The show featured traditional African drumming, led by drumming coordinator Laura Bondurant, who told the Register-Herald that drumming has become an integral part of life at Greenbrier. Bondurant also added that it “inspires healthy rhythms and healthy relationships.”

As the show went on, each girl would step in front of the crowd to introduce themselves and the name of the drum. The performers were dressed in traditional African clothing, and participated in clapping, chanting and keeping up with the allegro rhythm that’s involved in the African drumming.

The show was a meet and greet in some ways as the girls answered questions from the audience after their “Welcome” song. One crowd member inquired about how painful the intense drumming was for the girls, to which one of the girls related it to training for a marathon. Though they explained that their hands are worn and calloused, the girls smiled without a care, shrugging it off.

It is clear after this particular performance that the pain is worth the gain for the girls at Greenbrier. From the activity, they benefit immensely from the therapeutic release that leaves them “calm but excited,” the feeling of togetherness, which they explain as being greater than themselves, and, most of all, the great sisterhood which they share.

Here’s a practice session from some of the girls that happened two years ago. Check it out!

…Read more about the girls’ performance from the Register-Herald.

Both art and music allow us as human beings to express ourselves in ways that spoken language cannot. Through visual and auditory stimulation and expression, we can use almost all of our senses to both express ourselves and understand others in a way that may have before seemed impossible.

At Greenbrier Academy for Girls, we take full advantage of the beauty of artistic language and expression. In the last post, we visited the beauty of the created arts. Today we would like to explore the use of rhythm.

Until you experience it, it is difficult to understand just how powerful drumming can be. The girls at Greenbrier are introduced to this and utilize it regularly. Traditional African drumming allows the girls to experience a sense of togetherness that takes away from the idea of self, allowing the girls to recognize the community as a whole and its importance.

Not only is the use of rhythm an important activity to enhance therapy, but there has been a proven correlation between accurate rhythmic abilities and higher intelligence. In a press release published by Karolinska Instituet, a Swedish medical university, research conducted in Sweden observing the matter yielded interesting findings.

“People who score high on intelligence tests are also good at keeping time, new Swedish research shows. The team that carried out the study also suspect that accuracy in timing is important to the brain processes responsible for problem solving and reasoning.”
Source

If a student finds great joy and excels in the drumming exercises, she may choose to join the performance group. The students in the group travel to local venues and events to showcase their rhythmic talents. Performing for others is a stimulating and exciting experience. It also helps to build self-esteem and self-worth.

Using the power of rhythm and music to release inner struggles, relax and express oneself is indeed a therapeutic activity. We are pleased to see the girls benefit so greatly from it and look forward to the continued success as the girls learn to march to the upbeat rhythm of their own drum within their lives on the road to their promising futures.

Among our most popular classes at Greenbrier is definitely our Studio Art class. We are pleased to have a number of trained artists on our staff who guide the girls on a creative journey through various medias. The medias we offer are extensive, including popular choices such as acrylics, watercolors, ceramics and papier-mâché.

To give their personal art pieces even more meaning to the artist, occasionally our student artists can enter and display their favorite creations in local competitions and art shows. It was wonderful to see our girls recently place first in many categories at the art show, taking place in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

For its therapeutic aspects, we highly value the art forms we offer to our students. We have recognized that our students often outwardly express through art what they are struggling to overcome internally. It is amazing how symbolic and healing it can be to portray your inner-struggles through artistic expression. Greenbrier Academy also often has therapists review this art. Working together with the students, they are able to acquire new insights and often take those insights and overcome restraining obstacles to success.

Check back often to learn about the recreational and therapeutic benefits of the integral part of life at Greenbrier Academy: Drumming.

This is a tender time of self-discovery, a time when the girls are able to take a look deep within and begin paving their own successful pathway through life. These activities give the girls a meaningful sense of self, a feeling of self-worth, leadership skills and most importantly a strong understanding of what it is to be a fundamental part of their community as a whole.

Community
Resident activities begin in the Residential Hall. The girls spend a large amount of their time here and are encouraged to bring their own sense of personal style into it. Here, girls interact with their fellow students, engaging in games, watching movies and participating in different student-run clubs that further the Greenbrier goals of personal growth.

Adventure
Experiencing adventure is a key component in discovering self, instilling a thrill and passion for the life you lead. The excursions at Greenbrier are engaging and there is generally a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement anticipating them. Almost weekly, there are activities to look forward to (largely depending on the weather). Examples are white water rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, rappelling, spelunking, skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, boating, fishing and hiking.

Sporting
Sports are a wonderful way for the girls to experience friendly competition, challenge their drive for success as well as strengthen the importance of teamwork to achieve these goals. This is also a great way to instill in the girls the importance of staying active and healthy. Principally depending on the girls’ interests, sports games that girls can join in on are volleyball, soccer, badminton, kickball, etc. Additionally, some student-run clubs focus directly on a specific sport such as the Cross-Country Team.

