The most important preparation for wilderness therapy is understanding that it is a setting for rapid and lasting change. The goal is to challenge every participant physically, mentally, and emotionally, fostering inner growth, understanding and awareness. Student problems are diverse: substance abuse, depression, poor social skills, or family troubles. What unites them is the hard-won knowledge that they can supersede these destructive mindsets and afflictions. Sleeping together under the stars at night and meeting the demands each day of caring for oneself and group invites an openness, which combined with professional, clinical treatment leads to profound refocus and recovery.

In a wilderness therapy program, you are outside the confines and definitions of your prior life. Here you can find out who you really are, and what you can become. Overcoming a fear of heights while rappelling down a slot canyon, hiking those final miles back to camp when your feet are sore, or making the last hard moves at the top of a rock climb all provide memories and lessons to call upon when making future choices. Learning to trust your fellow students and yourself, to talk through tough decisions and conflicting wants, does the same. The program staff will model appropriate behavior, demonstrate better ways to deal with problems, and keep you safe. They will integrate these lessons and support you as you work through your own issues. There are fewer distractions in the wilderness, and greater opportunities to appreciate the world and others. Here you can become your deeper self.

So how many heartbeats will it take until you are ready to begin your next adventure?

In an adventurous natural setting, your child will receive professional, clinical treatment while embracing the challenge and responsibility of learning to care for themselves and the members of their group. The outdoor activities will be safe and demanding. The relationships with fellow students and guides: lasting. The program is designed to expose and isolate negative patterns of behavior, allowing the student to gain new understanding of and for themselves. Natural consequences take the place of punishment.

A good program will accommodate your child’s special needs while requiring them to move beyond what’s comfortable. The outdoor environment allows them to break out of the persona they inhabited in their social circles at home. As they progress, they will be called upon to share their new skills, emotional and wilderness with other students, helping mentor and lead their group. This requires empathy, tolerance, teamwork, trust, and a vital verbal and physical engagement with others, all of which gives your child a deeper perspective and healthier methods to resolve their own troubles.

Some other benefits of a wilderness therapeutic intervention:

• Solutions focused thinking
• Increased self-esteem, acceptance and respect
• Overcoming profound challenges
• Seeing change in oneself and others
• Learning to discuss relationships
• Creating and consistently following expectations
• Adventure in beautiful places
• Consequences as immediate feedback for behavior
• Time and structure to reflect
• And don’t forget–FUN!

Wilderness therapy is a large investment in a new beginning. It is an opportunity to help your child understand where they have been and decide where they are going. It’s a chance to explore, learn, heal, and grow.

If this sounds like something that could benefit your child, I invite you to learn more about wilderness therapy.