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Adventure therapy can serve as a prevention, early intervention, and treatment approach for teens with mental health disorders and behavioral issues. It can be especially beneficial for at-risk youth, who are less responsive to conventional talk therapies.
It teaches teens problem-solving skills, how to stay grounded in stressful moments, and can decrease feelings of isolation. In most forms of adventure therapy, there is a group component that teaches teens how to communicate and find solutions with their peers.
Adventure-based therapies have several benefits that can help teens heal their mental health, develop positive coping strategies, and build independent living skills.
What is Adventure Therapy?
Adventure therapy is a mental health treatment approach that often takes place outdoors and includes physical activities. It is used to help teens recover from mental health disorders, behavioral problems, and substance abuse. It uses elements from traditional psychotherapy in an approach that provides experiential learning.
It consists of outdoor or adventure-like excursions guided by a trained mental health professional. During these experiential therapy programs, youth can discover their strengths, achieve goals, and learn independent living skills.
Adventure-based therapies also aim to help youth solve problems, develop trust, and increase communication and collaboration skills. Some structured activities that youth may participate in during adventure therapy include:
- Camping
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Skiing or Snowboarding
- Surfing
- Mountain Biking
- Swimming
- Rafting
Types of Adventure Therapy
There are three main kinds of adventure therapy, each with its own activities and skills that teens can learn. The structure of these may vary, but the benefits and goals are similar.
| Aventure-Based Programs | Usually hosted near a treatment center or program. They tend to be slightly more structured than going into the “wilderness.” Programs are often combined with therapeutic techniques and activities may include rock climbing, hiking, paddleboarding, or kayaking. |
| Wilderness Therapy | Teens are in a remote setting for the day or multiple days. This combines elements of outdoor activities with therapeutic sessions. In small groups, the focus is on collaboration, communication, and conflict-resolution skills. |
| Long-Term Residential Camping | Takes place in outdoor campsites or “mobile training units” for the long term (from several months to a year). This helps develop positive relationships with peers, face problems head-on in day-to-day living, and deal with natural consequences. |
How Adventure Therapy Helps Youth Mental Health
Some research has shown that adventure therapy can be effective in supporting teens with mental & behavioral health problems. It can help build self-confidence, achieve goals, and boost emotional wellness. Usually, adventure therapies are supplemental support to standard treatments such as CBT, DBT, or medication. This may be a key component of a residential treatment program or offered on an intensive outpatient basis.
It is especially helpful for teens who have already gone through other standard forms of treatment. Some teens learn better through experiences, problem-solving, and overcoming challenges in front of them. For youth who lack verbal skills to talk through trauma and distress, adventure therapy can be a way to work through these issues.
Some of the mental health conditions that adventure therapy can help include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Trauma
- Eating Disorders
- Substance abuse
Benefits of Adventure Therapy for Teens
There are several benefits of adventure therapy that can help teens work through mental distress, overcome challenges, and build resilience.
Teaches Independence
Adventure programs challenge youth to grow, achieve goals, and work through things independently. They may learn vital survival and independent living skills they can carry with them throughout the rest of their life. Some skills that foster independence during adventure therapy include:
- Problem-solving
- Conflict resolution
- Communication
- First Aid
- Basic cooking (e.g., long-term camping programs)
- Time management
Increases Confidence
These programs often get teens out of their comfort zones in a safe and compassionate way to discover new strengths, interests, and passions. This can help boost their self-esteem and find a sense of purpose that increases their overall confidence.
Interpersonal Skills
Participants will usually be in a group where they are challenged to work as a team. This will increase positive interactions with peers and help build communication skills. Some youth with mental health challenges may struggle with trust, teamwork, and collaboration. Adventure programs teach essential relationship-building skills that teens can apply to other aspects of their lives.
Engage in Real-World Experiences
Rather than just reflecting on their behaviors, feelings, triggers, and emotions, this approach engages youth in goal-based activities that let them work through their tendencies in an experiential way. They are also placed in a new environment where they may be less triggered and better focused on the present to promote emotional healing.
Get Grounded in Nature
Studies show that nature can boost emotional healing and naturally stimulate the “feel good hormone” endorphin that helps reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Most adventure programs are outdoors and get youth disconnected from the intensity of technology and modern life.
Teens may experience a sense of awe from the nature around them, which can encourage more positive behaviors and focus on something bigger than themselves.
Keeps Them Active
Physical activity is an important part of routines that promote positive mental health. Staying active helps to reduce stress, ease tension, and keep blood circulating. Exercise gives them a sense of self-control, increases self-esteem, and can be a healthy distraction from negative things going on in their lives.
Teaches Risk & Reward
Activities such as hiking, swimming, or rock climbing can teach youth how to take calculated risks, push through distress, and build resilience that leads to reward. Teens may feel miserable while hiking up a mountain, but feel the reward once they reach the top.
Adventure Therapy for Teens in Texas
At Clearfork Academy, our team of compassionate, licensed therapists understands the complex nature of mental health disorders in teens. Our residential treatment program provides adventure-based therapies to help teens reduce stress, cope positively, foster connection, and develop essential skills to support their independence.
Reach out to our Admissions team to learn more.
Sources
Wilderness adventure therapy effects on the mental health of youth participants. Evaluation & Program Planning. Science Direct.
A 20-minute Nature Break Relieves Stress. Harvard Medical School.
The Effect of Nature-Based Adventure Interventions on Depression: A Systematic Review. Sage Journals.
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas.
Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design.
Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
