Why Wilderness Therapy?
When families encounter crises with their adolescent or adult child that traditional therapeutic interventions have not resolved, wilderness therapy may be the answer. Wilderness therapy immerses participants in nature, pairing it with evidence-based clinical practices to promote deep healing and lasting personal growth.
It is Evidenced Based and Works
Improved Mental Health: Studies have found that wilderness therapy helps reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma. Participants often experience improved self-awareness, stronger family connections, and enhanced life skills (Demille et al., 2017; Gass et al., 2020).
Behavioral Improvements: Research has also highlighted that wilderness therapy can lead to better emotional regulation, impulse control, and social skills. Many participants sustain these benefits long-term (Gass et al., 2020; Mohan et al., 2022, Nolan, nd).
Increased Resilience and Coping Skills: Wilderness therapy helps young people develop resilience and learn valuable coping skills. It also teaches important life skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and communication (Bowen et al, 2013; Alvarez et al., 2021).
Improved Family Dynamics: Parents and siblings (when appropriate) are actively involved in the process, ensuring that the entire family grows together (Combs et al., 2016; Johnson et al., 2020).
How it Works
The Role of Nature: It’s both peaceful and unpredictable
The calm and quiet of the wilderness gives us the space to grow emotionally and mentally, making nature a powerful ally in our personal growth (Taylor et al., 2010; Mohan et al., 2022). Without the distractions of everyday life and with good sleep, exercise and food, participants are more disposed to engage in deep therapeutic work (Hart, 2016; Seymour, 2016, Nolan, nd).
Though it is calm and quiet, nature is also unpredictable, and thus teaches participants to use coping skills, engage in team work, and build agency and resilience. This fosters self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.
A Digital Detox: Wilderness provides a reset
Wilderness therapy gives people a much-needed break from the constant buzz of technology and social media. It’s not just about stepping away from unhealthy habits—it’s also about unplugging from the endless stream of screens and notifications.
Spending too much time on phones or video games can lead to anxiety, poor sleep, and trouble focusing. In the wilderness, those distractions fade away, creating space to reconnect—with nature, with others, and with yourself. Without screens in the way, participants can be fully present, build real connections, and discover healthier ways to manage stress.
This digital detox isn’t just a break—it’s an opportunity to reflect, reevaluate, and develop a more balanced relationship with technology, setting the stage for a more intentional and grounded life (Gabrielsen et al, 2017).
Intentional Activities Create Long-Lasting Change
Therapeutic Activities: Masters level therapists work closely with field staff to create personalized treatment plans for each participant. These plans blend individual therapy, group sessions, and outdoor activities aimed at fostering growth and healing. Field staff provide 24/7 support, helping implement these plans in real-time. They guide participants through tough hikes, group challenges, and emotional moments, offering continuous support and encouragement. Their role is to connect the therapeutic work with everyday experiences in the wilderness, helping participants apply the lessons they’re learning to real life.
Outdoor Challenges: Adventure challenges, like hiking, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and white-water activities serve as a powerful tool for personal growth. They push participants out of their comfort zone, helping them build resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence. Whether it’s a tough hike, building a shelter, or working as a team, these challenges encourage participants to face obstacles, learn to manage stress, and develop new coping strategies—all while connecting with nature and themselves.
Primitive Wilderness Skills: Primitive wilderness skills like building fires, constructing shelters, and navigating go beyond survival—they build confidence, encourage mindfulness, and teach problem-solving. These hands-on tasks reduce stress, foster teamwork, and promote emotional regulation (Nolan, nd). Participants gain a sense of achievement, learn responsibility, and reflect on life challenges through metaphors like “finding direction.”
Self-Reflection Assignments: Self-reflection assignments in wilderness therapy help participants better understand themselves by exploring their emotions, behaviors, and personal growth. Activities like journaling, letter writing, or setting goals encourage them to connect their wilderness experiences to real-life lessons, such as overcoming challenges or finding gratitude. Through these tasks, participants identify their strengths, practice mindfulness, and gain insight into their habits and patterns. Group reflections foster a sense of community, while exercises like life mapping or drawing metaphors from nature help participants connect their experiences to their personal journeys. These thoughtful assignments build emotional resilience and set the stage for lasting growth.
Community Building: Community-building exercises in wilderness therapy are designed to foster trust, teamwork, and connection among participants. Activities like group hikes, team shelter-building, cooking meals together, or problem-solving challenges encourage cooperation and communication. These shared experiences help participants build relationships, develop empathy, and feel a sense of belonging, creating a supportive environment where everyone can grow and thrive.
