will work to help you maintain the changes and commitments made during your stay. We also focus on identifying the treatment recommendations your family will need to sustain lasting changes.

We strive to help your family return home and continue treatment locally. However, your son or daughter's problems may be best addressed in other treatment settings. Please understand that some of the problems your child is experiencing could become a chronic condition that will worsen over time. If the evaluation finds that your child would be best served with ongoing treatment outside of your home, we will provide specific guidelines regarding the services they need.

Top ^


	About Us Why Impact on Families? Our Team Our Approach Therapeutic Modalities Our Expertise		About Us We provide individualized, high-impact therapy to you and your family. By accurately identifying therapeutic issues, increasing communication, and repairing relationships, we can provide a comprehensive treatment plan especially designed to unify your family as quickly as possible. Top ^ Why Impact on Families? Our founder, licensed psychologist Dr. Karen Checketts, has worked with families for over twenty years. In doing so, she has learned the crucial role that the initial phase of treatment plays in helping your family develop lifelong habits and routines, which in turn lead to more cohesive family relationships, better decision making, and all around healthier lifestyles. Our unique intervention style, combined with continued work, can mean the reunification of your family and continued growth and development of your child for the years ahead. Top ^ Our Team We have decades of experience helping teenagers, young adults, and families who are in crisis. Our expertise is the ability to identify destructive patterns and begin to develop healthier family dynamics. Remember, no one has to be alone when dealing with problems that are impacting your family. We are here and ready to help. Dr. Karen Checketts is the Founder and Director of Impact on Families. She is also a licensed psychologist. Dr. Checketts began working with teenagers and young adults in the late 1980’s. She has worked in several different settings and has developed a great love for teenagers, young adults, and their parents. She understands the difficult personal and life challenges teenagers face and takes a practical approach to helping youth and their families. She decided to pursue a doctoral degree in counseling psychology which focuses on client strengths and building on a person’s resources. Most recently she has been working with teenagers and young adults in Residential Treatment Centers and Wilderness Programs. Dr. Checketts is committed to helping families heal their relationships, build a strong level of commitment to each other, and develop the skills necessary to face life’s challenges as a team. Professional Highlights Ph.D. graduate Penn State University Counseling Psychology Member Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society in Psychology Recipient RSA Fellowship 28 years of experience Program development for Iowa State University, Penn State University, and inpatient, outpatient and Residential Treatment Centers National reputation for working with adolescents and their families. Specialties Adolescents ,Young Adults, and their families. Depression, Anxiety, Couples Counseling, Eating Disorders, Addictions, Trauma & Abuse, Holistic Wellness, Psychological Testing, Stress Management, Women's Issues, Men's Issues, and Group Therapy. Dr. Rick Beisinger is a Licensed psychologist. Dr. Biesinger has had a passion for people for many years. He pursued his passion and obtained a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. For the past several years he has focused on treating children and youth with a wide range of behavioral and emotional difficulties. He also conducts therapy with families and adults who struggle to maintain a level of cohesion in their homes. In addition, he specializes in psychological testing and uses the data from these evaluations to develop appropriate treatment plans tailored to each individual. As part of your individualized experience we have you complete a recreational assessment. From the information gained we pair you with the recreational therapist who will have the greatest impact on your and your family. Our goal is to provide experiences which help heal broken relationships, foster increased communication and provide an opportunity to practice the skills you have learned throughout the day. Top ^ Our Approach When looking at research and literature in the field of psychology, the cornerstone for treatment of teens has been extensive family involvement and therapy. In addition, research of current programs indicates that treatment outside of the home, and with limited family intervention, is often not enough. Impact on Families was created with the intention of helping families build the foundation they need through encouraging parents to experience and understand the treatment, the steps needed to change their family system, and their role in growth and development of their child. Many young adults are resistant to treatment mainly because they perceive that it identifies them as "the problem." Often they are merely reacting to their parents out of a feeling that they are not being understood or heard. By the end of the week at Impact on Families, you and your child will have a better understanding of the changes that need to be made, motivations to make the changes, and a commitment to follow the treatment recommendations. We recommend removing your child from their environment in order to help them see the effects of their behavior on themselves and their family members with a fresh perspective. Impact on Families also provides an opportunity for you to gain a better understanding of how your interactions impact your child. Research shows time and time again that family involvement and change are critical components of successful treatment for young adults. If the family system does not change, it is highly unlikely that your child will make better decisions, engage in healthy behaviors, or sustain a positive relationship with you. Our treatment team will address your child's larger, underlying problems such as depression, past trauma, and behavioral problems, as well as more overt problems within the family; poor communication, unresolved anger and resentments, and the struggles of working together as a family unit. Top ^ Therapeutic Modalities Our program is a 7-day family focused experience. We suggest removing your family from your home environment, therefore eliminating distractions and allow you to focus on one another. Once you have been enrolled in our program, you will travel to Utah and stay at our facility, a cabin located in the beautiful mountains of Heber City, Utah. During the week, you will participate in a number of multi-family group therapy sessions and experiential activities designed to help get your family back on track. We chose a group therapy model because of the power of group therapy to accelerate healing, develop a supportive environment, and provide a peer component that is vital to effective treatment with teenagers and young adults. Please feel free to call us and ask questions about our treatment approach. Therapeutic Milieu Model – Behavioral Stabilization, Safety, Evaluation, Relationship Development, Communication Skills, and Real-Time Learning. On-Site Comprehensive Clinical Team - Licensed Clinical Psychologists (providing testing and therapeutic intervention). Our diverse clinical expertise includes: Family and Group Therapy DBT Motivational Interviewing Substance Abuse Intervention Mental Health Diagnosis Behavioral Management Family Intervention – Strengthening your family by fostering communication, rebuilding trust, healing resentments, and teaching effective parenting strategies. Experiential Therapy – Recreational activities, yoga, and therapeutic interventions designed by trained and certified staff to meet the needs of the families, while accommodating different learning styles. Home Environment – A nurturing staff, home-cooked meals, and a quiet, rural environment for nature walks, fresh air, and rejuvenation. Top ^ Our Expertise The Impact on Families staff undergoes comprehensive training sessions and holds professional licenses in their respective fields. Our founder, Dr. Karen Checketts, is a Licensed Psychologist, and has worked with adolescents and their families for over 20 years. We will collaborate with your referring professional to provide effective treatment recommendations. We believe that providing high quality treatment leads to a greater prospect for success. Intervention is the first step in changing the tide and bringing your family back together. We consider an intervention successful when the members of your family have agreed to move forward and seek continued help. Our goal is to provide a successful intervention and carefully develop a sensitive and thoughtful treatment plan for your family. Each plan will be personalized to fit the needs of your family. We recognize that each situation must be approached differently, because no two families or individuals are alike. At all phases of the intervention we will work to help you maintain the changes and commitments made during your stay. We also focus on identifying the treatment recommendations your family will need to sustain lasting changes. We strive to help your family return home and continue treatment locally. However, your son or daughter's problems may be best addressed in other treatment settings. Please understand that some of the problems your child is experiencing could become a chronic condition that will worsen over time. If the evaluation finds that your child would be best served with ongoing treatment outside of your home, we will provide specific guidelines regarding the services they need. Top ^