Everything You Need to Know About Wilderness Therapy

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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton

Everything You Need to Know About Wilderness Therapy

Mental health hour. What is wilderness therapy? Who is it for? Wilderness therapy is a therapeutic intervention that uses outdoor experiences and activities to foster personal growth and improve mental health.

• Purpose: Promotes growth, change, and emotional development.
• Treatment Scope: Addresses diverse mental health and behavioral issues.
• Therapeutic Methods: Integrates multiple therapy approaches effectively.
• Benefits: Improves self-confidence, resilience, and communication skills.
• Considerations: Assess potential physical and emotional risks beforehand.

What does it do? Myriad questions. – And myriad answers. Are we ready?

Not all who wander are lost, but the question is: Is there a final destination?

For those who are riddled with uncertainty, loneliness, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and other delicate emotional and self-impeding responses to life’s stimuli, the path seems only to bifurcate rather than lead to cathartic answers.

The mere cognizance of an imposed Tantalus-like punishment, the quiet universe’s ridicule of having no answers to our inner battles, does nothing but inflict abyss-deep wounds.

Luckily (or better yet, deliberately), a brilliant concept was conceived: wilderness therapy.

At its core, wilderness therapy is radical, unconventional, and innovative, daring to challenge the boundaries of the well-established alternative therapy concept. Here’s what you need to know about wilderness therapy.

Defining Wilderness Therapy

So, what is wilderness therapy, exactly? Whether you are a young troublemaker, an addict, or just unambiguously swallowed by existential black holes, wilderness therapy uses nature’s untainted, primal force as a healing tool.

Being an experimental form of therapy, it combines the best of both worlds: therapy sessions and outdoor activities, both of which (in their unique way) open the door to self-discovery.

Attending individuals learn to embrace the newly discovered coping skills through various activities like camping, hiking, solo pondering, survival tactics, and group sessions.

The ultimate goal of wilderness therapy is to connect with “the self” by overcoming physical and mental obstacles.

Wilderness Therapy Benefits

Deep Psyche Diving

The beauty of wilderness therapy lies in its simplicity and its genuineness. The concept of “being one with nature” is hardly a novelty, given that we are its intrinsic part, and vice versa.

So, as innovative as it may sound or as controversial as it may appear, its basic premise heavily relies on the “return to innocence” narrative.

When away from all the distractions our everyday lives joyously throw at us, we can finally afford to turn inward and gain perspective—a moment of silence. Participants tread the road to self-discovery through various therapeutic activities.

Those struggling with mental health issues, trauma, and addiction can benefit greatly from this form of therapy. Let’s go camping.

Building Confidence

To all my fellow introverts out there – if there’s anything to know about wilderness therapy, it’s this: it’s a confidence booster crash course, and we’re not talking pseudo, only 100% organic facts.

How, you might ask? The key to building healthy self-esteem is conquering your fears and distorted beliefs about yourself. The best thing?

You don’t even have to force it; it comes naturally. Wilderness therapy is a raw, liberating experience that will test your physical and emotional boundaries. Although challenging, the obstacles to be surmounted are a gateway to believing in one’s abilities.

Overcoming those challenges births new confidence, further strengthening one’s ability to overcome real-life challenges.

Nurturing Resilience

Fundamental changes occur the moment we let go of familiarity and comfort. Painful? It can be; nonetheless, discomfort invites the much-needed quantum leaps.

The ones who struggle with addiction understand the importance of our environment and all its taunting layers. Wilderness exudes authority, and playing by its rules is mandatory. No technology. Primal mode: activated.

The experimental form of therapy minimizes the chance of possible distractions. Furthermore, it introduces peace as a form of necessary meditation. That being said, you can incorporate relapse prevention into wilderness therapy for those struggling with addiction.

Wilderness therapy teaches you that the best way to deal with your addiction is to deal with your triggers. Head-on.

Emotional Apparatus Management

Wilderness therapy allows the subconscious to emerge; emotions and thoughts buffet. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, or any other peace-hindering issue, one thing is certain: your emotions speak volumes, albeit frequently incoherent.

We can oppose the idea of emotional structure (or any other kind, undoubtedly) as much as we want, but we desperately need it at the end of the day.

Wilderness therapy can be extremely helpful in processing our intricate thought and emotion patterns and identically masterful at deciphering them.

The subconscious may be a tough nut to crack, but nature has its quiet ways of enveloping the intangible. By helping us process our idiosyncratic inner equations, the wilderness becomes a silent bystander to our epiphany.

Interpersonal Relationship Growth

Yet another thing you probably didn’t know about wilderness therapy: it strengthens our bonds.

Relationships are the epicenter of our being, and for the ones who struggle with trauma, addiction, abuse, and mental health issues, bonding and trust don’t come easy, nor are they cheap.

Forming lasting, healthy relationships represents a challenge.

