Bangor counseling org uses unique challenges for therapy

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Bangor counseling org uses unique challenges for therapy

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – For the past week, residents of Community Health and Counseling Services’ (CHCS) group homes have been pounding the Bangor pavement completing unique challenges for their version of the “Amazing Race.”

”What we’re doing is we’re trying to get engagement in the community. A lot of our folks, they live in group homes, and they don’t necessarily get out as often as they would benefit from. So, in order to make it fun to get out and explore their community, we’ve set up this race,” explains Recreation Therapist Chris Jordan on CHCS’ inaugural Amazing Race.

The rain cleared up just in time Thursday for their scavenger hunt.

Groups were tasked with deciphering clue cards to determine the desired locations and use GPS technology for directions.

”They need to work on using a smartphone for navigation, finding ‘What is this riddle telling me? What’s the clue? Where do I need to go?’” says Jordan. “And so, they’re using their problem solving, they’re communicating. I’m sure there’s moments of frustration and working through it, so it’s really that benefit.”

The first stop for the Amazing Race scavenger hunt was the Bangor Police Department.

The mission? Find Bangor PD’s mascot: The Duck of Justice. Jordan goes on to describe the work behind the search: “The clue doesn’t say go get the Duck of Justice. It’s kind of a riddle, it suggests it, and they have to figure out what that means.”

To finish off the scavenger hunt, the final stop was Frank’s Bake Shop.

Of course, there were sweet treats waiting for them as they crossed the finish line!

David Stillwell has been utilizing CHCS services for the past three years, who said the scavenger hunt was a great time: “I enjoy it a lot, spending time with other people.”

Another CHCS resident of about seven years, Lynn Borgerson, said Amazing Race has allowed her to visit places in town she has never gone to before.

Jordan says events like the Amazing Race are a great form of recreation therapy, which is a way to learn life skills through fun activities and getting out into the community.

”This is part of treatment. The goal is to help people maximize their independence and get to a point where they can live on their own potentially. So, it kind of really just builds that foundation of confidence and awareness to the point where they can do that,” Jordan described.

”We have so much communication between us!” Borgerson commented on the skills used Thursday.

While some clues seemed challenging, the participants said the difficulty made it that more fulfilling when they finally cracked the code.

”It’s overwhelming, but it’s very satisfying to be able to do something like this,” said Borgerson.

”They were challenging, but they weren’t impossible,” Stillwell said of the clues.

CHCS’ Amazing Race ends Friday, and whoever gathered the most points throughout this week will be win a fun night of dinner and a movie!

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