FAQ

Where we started…

Atlas Life (formerly Pacia Life) was created in 2013 in response to founder Randy Oakley’s personal experience working with foster children, in boarding schools, and founding wilderness therapy programs in both Utah and Costa Rica.

His passion for research in grit, resiliency, and authentic happiness around the world began to form the direction for Atlas Life. He saw a need to help young adults build self-efficacy in order to thrive as they enter adulthood.

Today, Atlas Life has grown into an international organization servicing young adult needs of all types and backgrounds. Atlas Life was founded on a desire to not only see every young adult survive but to thrive.

Each student’s life will look entirely different based on where they’re starting and what their goals are.

At the beginning of each week, every student will roadmap their days with a life coach and establish a daily routine within their shared calendar.

Common items in a day would be: Wake up early. Make breakfast for myself. Meet my personal trainer at the gym, and then have a coaching session either in the office or somewhere in the city. This session could be about mindfulness, financial independence, gaining social confidence, doing an adventure activity, or setting goals for myself. It’s common to have 2-3 life coaching sessions per day including weekends, intermixed with assignments, reading requirements, or video follow ups.

It’s common for students to have part time or full time jobs if they are not full time students. Life coaches will adjust sessions to accommodate the student’s work or school schedule.

The average length of stay is largely dependent upon the specific goals the life coaching student is pursuing. We can answer this question more fully after the student interviews have taken place in the admission process.

Nonetheless, in our locations located in the United States - where young adults engage in everything from formal education to creating self-reliance - the average time of our young adults living in housing provided by Atlas Life is 8 to 18 months.

While many of our students arrive and hit the ground running, outcome studies since 2013, combined with additional experience have shown us that most young adults start to really move forward in months four, five, six and seven on average.

Eventually, we hope to graduate all of our students to step-up services or directly into full life through self-reliance, vocation, college education, starting you
own business, or any dream that moves you forward!

When a student is stepping up, tuition is dropped and in the last stages is sometimes moved to an hourly retainer system.

Step up services that students or guardians choose to continue after moving out of our housing.

We do this when students have proven to themselves, their families, and our team of coaches that they have mastered the skills to move forward without us. Moving to step-up services is the process of eventually needing less help from our coaches. This looks like living in non-Atlas housing, going to school full-time, having a full-time job, and paying for their own rent and groceries. The key is in the name “Step-Up” services. There is no shortcut, and this isn’t a discount. This is the celebratory chapter of no longer needing full coaching services. Therefore, you can set the amount of services you want for yourself or your young adult.

Unless pre-arrangements have been made and agreed upon in advance, each student is expected to commit to at least one semester (4 months) at Atlas Life. This three-month plus 30 day notification commitment is based on historical outcomes and evidence which suggests that a person must engage in weeks of patterns of thought and action in order to form healthy, positive habits.

And, “Rome wasn’t built in a day!”

We can share that sometimes parents think life long changes are going to take place in 30 days. And, students who are not committed to at least one semester or more, without a great next step plan in place already, don’t typically do well.

As an example, a student looking for a summer experience before returning to College in Fall is a great opportunity! As student who wants to come and “try this out for a few weeks” should call us so we can review what might work and what might work. (Think, I’m going college for a semester, pay tuition, get housing, but you are only going to give it a try.

Call us if you have questions or need accommodation around this requirement and we’d love to work with you.

Upon arrival, we ask all of our life coaching students to refrain from “distractions” for the first 90 days. Our systems and research have found that much of our outer success comes from personal habits, nutrition, exercise, meditation, visualization, daily education, etc.

After 90 days, we will have a team meeting to discuss how you are achieving your primary goals and if introducing these things back into your life will change those. Our goal is to minimize distractions in the first few months until other key elements and personal daily success habits are in place.

Upon arrival, you will be assigned a room and roommate. As time goes on, if you find another student that you really like, talk to your coaches to see if a room shift is possible.

After the first 90 days, (and after each student has solid, measurable progress moving in their own Tatori goals) we encourage dating, social life in the community, and more! Atlas Life coaches know that the friends you hang out with the most are a major part of predicting your future success. In fact, if dating and having relationships is important to you, we want to help you!

One rule: Atlas Life students are highly discouraged from dating other Atlas Life students. You have the whole world to date! Please don't interfere with the process of other students.

It depends. If sobriety is an important part of your life and you want that accountability for yourself or your young adult, we are more than happy to assist you in that process. We drug test in house with THC or multi-panel drug tests. If legal substances are not a negative component of your life, after 90 days students are welcome to engage in legal activities. We have learned that in order to benefit from the Atlas life coaching method illegal drugs have no place. Additionally, Atlas networks with a broad range of businesses and organizations (international GAP partners, apprenticeships in the local communities, colleges, landlords, etc.) and has a reputation of having quality students who have been screened and are ready to work without issue.

1. If a student needs a higher level of clinical care due to personal needs, self harm, threat of harm to others or causing property damage.

2. If a student's behavior is negatively impacting other students or people in the community such as our neighbors.

3. Trouble with the law will be reviewed.

4. If basic levels of self-care are not upheld.

5. If the safety of self or others is not maintained.

6. Damage to Atlas property or damage to the community.

7. Parental support is not strong enough for the process or parents withheld or lied in the admission process in order to get their student admitted.

That depends on the location. Please call us to review.

In some locations where a car is allowed, it is typically discouraged for the first 90 days while self-reliance via public transit and utilizing the assistance of those around you are encouraged. See the TRAX map of Salt Lake City and the many stations located next to Atlas housing.

Atlas Life does have a strict policy about students driving other students. There are liabilities that prohibit this. Violation of this rule will result in car keys and car being removed until integrity and trust can be re-established.

We love to do business coaching and assist those seeking to start their own businesses, or participate in international cultural immersion experiences, career-based apprenticeships, etc. If you know what it is you want to do, that makes your process a lot easier. Your life coaching program or Tatori is tailored to whatever it is you might be interested in. Your life coaches will build a life plan and the scaffolding for you to achieve whatever your dream is, big or small.

We live in a world where pictures, social media, and camera’s are used everywhere.

Atlas Life reserves the right to utilize and publish your photograph for marketing and promotional purposes, unless otherwise arranged. By engaging with Atlas Life's services or participating in our events, you consent to the potential use of your image in our marketing materials, both online and offline. Should you wish to opt out or discuss alternative arrangements regarding the use of your picture, please contact our admissions department, additionally you can politely request that your photo isn’t taken or step out of any pictures as well.