Wilderness Therapy
Wilderness therapy, sometimes known as outdoor behavioral healthcare, is an experiential, adventure-based therapeutic treatment style that takes place in a wilderness setting. Wilderness therapy is typically targeted at adolescents and young adults and uses expeditions into the wilderness as a way to address behavioral issues or mental health problems. Wilderness therapy is used in both individual and group settings and its primary goal is usually behavior modification and/or self-improvement. Participants develop communication skills, self-confidence, learn how to work in groups and how to rely on their own knowledge and strengths. Think this approach might be right for you (or a young person in your care)? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s wilderness therapy experts today.
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The most important thing that happens during Outdoor (Wilderness) Therapy is that I accept you just as you are and hear & understand what you want and need. Amazing things are happening to you when you are outside. The Great Outdoors is a healing tonic for our busy brains. Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being. Combining nature and psychotherapy can lead to new breakthroughs, insights and understanding.
— Heather Kaminski, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in ,Work in nature enables us to use metaphor and experiencing to heal and more deeply understand ourselves. Its benefits are innumerable. I offer counseling combined with time in nature to provide you with increased benefit. We will collaboratively design a treatment plan that brings more nature into your life in ways that work for you. This can be accomplished through walk and talk therapy in the forest, sitting in a peaceful setting by the pond, or in almost any way we can imagine!
— Sabrina Merz, Counselor in Boulder, CO
Nature is a great mirror for humans, since we too are nature. It is spiritual by nature and teaches us how to live abundantly and in alignment with ourselves. Nature doesn't need humans to survive but we most definitely need nature. Everything is alive and well in nature so we have a lot to gain from being in relationship with all the elements of nature.
— Robert Watterson, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Black Hawk, COI find great benefit in walk and talk therapy, gardening and activity based therapies.
— Sarah Vogt, Clinical Social Worker in West Bend, WI
I worked in this field and saw positive results for children as well as families.
— Russell Murray, Counselor in Asheville, NCWhenever possible and appropriate, I find it tremendously helpful to have sessions outside in natural settings. There is a lot of research that shows that time spent in nature helps to settle our nervous system, but beyond that, a primary goal of nature-based therapy is to find points of connection (such as metaphors, patterns, behaviors) with nature. These connections allow reflection about the challenges that brought you to therapy and what solutions might exist in the natural world.
— Nick Magle-Haberek, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
wilderness therapy
— Tania Adams, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Gig Harbor, WARestoring relationship to nature and connecting to self. Creating safety and grounding within your environment.
— Nica Ayala, Associate Professional Counselor
❋ Restoring/strengthening relationship with nature. ❋ Connecting to self.
— Nica Ayala, Associate Professional Counselor