7 Myths about Therapeutic Wilderness Programs

Therapeutic Wilderness Programs are an incredibly helpful tool when utilized well. Unfortunately, these valuable programs are largely misunderstood. We utilize these programs as an intervention. It’s an opportunity to take struggling teens and young adults out of the environment that is contributing to their struggle and let them refocus and reset, so they can approach their treatment (emotionally or physically) in a clear and positive mindset. No internet, no phones, no contact with anyone, just 100% focus on themselves. Sounds pretty good, right? So, why the misunderstanding about Wilderness? It’s a case of limited knowledge, but we’re here to help. Let’s break down the top 7 myths and set the record straight so you are equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision for yourself.

Wilderness is for “Bad” kids.

This is just not true. Wilderness is appropriate and effective for many teens and young adults that are struggling. Wilderness is group-oriented, allowing clients to engage in their own treatment through cooperation and communication. Through contemplative practices, the students gain self-awareness and the ability to respond to situations that may have been emotionally too difficult to address in prior treatment settings or outpatient therapy.

Wilderness is a Boot Camp designed to break kids down with yelling and punitive measures.

Wilderness is designed to be supportive, not punitive. No force, confrontation or overt behavioral modification techniques are applied. The goal is to get clients in a clear and positive mindset and to provide a platform for a natural internal shift. This would be impossible in a punitive environment of coercion.

The kids are at extreme risk. It’s too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer to be outside all day and night.

Safety is always a number one priority and while risks surround us every day, wilderness programs provide the highest rated outdoor gear and equipment available to ensure safety. This does not mean the clients won’t be uncomfortable at times. Let’s be honest, it’s not glamping. If conditions warrant it, the clients are brought inside until it is suitable to return outside. Many programs have alternative housing, cabins, yurts, and heat walls during the colder months and monitor the weather and temperatures daily. The uncomfortableness and mental fortitude to recognize perceived discomfort and to overcome it is a powerful process. According to a study by the Outdoor Behavioral Health Council an average adolescent is 2-times more likely to visit an ER than a client participating in a wilderness program.

In wilderness, you have to hike all day.

Many of the wilderness programs have a hiking component, but wilderness programming also offers a variety of programmatic options including a residential and adventure combined schedule or a base camp model. Keeping kids moving is good physically and mentally. A planned hike gives them a timeline and goal to achieve. Programs provide a variety of activities, time in the backcountry, respite and alternating and interesting locations in beautiful and serene settings.

The food is not healthy.

Not true. Teens and young adults often enter the program having survived on a largely unhealthy diet of processed foods. Sometimes, it’s not the most popular food, but we promise it’s always nutritious. Bad nutrition is an epidemic in this country for adolescents and adults alike and contributes to the mental haze and general malaise they often feel. Nutrition is a key component of wellness as a whole. All meals are dietician approved and include a well-rounded range of organic, vegetarian and vegan options.

The kids have no hygiene standards and are filthy.

The focus on self-care is a key component to any therapeutic plan The students are required to bathe and brush teeth and hair daily. Students must also have clean clothes. They are still teenagers, so the struggle is real. If students are neglecting their daily self-care, the therapist and field staff will work with them directly on the underlying issue and seek to create a therapeutic plan to assist the client in improving their motivation in this area.

The wilderness staff are just big baby sitters with no licensing.

Every field staff participates in an extensive internship, CPR, first aid, and simulated field training before interacting with clients. All staff must pass a federal background check and most are college-level graduates. Furthermore, every client will have a licensed therapist overseeing their treatment plan and there will always be a medical professional managing prescribed medication. These programs may be administered in the wilderness, but they are as clinically sophisticated as any program with four walls.