Family Enrichment Adventure Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study Examining the Impact of Trauma-Informed Adventure Therapy on Children and Families Affected by Abuse

Abstract

Child abuse is epidemic in the United States and has dire long-term consequences. Innovative interventions are needed to address the negative cognitive, affective and behavioral effects of child abuse. This mixed-method study examined if adventure therapy is 1) an effective mental health intervention for child and adolescent survivors of abuse and neglect, and 2) an effective intervention for families affected by abuse and neglect. The effectiveness of the adventure therapy intervention was measured by a reduction in child trauma symptoms and improved family functioning, as reported via the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), the Family Assessment Device (FAD), as well as qualitative data gathered via family focus groups. Findings showed that trauma-informed adventure therapy with youth and families affected by abuse reduces trauma symptomology in youth and improves family functioning, particularly in the areas of communication, closeness and problem-solving skills.

Proof of Concept of an Eclectic, Integrative Therapeutic Approach to Mental Health and Well-Being Through Virtual Reality Technology

“…Wilderness therapy is often conducted in residential settings with adolescents including those who have recently experienced traumatic stressors (e.g., Bettmann et al, 2011), and there is an increasing emphasis on delivering interventions within the framework of trauma-informed care (Norton et al, 2019). The wilderness-based activities available to participants variably include hiking, canoeing or kayaking, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, rock-climbing, and related activities (Tucker and Norton, 2013).…”

ACE: Three Adventure-Based Activities to Improve Family Communication

“…Identified are authors who document the efficacy of their programs through participant narrative (Bandoroff, 2003; DeMille & Montgomery, 2016). Norton et al (2019) explored the efficacy of adventure-based interventions with families affected by abuse and neglect. They found that adventure-based interventions decreased trauma symptoms and improved overall family functioning.…”

“…ABC is defined as "the prescriptive use of adventure experiences provided by mental health professionals, often conducted in natural settings kinesthetically engage clients on cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels" (Gass et al, 2012, p. 1). Norton et al (2019) found that using adventure-based therapy with children and families affected by abuse decreased trauma symptoms in children and adolescents; furthermore, families moved from stressed to nonstressed in the areas of communication and family function with the integration of adventurebased activities into counseling. Freeman and Zabriskie (2002) noted that adventure-based activities contribute to increased engagement and connection in family life.…”

Beyond Kayaking – A qualitative investigation of parents and facilitators views regrading an outdoor, activity‐based, multi‐session parenting intervention program

“…receive home assessment and are connected to health and well-be- Watson, 2016;Liermann & Norton, 2016;McLendon et al, 2009;Norton, Tucker, Farnham-Stratton, Borroel, & Pelletier, 2019;Tucker & Norton, 2013;Wells et al, 2004). Camping is listed as an outdoor activity as some families have never camped, and the process of 'roughing it' and preparing meals outdoors was a comparable experience for these families, as hiking activities were for families who had more experience with the outdoors (Wells et al, 2004).…”

“…Survival hiking represented the most extreme form of outdoor physical activity encountered in the literature, with single-day outdoor activities being the least taxing. Single-day activities included a form of therapy or counselling with a physical activity, ranging from the recreational like canoeing, to the challenging such as building a rope bridge across a river (Norton et al, 2019;Tucker & Norton, 2013). The longest sessions reviewed was an Outward-Bound course that separated youth from their par- et al, 2009;Norton et al, 2019;Tucker & Norton, 2013;Wells et al, 2004).…”