What Is Adventure Therapy?
When most people think about traditional addiction treatment, they imagine an office or a house and talk therapy. The participant usually experience traditional therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavioral therapy. This is almost the exact opposite of what adventure therapy usually is. So the question remains, what exactly is adventure therapy?
Well it’s a type of experiential therapy that radically alters the participant’s experiences. Mental health professionals will utilize adventure experiences, usually outdoors, to engage individuals, groups, or families. Most programs provide activities such as rock climbing, hiking, biking, fishing, camping and more. These experiences usually lead to behavioral, emotional or physical changes.
According to researchers, this approach is incredibly beneficial for a number of reasons. First, it transforms the learning process from a passive one too active. This type of stimulation is considered more valuable because some participants learn more quickly than they might otherwise. Secondly, experiential learning is deepened when people are placed outside their comfort zone. Lastly, researchers suggest that being outside this comfort area forces participants to grow if they want to return to a state of equilibrium. When combined with traditional therapy, the participant can learn to work through these barriers and achieve personal growth.
Ultimately, this approach can lead to a ton of benefits that other traditional therapy might not be able to provide.
Benefits of Adventure Therapy
Studies suggest there are numerous benefits of adventure therapy. First and foremost, outdoor therapy helps combat a variety of mental health disorders. Adventure therapy can help people learn to work with disorders like depression, anxiety, grief, addiction, trauma and more. When working with trained professionals, participants will learn to overcome self-limiting beliefs from exposure to uncomfortable experiences.
According to a meta-analysis of almost 3,000 people, adventure groups show longer lasting changes than participants who received no treatment or alternative treatment. Participants struggling with mental health disorders, body image issues, eating disorders and more all showed strong life changes when re-assessed after 6 months of completing their program. In essence, the benefits of adventure therapy are wide reaching and more successful than alternative treatment programs.
What To Consider When Looking For Adventure Therapy
While the benefits of adventure therapy are demonstrable, there are several points to consider when seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one. The first noteworthy point is that not all programs are made equal. In fact, some programs have faced ethical scrutiny over the years. For this reason, we advise all those interested to conduct their own evaluation of any program they may be interested in.
Another point to consider is that adventure therapy is oftentimes not covered by insurance and can cost upwards of $1,000 per day. Due to this high cost, most programs are inaccessible to the average person. If you’re interested in adventure therapy but struggle with financial security, we highly recommend looking into programs that provide grants or scholarships.
Lastly, we’ve included some of the most important questions to ask a program when you decide to contact prospective treatment options. Here is a good list of generic questions to consider along your inquiry process:
- How much does your program cost?
- What type of treatment do you provide (residential, outpatient, wilderness, etc)
- Does your program have any type of patient’s you specialize in?
- What, if any, skills does your program specialize in teaching?
- Is your organization accredited by any respectable authority?
- How long is your program?