Equine Therapy
Greenbrier uses equine therapy as an integral part of what we wish to accomplish with the girls here. Equine Therapy is offered to every student and going even further we offer a riding and dressage program. The therapeutic and personal growth is enhanced by the importance of relationship and understanding between the girls and the horses. The girls will begin to see the importance of positive communication, cooperation, trust, honesty, anger management and other important life skills. Learn more on our approach to Equine Therapy by clicking here.

Servicing Others
Helping the girls to develop virtuous relationships with others and themselves is extremely important. Allowing them the opportunity to actively partake in charitable activities with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Food for Children, Bethlehem Farms, Hospitality House, and Walk for Breast Cancer helps the girls to shed a focus primarily focused on self and see themselves as a component of a larger whole – the big picture starts to come into focus.

These activities help our girls become well-rounded young women and enhance their positive outlook on life. They help develop an excitement for life that may have been lacking in less hope filled times. Incorporating these outlets and integrating them into our objectives within our therapies and academics creates a sound approach to healing and growth.

Greenbrier Academy for Girls is proud to be a respected therapeutic boarding school for girls and would love to provide these opportunities to your daughter, as well. Call us to learn more.

• Is your daughter in need of a drug-free environment with a substance-abuse prevention component?
• Does your daughter suffer from family and/or peer relational conflicts?
• Does your daughter face one or more of the following issues: anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, ADD/ADHD, substance abuse, oppositional defiance, impulsiveness, emotional deregulation, lack of understanding consequence, anger and/or attachment issues, or possible issues involving loneliness, meaninglessness and confusion about her place in the world.
• Does your daughter possess the potential to develop her conscience and social awareness?
• Do you believe your daughter has a great skill set of positive attributes, but lacks the resources to overcome the obstacles keeping her from realizing her potential?

If you believe any of the above applies to your daughter, and you are seeking tools to provide a brighter future for her, therapeutic boarding schools like Greenbrier Academy for Girls may be the answer. We at Greenbrier Academy for Girls approach each delicate and unique situation with an enthusiastic understanding built from years of research and, in turn, our therapeutic philosophy.

Our therapeutic philosophy, which is applied to all curriculums and integrated into student life, stems from the idea that the relationship is the most fundamental element of life. Through positive relationships with other people, the world and ourselves, a successful life can be achieved and maintained. Greenbrier Academy for Girls cherishes each student that enters our doors and is honored to send them off into the world with a renewed perspective on life and a drive to make the world a better place. If this sounds right for your family, we urge you to contact us to learn more!

A most recent example is illustrated in Greenbrier’s June 2012 graduation. It was a beautiful and powerful ceremony celebrating the hard work, growth and perseverance of our graduates. During a musical number, a student was performing a vocal solo. As the melodic, expressive music played on, she was overcome with emotion. Her voice began to break as she sang, leading to the inevitable flowing of tears. Several of her fellow students approached her on the stage to embrace her and help carry her through the rest of the performance; separate voices coming together as one to finish the song.

This moment was a true testament to the Greenbrier definition of family and growth. We come here as separate beings with barriers; but we leave here as a unit of individuals united by our love, compassion and respect for one another. The community here thrives from the girls supporting one another with their strengths and in their weaknesses, blending together harmoniously as a community.

Our philosophy at Greenbrier Academy underscores the importance of the relationship in our lives; be it between others, the community or our relationship with ourselves. While your dreams and aspirations as an individual are indeed important, it’s the relationships you encounter and pursue in a positive way that will ultimately guide you to fulfillment and meaning.

We are so excited that Dr. Mark Dennison has been appointed the new Headmaster of Greenbrier Academy. His credentials are astonishing, having earned a PhD in both Counseling and Clinical Psychology. Additionally, he has the wealth of experience in school leadership and administration in both public and private schools that give him both the breadth and depth of knowledge to continue to meet the needs of Greenbrier.

For those well acquainted with Greenbrier, Dr. Dennison is a familiar face. Over the past year he has been deeply involved in both the therapeutic department as a therapist and later in the academic department as Academic Director. His tenure as Academic Director has been met with praise from both Greenbrier families and faculty alike. Under his direction the academic department has expanded to encompass college credit courses, offer a wider variety of classes, a more rigorous curriculum and the school has received higher scores on achievement tests. This year, graduating seniors from Greenbrier Academy have gone on to be accepted to a variety of colleges and universities including: Emory, Brown, University of St. Louis, Creighton, New York University and various others. One student was accepted to every single school she applied to and offered academic scholarships to nearly every one, including a $20,000 Dean’s Scholarship! The results speak for themselves. Dr. Dennison has done a phenomenal job as Academic Director and is a natural fit as Headmaster.

