Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors

The cost of wilderness therapy treatment is expensive, yet several organizations will help. In this second of two episodes, we hear stories from leaders of non-profit organizations that help families by providing funds to help pay for wilderness therapy treatment. We talk with John Hunt from Jason William Hunt Foundation , Liz Bounds from the Parker Bounds Johnson Foundation , and Derek Daley from...

The cost of wilderness therapy treatment is expensive, yet several organizations will help. In this episode, we hear stories from leaders of non-profit organizations that help families by providing funds to help pay for wilderness therapy treatment. We talk with Debbie Roelands from Skys the Limit Fund , Brad Matheson from Choose Mental Health , and Miriam Miller from Charles N Miller Scholarship...

Phil Stallard is the founder of the New Wave Wild Project in Ireland. Philip is the first person outside of the U.S. to become a Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist. Philip's journey into the field was filled was paved with the intention of legitimizing the Adventure Therapy profession in Ireland. He shares his story of how he became interested in the field and why he choose to become a clinica...

Harpa Erlendsdottir is a clinical occupational therapist and the General Manager of the Icelandic Adventure Therapy Association. Growing up in the majestic beauty of Iceland inspired Harpa to become involved in the field. She shares her story of being involved in Scouting and learning about Experiential Education. She would travel to the U.S. to take a course at Project Adventure to learn more. Sh...

Andy Hardie is the Clinical Manager of Venture Trust in the United Kingdom. Andy shares his journey into the field, which began when heading to the only university that accepted him to study Outdoor Leadership. He would go onto work at the original Outward Bound school. Andy shares how Venture Trust began as a 21-day "boot camp" style wilderness therapy program and has evolved to be a social chang...

Cindy Ross is the author of the new book, "Walking Toward Peace- Veterans Healing on America's Trails," which profiles combat veterans who found healing through the outdoors as well as long-distance expeditions. She shares her journey of writing the book and what she learned from veterans. Cindy Ross has written numerous articles and books, including "The World is Our Classroom- How One Family Use...

Jorge Venceslau is the program director and co-founder of Age of Discoveries , located in Portugal. Jorge's journey into the field began in his early 20's when he struggled with several issues and found wilderness to be a place of healing. He would become a recovery coach and worked in programs worldwide, including The Crossroads Center in Antigua. He always dreamed of starting his own program, an...

Dr. Virginie Gargano is the founder of Dehors an adventure therapy training program located in Quebec, Canada. She is also a professor of Social Work at Université Laval and is a researcher, teacher, and practitioner of adventure therapy. Virginie shares her journey from being a guide at a program that worked with adjudicated youth in the outdoors to going on to get her Masters and Doctorate in So...

Graham Pringle is the program director at Youth Flourish Outdoors (YFO) in Australia. Graham shares his story of how he became involved in outdoor therapy after a stint in the military and why it is referred to as Bush Adventure Therapy. Graham compares the similarities and differences in how outdoor therapies are practiced in his country versus the US. He shares how YFO works with traumatized you...

Ray Burke is the founder of Active Connections in Ireland. Ray shares his story of growing up in Dublin and finding solace in the woods from the challenges of the city. He would venture to the US to work at summer camps and Outward Bound in Oregon. He learned about wilderness therapy at Catherine Freer Wilderness and returned to Ireland for more education so he could bring adventure therapy home....

Natalia Ruiz de Cortázar Gracia is a psychologist and general director of Experientia located in Spain. Natalia shares how she first heard about wilderness therapy when she was a graduate student in the U.S. and describes how she worked at Wingate and Anasazi. After two years she returned to Spain to work at Experientia. Natalia describes how Experientia is helping young people with mental health...

This second research episode examines a recently published qualitative study regarding transporting teens to wilderness therapy programs with the researcher Dr. Will Dobud, an affiliated research scientist at the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center at the UNH. The study is titled "Experiences of secure transport in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare- A Narrative Inquiry." Dr. Dobud talks about this st...

