Therapeutic Wilderness Programs: A National Survey

Abstract

Thirty one therapeutic wilderness programs specializing in mental health treatment were examined through both a mail survey and a telephone interview. Respondents provided information on sponsorship, type of clients served, outdoor modality, therapeutic modality, staff qualifications, and other professional issues. The results suggested that most programs were serving high-risk adolescents using a variety of outdoor modalities. Programs had a difficult time describing their therapeutic process, and there was a lack of research and follow-up in the programs. The lack of basic definitions of therapeutic, non-professional staff, and the lack of process and outcome research are discussed. Finally, the authors call for dialogue on these and other professional issues related to therapeutic wilderness programs.

A Profile of Outdoor Adventure Interventions for Young People in Australia

“…This study reports on program manager and leader perceptions of Australian OAIs that focus on addressing problem behaviors (e.g., poor school attendance, drug use, depression). Similar to other descriptive studies of OAIs (e.g., Davis-Berman et al, 1994;Gass & McPhee, 1990;Russell et al, 2008), the findings of this study indicate diversity in organizational, program, staff, and participant characteristics. Nonetheless, the most common program appears to be 2 to 4 days long; to involve adventure activities (hiking, continuous ropes challenge courses, and canoeing); and to include group activities requiring teamwork, cooperation, mutual support, and communication, with intentional involvement of program leaders as Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership a basis of learning.…”

“…There have been three noteworthy descriptive studies of OAIs in the United States (Davis-Berman, Berman, & Capone, 1994;Gass & McPhee, 1990;Russell, Gillis, & Lewis, 2008). In addition, there has been a recent international meta-analysis of adventure therapy programs (Bowen & Neill, 2013a).…”

“…Most programs were run by two staff members, with one member usually possessing a master's degree or higher and the other a bachelor's degree (Gass & McPhee, 1990). Davis-Berman et al (1994) surveyed 31 therapeutic wilderness programs, which specialized in mental health treatment in the United States. Participants were typically aged 13 to 18 years.…”

Developing the therapeutic potential of embodied cognition and metaphors in nature-based therapy: lessons from theory to practice

“…Today there is a vast array of therapy programmes based on activities and experiences obtained in natural environments, which overall can be termed nature-based therapy [NBT] (Corazon, Stigsdotter, Jensen, & Nilsson, 2010)-from horticultural therapy in specially designed healing gardens (Stigsdotter & Grahn, 2002), to wilderness therapy in large, serene nature areas (Davis- Berman & Berman, 1994;Russell & Farnum, 2004). These treatments commonly focus on the characteristics in the environment and resources within the person that support health and well-being (Grahn, Tenngart, Stigsdotter, & Bengtsson, 2010).…”

A Longitudinal Study of the Outcomes from Participation in Wilderness Adventure Education Programs

“…and his student Aristotle (384-322 B.C.). Plato and Aristotle believed that young people learn lessons of virtue best by being encouraged into adventurous situations that required virtues to be exercised (Hunt, 1999 The organized camping movement began in the nineteenth century, using adventure and the outdoors as educational tools (Raiola & O'Keefe, 1999 Capone, 1994). At the end of the academic year the entire school went on a two-week, 40-mile journey into the wilderness.…”