In his new position he will continue to oversee the academic department as well as work with the various departmental heads and oversee the day-to-day operations of the school.

Congratulations, Dr. Dennison. We are honored to have you heading our team!

I could just tell by driving to this so called “boarding school” that it was going to be the worst experience of my life! I mean its in the middle of nowhere West Virginia, the name West Virginia speaks for its self. Why did I have to go? Why can’t I just go back to Ohio?  I don’t want to be surrounded by a bunch of people I don’t know, in the middle of nowhere!

Those were the thoughts that were running through my head as my mom and I were driving to Greenbrier Academy for Girls on July 24^th 2009.  I had already decided that I hated boarding school and I hated my parents for sending me away! How could they do this to me? Everyone else was out at parties and football games and here I was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mountains and Walmart! Now you must be thinking why is she telling me this? Who cares?

Well to help you understand better let me start from the beginning…

I was never the girl that fit in. My parents and teachers knew that from the very start! I had a mind of my own and somehow I had this messed up idea that life was all about me all the time. I was living my life as a lie. I was in such a hurry to grow up that I forgot about what is really important in life.  I was lost and I hated who I had become.  I had hit rock bottom and no one knew what to do. My parents had to make a decision and fast! They could either help me or let me continue on the path that lead to a dead end. They chose to help me. I hated their choice for a long time, but when I look back now I realize that the hard choice of sending their only daughter away was what was best for me. When I look back at the lies that were running through my head that July 24^th, I realize how absolutely ridiculous I sounded. I had the mindset that Greenbrier Academy was not my home. It was ugly and stupid, but the truth is I have never seen or felt a more beautiful place in my whole life. Sure West Virginia wasn’t where I was born, but it was where my true journey began. Greenbrier Academy is located on a big hill Pence Springs, West Virginia. The mountains make it great for morning hikes and cool temperatures. I have found that Greenbrier is not only known for its beauty but it is also known for its ability to provide a place that allows young women like myself to be happy and healthy again. The relationships that form at Greenbrier last a lifetime. When you walk in you are already apart of the community  and everyone looks to each other as sisters. You love, protect, and support each other no matter what! Greenbrier Academy is a place where at first you dread waking up in the morning but then you quickly look forward to waking up to girls running down the hall rapping Lil Wayne at 6AM. It’s the place where you quickly jump out of bed and race down stairs to be the first to get those pumpkin pancakes that Peggy cooks once in a blue moon. It’s a place where you make your journey to the Yurt every morning to African Drum and come together as a community and wake up and start the day. When I stepped in those big double doors I may have hated it, but when I left my heart had a big hole because I left that piece of my heart behind. Of course I missed my parents and my home but I know in my heart that my true home is in nowhere Pence Springs, West Virginia. I know that no matter what time it is my sisters and mentors have my back. I know that even if I am miles away I am still there in spirit.

I graduated from Greenbrier Academy for Girls on December 21^st 2010. It was the happiest and saddest day of my life. But what came out of it was truly amazing! I am happy again and I care about others and not just myself. I have gained the tools that I need to  last me a lifetime.  Yes, I still have bad days and good but I realize that I am human and I am not perfect. I love who I am finally. Greenbrier Academy isn’t just the boarding school where my parents sent me…it’s the house that built me!

T.M.

The messages, people, and experience at Greenbrier Academy for Girls as a whole have had a significant impact not only on me but also on my family and everyone around me. At Greenbrier Academy I learned that everyone has a history and that I should embrace mine in order to make my present and future better.  Up until the 8^th grade, I was a model student and a typical kid.  My parents had separated several years prior, and I chose to live with my dad, taking on extra responsibilities to make sure he was okay.  I was very feisty and sassy, but nevertheless, I was a normal 13-year-old. In school I was an honor student; I respected my teachers; I had a good head on my shoulders.  Suddenly, in the middle of my 8^th grade year, my dad died.  My life turned to shambles.  The three years between my dad dying and the start of my journey at Greenbrier Academy were filled with misery.  I searched for acceptance in all the wrong places and lost what little of myself I had left.

Going into Greenbrier Academy I was self-centered and disrespectful to myself and everyone around me, ignorant of morals, and in an unfathomable amount of pain.  At first I was resistant to the change and knowledge that was being offered to me.  Although I acquired the fundamentals of what it is to be a good person while I was in my wilderness program, making the commitment to implement the change still scared me.  Admitting I needed help meant I would be vulnerable to so many people and situations.  The most intimidating part of it all was that I would have to take accountability for my actions and start building my relationships from the ground up.  I say with all the confidence in the world that if I had been anywhere besides Greenbrier Academy, I would have failed. 