This form of therapy is a blessing in disguise for those whose trust and confidence have been deeply wounded. The wilderness therapy program insists on group activities that, above all, require teamwork.

By creating meaningful bonds with instructors and other participants, we can evolve as social entities by improving our communication skills.

Eventually, what we learn in therapy will help strengthen our familial dynamics, romantic relationships, and friendships.

Healthy Coping Skills

Wilderness therapy is no hippie camp. Things will get tough, and you’re to power through it. The idea behind nature’s benevolent cruelty is to instill responsibility and replace detrimental coping mechanisms with healthy ones.

It doesn’t sound straightforward, but you’ll get there. That’s the sole purpose of this journey. Change. Individuals struggling with addiction can benefit significantly from learning (and applying) healthy coping strategies.

Sobriety is a full-time job, 24/7, 365 days a year, year in and year out. Staying on the sobriety train takes stamina, self-love, and unyielding willpower. There is no “last stop,” only infinite momentum.

Finding sober, fun activities can be challenging. The path to healing might seem like an eternity, but the wilderness will teach you to enjoy life healthily—and I love it. When in nature, developing umpteen coping skills is an involuntary outcome.

Personal Evolution

Much like meditation, wilderness therapy encourages self-awareness. The program aims to acquire a better knowledge of oneself and expand one’s scope of abilities.

Now, a thing to admire and know about wilderness therapy is that, unlike other alternative forms of treatment, it organically blends the spiritual with the practical, and equally so.

All participants have a chance to maximize their self-awareness potential. Additionally (and paradoxically), the training equips us with job-related skills, such as a strong work ethic or leadership capacity.

It’s safe to say wilderness therapy provides both “soft skills” and “hard skills” growth.

The spiritual plan included.

Wilderness Therapy Techniques

Wilderness therapy techniques include survival skills, group activities, and adventures. The fundamental transformation unfolds as the impeding behavioral and auto-destructive (or destructive) patterns emerge throughout the course.

Wilderness Program Activities Include:

● Adventures: rock climbing, ziplining, hiking, rafting – options are endless. Any given adventure aims to push our physical and emotional limits. (bring the right shoes)
● Expeditions: Often conducted in groups, this type of activity includes survival or exploratory expeditions. It encourages cooperation and teamwork, addresses trust issues, and develops survival skills.
● Recreational activities: Designed to ignite the flame of self-discovery, these outdoor activities provide time for recovery and constructive inner monologues away from one’s usual setting.
● Games: This sounds childish, but it’s far from it. Wilderness therapy encourages problem-solving games that can improve our self-esteem, leadership skills, and confidence by helping us conquer obstacles and find correct solutions.

Does It Work?

Although initially considered controversial, sufficient evidence suggests that wilderness combined with adventure therapy works.

In attempts to find the “golden ratio” for wilderness therapy, the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center was established.

(previously known as the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Cooperative) Wilderness therapy is now used to treat the following conditions:

• Substance abuse
• Eating disorders
• Anxiety
• ADHD
• Depression
• OCD
• Trauma
• Asperger’s syndrome

It is also believed to be efficient in addressing reckless, impulsive, and rebellious behavior in adolescents, as well as low self-esteem and avoidant patterns.

Heads-up

However, there are drawbacks. Wilderness therapy alone may not be as effective as one would hope, as it is often used as a complementary form of treatment. Additionally, compared to other alternative forms of treatment, it can be costly and lengthy. (up to several months)

Why Do People Go To Wilderness Therapy?

Individuals often seek wilderness therapy as a potent personal growth and healing tool. It provides an immersive environment that fosters resilience, self-reliance, and connection with nature.

The challenging yet supportive setting of wilderness therapy can stimulate introspection and emotional growth, allowing individuals to address underlying issues in a safe and therapeutic context.

By participating in team activities and overcoming physical challenges, they cultivate interpersonal skills and self-confidence.

As Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, rightly points out, wilderness therapy is about survival in the wild and discovering inner strength and capacity for change.

Wrapping Up

Wilderness therapy has emerged as an effective method for fostering growth, change, and emotional development. Its treatment scope is broad, addressing an array of mental health and behavioral issues.

It is designed to help individuals struggling with conditions like depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, substance abuse, anger management problems, and more.

The therapeutic methods employed in wilderness therapy amalgamate approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, family systems theory, and experiential learning for maximum efficacy.

One significant benefit of wilderness therapy is its impact on self-confidence, resilience, and communication skills. Participants are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and face challenges head-on, enhancing their self-esteem and resilience.

Additionally, team activities and group discussions are integral to the program, aiding in developing effective communication and interpersonal skills.

However, before embarking on a wilderness therapy journey, it is crucial to consider potential physical and emotional risks.

A thorough assessment must be undertaken to ensure that the participant is physically capable and emotionally prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

Nevertheless, with appropriate safeguards in place, wilderness therapy can be an incredibly transformative experience.

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