This episode examines research studies regarding transporting teens to wilderness therapy programs with Dr. Christine Norton, a research scientist at the OBH Center at UNH. Transporting unwilling participants to wilderness therapy programs has been referred to as "escorting," "gooning," as well as "legal kidnapping" and is one of the more controversial aspects of the field. Dr. Norton reviews tran...

In this episode, Dr. Mike Gass talks about research in the field of wilderness therapy that is occurring at the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center ( obhcenter.org ) at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Gass reviews the history of the center, its leadership team, and the researchers. He shares how researchers address biases and how the center is funded. He educates about the research related t...

Scott Vee is a parent of a wilderness therapy student. Scott shares the journey of trying to help his teenage son during the beginning of the pandemic. He explains how he heard about wilderness therapy after a residential treatment program director told him that he had to pick up his son as his son was not complying with the program's model. Scott found Evoke in Utah after searching different trea...

Jennifer Glazer is a parent of a wilderness therapy student from Mass. Jennifer shares her journey of trying to help her teenage son during the beginning of the pandemic. She explains how they had tried different mental health treatments and then a friend suggested wilderness therapy. Jennifer searched the web and found True North in Vermont, which was the beginning of change for the family. Jenni...

Cynthia Cohen is a parent of a wilderness therapy student and educational consultant. Cynthia shares her family's journey of trying to help their teenage son while living in New York City over a decade ago. Cynthia reviews the unsuccessful treatment of her son by well-educated and well-intentioned mental health professionals in NYC until one suggested wilderness therapy. Cynthia shares her persona...

Jill Needleman is an educator and a parent of a wilderness therapy student. Jill shares her family's journey of helping her eighth-grade son get help for emotional struggles that caused him to refuse to go to school. They tried different interventions, but nothing seemed to help. They eventually found an educational consultant who referred them to Summit Achievement as it has a school component. J...

Katie McDevitt is a mother of five children in Illinois. Katie shares her family's journey of helping her oldest son get help for overwhelming anxiety and depression that he dealt with by substance using. They tried a different school, intensive outpatient treatment, and then a one-to-one school. Nothing seemed to help. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and things became even more challenging. Katie...

Carolyn Lambert is the founder of Nathans WayPoint a parent coaching service. Carolyn shares her challenging journey of helping both of her teenagers get help for crippling anxiety and depression. Carolyn helped her son enroll in a residential treatment program and two years later her daughter asked for help and was enrolled in a wilderness therapy program. Carolyn shares the challenges she faced...

Andy Goldstrom is a parent of a former wilderness student. When Andy's daughter began high school she struggled with behavioral issues. Andy and his wife, Lori, tried various ways to help their daughter but to no avail. They learned about wilderness therapy and decided to have their daughter transported to Pacific Quest in Hawaii. Andy shares his family's treatment journey and how their lives chan...

Flint Barber is a parent of a teen who attended a wilderness program. Flint's journey begins with how he had "no idea" about his son's challenges until a neighbor informed him, which started Flint onto the path of wilderness. Flint recounts trying to convince his son to attend Anasazi and that his son replied, "you will need to have me kidnapped." Flint shares the most challenging day of his life...

Mark Synnott is a climber, writer, father, and The North Face Athlete. His newest book, "The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest," is an in-depth look into the history of Mount Everest and what drives people to climb the tallest mountain in the world. Mark shares his journey from being a big wall climber who would never think of climbing Everest to a convert who would risk i...

Tami Ann is an aspiring writer working on a book about her experiences of being a parent of a teen who went to a wilderness therapy program. Tami shares her journey into the wilderness field that began when her teenager was spiraling down in a cycle of depression and drug use. They tried all types of therapy until they settled on wilderness therapy. Her husband brought her son to Open Sky, and the...

Brenda Zane is the host of the podcast " Hopestream " and has an online space to help moms with struggling teens. Brenda shares her journey into the wilderness field that began when her teenager was using drugs and she was unable to find a local resource that could make a difference. She met with an educational consultant who taught her about wilderness therapy and her son was transported to Eleme...