Something I benefited from greatly at Greenbrier Academy was the therapy sessions with my mom.  Prior to Greenbrier Academy, I didn’t have a relationship with my mom.  Our communication was less than adequate and quite frankly, I loathed her.  Together, we learned how to express ourselves in a calm, rational manner and more importantly, how to listen.  I learned to respect my mom for where she is at in her life as opposed to where I would like her to be.  My mom gained a deeper understanding of me and what I was going through.  I don’t live with her anymore, but I talk to her every single day.  No matter how I fear she will react, I am honest with her about everything and vice versa.  Our relationship goes beyond mother-daughter; she’s my friend too.

The unconditional support and love I was given every day at Greenbrier is something I know I will never find anywhere else.  I was treated like an adult and given choices to make.  Many times I was put into situations where I had to decipher between what is right and wrong.  No matter what decision I made, I was supported.  Every student’s new ideas and opinions were welcome and encouraged.  It was made very apparent that we—as the students—made the school.  The respect I was given and the expectations set for me by the staff helped me gain self-respect.  By seeing what others expected of me, I learned to set my expectations higher. I did this not for them but for me…because I became to know I was worthy of it.

The academic aspect of Greenbrier Academy was different from my original high school.  At my original high school, the smallest class I had contained 27 students.  There was no one-on-one attention, and it was easy to slip into the cracks.  When I got to Greenbrier Academy, I was the third student ever.  I benefited from that so much more because even as the school kept growing, the class sizes stayed small.  If I was having difficulty in a specific class, it was much easier to notice and fix.  The approach taken by the teachers is also completely different from a traditional high school; our classes were interactive and actually enjoyable.  The most incredible thing about the academic area at Greenbrier Academy is that the teachers go beyond what is asked of them.  Yes, they care about how well students do in school, but they take it a step further; they take a genuine interest in our lives and well-being.  They took it upon themselves to act as our teachers, friends, mentors, and confidantes.

The most important part of my experience at Greenbrier Academy was the interaction I had with the other students.  Being one of the first few students, I had the chance to see everyone when they first arrived and be a part of their growth experience.  Seeing that change is inspiring.  At Greenbrier Academy, I was given the opportunity to mentor, watch, and help them go through the same things I was going through, and it was very empowering.  I was given the chance to help change lives.  Through those experiences, I learned how to be less judgmental, a better listener, and a good friend; it gave me a sense of self-worth.  Like the staff, the girls constantly held me accountable for my actions and helped me develop the skills I lacked.  For the first time, people my age weren’t too intimidated to tell me that what I was doing was not acceptable.  Regardless of whether we attended Greenbrier Academy at the same time, there is a natural bond between all the Greenbrier Academy girls because we all share in a relational experience.  I built lifelong friendships with positive people who still help me succeed and keep me in line even though we’re not at school anymore.

When I left Greenbrier Academy, I wasn’t a saint.  I most certainly struggled with falling back into old personality habits and slightly stumbled to readjust to life back home.  The difference was this time I was prepared.  Greenbrier Academy taught me how to judge right from wrong, grow in virtue, acknowledge self-worth, be an effective leader and teacher, voice my opinion without being overly bold, respect myself, think before acting, know when to let others take the lead, develop confidence, and practice giving and receiving trust.  Greenbrier Academy gave me the tools necessary to live.  If Greenbrier Academy was never a part of my story, I would not be learning, growing, or becoming the person I am evolving into today.

Maddie, Greenbrier Academy Alumni Student

Thank you for sharing Maddie! We are interested in how our blog readers related to Maddie’s post. Please respond to Maddie and Greenbrier Academy below.

We want to hear from our students and parents! If you’d like to share a blog entry, just email Emily at eloader@greenbrieracademy.com.

“At Greenbrier Academy for Girls, I believe Jenna’s individual therapeutic sessions had the most impact on Jenna. Individual therapy worked best for Jenna because consistent social skills and feeling liked by the community is a challenge for her. Ginger helped Jenna develop the strength to address areas she was not able (or ready) to before. Ginger helped Jenna develop the courage to understand herself, accept herself, and then work on herself.  If one is willing to think on that, it is really HUGE, especially when we consider that Jenna did not want to live.”

What therapeutic components (i.e. individual sessions, group therapy, equine therapy, etc.) do you think are most healing?

Sherri went on to tell us about how the sessions and Parent Programs impacted her own perspective:

“As far as myself, I have changed considerably in how I work with Jenna, specifically, and with people in general.  My outlook, my values, my parenting and people skills will always be a work in progress.  Ginger helped with this, of course, as well as our own family and individual therapy at home. Since we began with Greenbrier Academy, our relationship has improved and will continue to do so as we are all motivated to keep the lines of communication open and work to grow together.”

We sincerely appreciate open, straightforward communication and feedback. We want to hear your thoughts! Who have you seen impacted by Greenbrier Academy and how did such change affect his or her life?