The innovative alternative to traditional intervention and treatment programs for teens struggling with substance abuse, depression, low self-esteem, self-isolation or who are engaged in intense parent-child conflict exists as a treatment process outside the traditional clinical paradigm and whose potential benefits make it an incredibly rewarding option for parents attempting to intercept teens setting out on a path of self-destruction.
James Hillman once said that, "An individual's harmony with his or her 'own deep self' requires not merely a journey to the interior but a harmonizing with the environmental world (Naropa)." That journey is exactly what Wilderness Therapy provides. Today, there are over forty active Wilderness Therapy programs in the U.S. with over 10,000 adolescents served annually by the programs. The average candidate for a wilderness therapy expedition is similar to the young man described in the opening images of the essay; they are beyond parental control, experiencing low self-esteem, rebellious, angry and defiant, depressed or emotionally troubled, and often beginning a slide into alcohol and drug abuse. .
The range of wilderness therapy options is vast, and treatment methods and duration tend to vary based on the severity of the issue at hand. A large number of programs exist as long-term residential experiences for adolescents. The majority of reputable programs are staffed by licensed clinicians trained in both psychotherapy and wilderness therapy techniques. Unlike other clinical approaches, Wilderness Therapy focused on integrating proven psychotherapy techniques with outdoor experiences such as rock climbing, kayaking, ecopsychology and horsemanship. Students face these experiences as part of a small group including other students and instructors. Thus students receive a broader and arguably more effective treatment experience than allowed through traditional means.
