Adventure therapy: An innovative treatment for psychiatric patients

Abstract

The experiential therapeutic program described in this chapter has been delivered in the context of the Outward Bound model. Outward Bound is a nonprofit educational institution that promotes self-growth through wilderness challenges. It operates on the assumption that self-esteem increases with accomplishment of seemingly difficult tasks. Outward Bound consists of a series of prescribed physical and social tasks, where the presence of stress, uncertainty, and the need for problem solving, communication, and immediate judgment provides situational analogues for problematic areas in the patient's daily life.Outward Bound consists of a series of progressively challenging problems with the following features: First, the tasks are inherently concrete, manageable, and solvable within a limited time frame. Although the problems posed may seem at first to be overwhelming, participants soon realize that the problems can be solved if they are approached in a systematic manner. Second, mastery of the skills provides participants with a sense of accomplishment. It builds on their strengths and reinforces positive aspects rather than highlighting their failures and weaknesses. In this sense, it focuses on the healthy, functioning part of the participant. The complexity and difficulty

Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Redefined for the 1990s

“…Some are more structured than others, and many usually provide opportunities for people to become involved in a range of pursuits, social activities and outdoor adventure (eg. Stich & Senior, 1984;Holloway, 1988;Bridges & Oliver, 1994). Some may also provide specific services such as an advocacy service and a befriending scheme for particular groups of people who may have special needs.…”

Adventure Therapy with Groups

“…The use of outdoor adventure experiences for therapeutic and counseling groups is documented with numerous clinical populations, such as parents and adolescents (Gillis & Gass, 1993), couples (Gillis & Lindsay, 1991), those treated for substance abuse (Gass & McPhee, 1990;Gillis & Simpson, 1991[Should be 1994), adjudicated youth (Bacon & Kimball, 1989;Kelly & Baer, 1968;Kimball, 1983), clients served in private practices (Berman & Davis-Berman, 1989) and psychiatric hospitals (Schoel et al, 1988, Stich & Senior, 1984Stich & Sussman, 1981. Cason & Gillis (1993, Ewert (1989), Gillis, (1992, and Gillis & Thomsen (1996), have provided reviews of research into adventure programming that include references to therapeutic populations.…”

Adventure Therapy with Groups

“…The use of outdoor adventure experiences for therapeutic and counseling groups is documented with numerous clinical populations, such as parents and adolescents (Gillis & Gass, 1993), couples (Gillis & Lindsay, 1991), those treated for substance abuse (Gass & McPhee, 1990;Gillis & Simpson, 1991[Should be 1994), adjudicated youth (Bacon & Kimball, 1989;Kelly & Baer, 1968;Kimball, 1983), clients served in private practices (Berman & DavisBerman, 1989) and psychiatric hospitals (Schoel et al, 1988, Stich & Senior, 1984Stich & Sussman, 1981. Cason & Gillis (1993, Ewert (1989), Gillis, (1992, and Gillis & Thomsen (1996), have provided reviews of research into adventure programming that include references to therapeutic populations.…”