Mark Parlett

EDUCATIONAL & THERAPEUTIC CONSULTANT
PARENT AND LIFE COACH

Hello and thank you for taking the time to get to know us. Below you will find some history that has had a significant influence on what we do at Fresh Tracks and the passion behind our mission.

I have 25+ years of experience working with adolescents and young adults in a variety of settings from: wilderness programs, residential treatment facilities, adventure programs, and leadership camps. I have founded multiple non—profit programs for adolescents and developed a life coaching/mentoring program for families.

In addition to my professional experiences, I have also known therapeutic programming from a very personal standpoint. I attribute much of my success to my parent’s decision to enroll me in a therapeutic program and a boarding school when I was a teenager.

When I was a teenager, I was a student in a outdoor therapy program - an experience more than thirty years ago that had a profoundly positive impact on my life. Back then, schools and programs lacked quality, sophistication, and knowledge that we now have. Fortunately, I was able to gain valuable insights from the program and the subsequent boarding school I attended. Those two experiences assisted in developing both my own personal and professional foundation but also a  profound empathy for students and families embarking on this journey today.

Each step in Mark’s life and career has fueled his passion to assist young people and continues to inform his judgement as he counsels his clients.

Completing high school at an early age and still searching for direction, I joined the military, where I found leadership, organization, and maturity. My time overseas expanded my worldview and helped me realize my fortune to have the physical and mental ability to take charge of my life. While enlisted, I was reminded of a concept that I had first learned about in my wilderness program: “Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome,” which continues to be a critical lesson to learn and master throughout life. Neither I nor my parents anticipated the positive influence a wilderness program, boarding school, and four years in the military would have on the trajectory of my life, but they were all important catalysts.  

After the military, I set out to learn and experience the world of therapeutic programs to understand what creates the profound impacts on people’s lives, including my own. I went on to study therapeutic recreation and psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Eventually heading west to work at a wilderness therapy program for underprivileged at-risk youth. From direct care positions to Program Director, I wanted to experience it all. Following the conclusion of that grant I became the co-founder and director of an independent outdoor-based therapeutic program. In addition, I am part of several non-profits, ranging from the United States to South Africa, that work with young people. I have also been a part of leadership programs, boarding schools, and international programs for teenagers and young adults.  

It was 25 years ago that I entered this field and it has been an amazing journey. Eventually, all those experiences led to the start of Fresh Tracks Educational Consulting where I seek to understand, connect with, and guide children and families in pursuit of fresh tracks to imagine new possibilities, reclaim hope, and start along a healthier path. 

The depth of my experience informs my ability to evaluate programs in critical ways:

• Academic structure, including how the program supports teaching and learning.

• Clinical effectiveness, including how the program measures progress toward treatment goals, stabilization, and recovery.

• Unique resource offerings, including how the program supports individuals with various abilities and needs.

• Risk management strategy, including how the program keeps participants and staff safe.

• Financial stability of the program, including how the program employs fiduciary best practices.

• Rightness of fit, including who the program serves best.

I know that these are likely challenging times for you and your family. You may not know what options exist to support you. When you work with us, we can foster hope that change is possible until you are ready to imagine being hopeful again yourself. 

When I am not working with families or visiting programs, I can be found seeking balance in life by taking advantage of all that Montana’s Big Sky country has to offer. I have been an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide and enjoy any and all activities on the river. I am also an avid archery hunter, skier, and backpacker. My family and I, reside in Montana and enjoy the many outdoor experiences the state has to offer.

I look forward to working with you and your family.

Sincerely,

Mark Parlett