Wilderness Therapy

There are multiple ways of how therapy can be helpful and productive for someone seeking help. While there are creative therapies of all variety, the most well-known are art therapy and other forms that take place in the counseling room. A newer form of therapy that has become more popular in recent years is called wilderness therapy.

Definition of Wilderness Therapy:

Wilderness Therapy is the use of complete and uninterrupted time in a wilderness environment within a clinically-driven program structure that provides in-person professional clinical treatment while drawing on Wilderness experience, to provide safe intervention and stabilization, individual assessment, education, and therapy.

History of Wilderness Therapy

Incorporating the outdoors to therapy occurred in the early 1900’s. Two separate occasions in the USA happened to showcase by accident the benefits of the outdoors. The first occurred in 1901, in New York where a psychiatric care unit was overcrowded, and some individuals were relocated to the lawn area. A second event occur in San Francisco in 1906, where individuals were forced to be outdoors because of an earthquake. Both occasions showcased the benefits of those clients outdoors versus those clients who were in the original facility with improvements made faster.

It was not until 1961, when Kurt Hahn started an outdoor education program called Outward Bound. In the 1970’s and 1980’s this program had expanded based on the high interest and high success of its clients.

In recent years, more studies have taken place to demonstrate the benefits of this form of therapy only increasing the programs available.

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Wilderness therapy may be helpful with mental health conditions and concerns such as:

            -Anxiety

            - ADHD

            - Depression

            - Eating disorders

            - Obsessive-compulsive disorder

            - substance use

            - Trauma

All therapy is beneficial to those individuals seeking help. Wilderness therapy can offer unique benefits such as:

·      Strengthen relationships – Wilderness therapy can involve group work which helps to build strong relations

·      Increase responsibility – Wilderness therapy can increase your sense and need for responsibility because it can play on survival skills.

·      Build confidence – Wilderness therapy can help overcome challenges, and negative thought patterns.

·      Encourage personal development – Wilderness therapy increases leadership and work ethic in an individual.

Controversies of Wilderness Therapy-

As with every form of therapy, cost can be a huge barrier. Not all wilderness therapy programs require a structure program where you will be relocated to for anywhere from a night to weeks. This service of full day services within therapy increase the price tag. While some wilderness therapy can be done in a more traditional weekly basics, the therapist may have additional licensures and require a higher hourly amount.

Another thing to note is wilderness therapy is usually used as a complementary form of therapy. This means, that depending on the reason for seeking therapy, a client may have other therapy appointments outside of wilderness therapy.