Transformational Gap Year Experience for my then 18 year old child.

My child spent 3 months with Free Spirit from November 2018-February 2019 and it was an incredible experience. They managed to individualize the program to fit her needs for personal growth. The therapists are top notch, kind and supportive but firm and my daughter was unable to manipulate them.. She grew to respect them all - which was not always the case back home in Washington DC. The therapists and counselors encouraged her to address her challenges and anxieties head on and because it was 24/7 she worked through challenges in real time.

She traveled to Germany, worked on the Kibbutz, performed in the Kibbutz's Aretha Franklin tribute, traveled around Israel and most important discovered a host of reasons to truly like herself. In addition, the confidence she developed living abroad was life changing. After Israel she felt secure enough to travel to Indonesia to volunteer in a non-therapeutic program.

She is now thriving in college and credits her Free Spirit Experience with giving her many of the skills to survive all the changes that first semester of college can bring.

As a parent I loved the team at Free Spirit. They were responsive and thoughtful. I had the chance to spend time with them in Israel and was touched by how well they knew my child and all her strengths - as well as her challenges.