Not All Wilderness Programs are the Same
Why Choose a Regulated & OBH-AEE Accredited Wilderness Program
Wilderness therapy has faced some criticism in recent years, largely due to negative media coverage of unregulated, boot camp-style programs that used harsh, militant, and punitive methods like scare tactics to try and “straighten out” troubled teens. These unregulated programs couldn’t be more different from the compassionate and supportive environments provided by wilderness therapy programs accredited by the Outdoor Behavioral Health Council (OBH Council) and the Association for Experiential Education (AEE).
Accredited programs prioritize ethical practices, safety, and personalized care, creating non-punitive challenges that encourage personal growth. They are also licensed and accredited at the state level, meeting strict standards for either residential treatment or wilderness programs. Additionally, all OBH-accredited programs are required to submit annual risk management reports, allowing the OBH Council to monitor safety and ensure best practices are consistently upheld. These programs stand apart by fostering healing and growth in a safe, nurturing environment that puts the well-being of participants first.
How do you know if wilderness therapy is right for you or your child?
Ultimately, the best way to know if wilderness therapy is right for your child is to have a conversation with a therapeutic educational consultant who can help assess your child’s needs and guide you toward the best treatment options. Good therapeutic educational consultants will be knowledgeable about what wilderness therapy options will be best for your child. They will know the program, the therapists, and have vetted the safety and efficacy of the program. Additionally, they will assess whether a specific wilderness program has an appropriate peer group for your child. Wilderness therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but for many, it’s a powerful way to heal, grow, and move forward.
Reach out to me at jennifer@teamcrossbridge.com if you’d like to learn more and see if wilderness therapy might be a good therapeutic option for your adolescent or young adult child.
Resources:
Accreditation. Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council. (n.d.). https://obhcouncil.org/accreditation/
Alvarez, T. G., Stauffer, G., Lung, D. M., Sacksteder, K., Beale, B., & Tucker, A. R. (2021). Adventure group psychotherapy: An experiential approach to treatment. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Bowen, D. & Neill, J.T. (2013). A meta-analysis of adventure therapy outcomes and moderators. The Open Psychology Journal, 6 (2013), pp. 28-53, 10.2174/1874350120130802001
Bettmann, J.E., Martinez-Gutierrez, N., Esrig, R. et al. Who Declines and Who Improves in Wilderness Therapy?. Child Youth Care Forum 53, 931–955 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-023-09781-6
Combs, K.M, Hoag, M.J., Reberts, S.D, & Javorski, S. (2016). A Multilevel Model to Examine Adolescent Outcomes in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare: The Parent Perspective. Child & Youth Care Forum; New York Vol. 45, Iss. 3, 353-365. DOI:10.1007/s10566-015-9331-0
DeMille, S., Tucker, A.R., Gass, M.A., Javorski, S., VanKanegan, C., Talbot, B., Karoff, M. (2017). The effectiveness of outdoor behavioral healthcare with struggling adolescents: A comparison group study a contribution for the special issue: Social innovation in child and youth services, Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 88, Pages 241-248, ISSN 0190-7409,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.03.015.
Gabrielsen, Leiv & Harper, Nevin. (2017). The role of wilderness therapy for adolescents in the face of global trends of urbanization and technification. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth. 23. 1-13. 10.1080/02673843.2017.1406379.
Gass, M. A., Hallows, G., & Russell, K. C. (2020). Adventure therapy: Theory, research, and practice. Routledge.
Hart, J. (2016). Prescribing nature therapy for improved mental health. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 22(4), 161-163.
Johnson, E. G., Davis, E. B., Johnson, J., Pressley, J. D., Sawyer, S., & Spinazzola, J. (2020). The effectiveness of trauma-informed wilderness therapy with adolescents: A pilot study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(8), 878–887. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000595
Mandolesi L, Polverino A, Montuori S, Foti F, Ferraioli G, Sorrentino P, Sorrentino G. Effects of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Functioning and Wellbeing: Biological and Psychological Benefits. Front Psychol. 2018 Apr 27;9:509. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00509. PMID: 29755380; PMCID: PMC5934999.
Mohan A, Malhotra S, Narayanan M, White H, Gaffney H. PROTOCOL: The effectiveness of wilderness therapy and adventure learning in reducing anti-social and offending behaviour in children and young people at risk of offending. Campbell Syst Rev. 2022 Aug 31;18(3):e1270. doi: 10.1002/cl2.1270. PMID: 36909887; PMCID: PMC9428765.
Nolan, M., (ND) https://www.openskywilderness.com/six-somatic-skills/
Seymour, V. (2016). The Human–Nature Relationship and Its Impact on Health: A Critical Review. Frontiers in Public Health, 4, 221109. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00260
