We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelby Robbins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelby, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Antelope Recovery came to me when I was working with a local Colorado rehab for teens that unfortunately had to close its doors due to the wildfires in Estes Park in 2021. At the time, there were 4+ month-long waitlist’s and the cost of care was so expensive, many teens who were in our program were left without any support. As we struggled to find new placements for our clients, I began to explore ways that online or virtual programming could be used to support mental healthcare providers in increasing access to essential emergency mental healthcare. This experience sparked the idea for Antelope Recovery, which is dedicated to addressing the teen mental health crisis through innovative and accessible online support.  Our goal is to make mental healthcare more flexible and accessible for teens and to ensure that they receive the care and support they need, especially during times of crisis.

What should our readers know about your business?

At Antelope Recovery, the team is most excited about the concept of embedded care for teens. Stabilizing a client in a clinical setting is not challenging. Where most programs struggle, is providing opportunities for clients to practice therapeutic tools in “real life” contexts. That is where virtual care excels.

The program was developed with the understanding that many teens who need help struggle to stay in therapy. By making therapy more relevant and interesting to teenagers, and truly embedding care throughout their life, we can help a program be more effective. One of the ways we do that is through community programming, and nature and animal therapy interventions. Increasing engagement in a mental health program can save lives! You can learn more about animal therapy through Antelope’s clinical adviser’s TEDx talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqcVuJbnWZU

At Antelope, we also have a very in-depth clinical data approach. In the mental health field, tracking client treatment outcomes can be challenging due to the lack of relevant biomarkers. However, by implementing even simple data practices, Antelope Recovery can transform how we improve upon their program and offer higher quality services. We believe in tracking and measuring the programs’ success and how it is impacting our clients’ lives. Our clinical data approach is a key part of their commitment to delivering the best possible mental health care to those who need it. You can learn more about Antelope’s data approach here: https://anteloperecovery.com/measurement-based-care-is-the-future/

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Having been born in Wheatridge, it’s hard to say! Colorado has so much to offer. I am an avid skier, so whenever someone visits, I try to get them up into the mountains and on the slopes. Living in Boulder, additional favorites are hiking up the flatirons, visiting the Dushanbe tea house, and walking the creek path.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shout to Shari Simmons. Shari is an LCSW and has taught me so much about working with teens. She is a strong therapist, speaker, and trainer in Colorado and Antelope Recovery would not exist without her support! You can learn more about her work in mental health here: https://sharisimmons.com/.

Website: https://anteloperecovery.com

Instagram: @anteloperecovery

Linkedin: @antelopetreatment

Facebook: @anteloperecovery

Image Credits
Luke Schafer Jesse Jarldane

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