Wilderness Adventure
What is the purpose of Adventure Based Wilderness Therapy?
- Interrupts the cycle of dependency on technology
- Encourages change through direct experience
- Mindfulness based activities encourage contemplative self-appraisal
- Brings Character Strengths and Virtues into focus
Draws attention to individual and collective strengths
- Successively more challenging activities enhances character strengths
- Increases sense of personal accomplishment and self-efficacy
- Enriches social skills and aptitude
Builds a sense of connection and community with others
- Presents opportunities to enhance interpersonal relatedness
- Develops increased awareness of the need for trust and cooperation
- Provides information in the clinical assessment of mental health issues
Allows for direct observation of mental health functioning
- Addresses issues related to impulse control, depression, anxiety, OCD and ADHD, ASD and Bipolar
- In-vivo practice of newly learned therapeutic skills such as effective communication, mindfulness practice, distress tolerance, and life skills
- Exercise can be as good as or better than antidepressants for depression (2010, Boston University)
- Busy people are happier than idle people (Hsee, et. al., University of Chicago, 2010)
- Happy people spend less time watching media (2009, University of Maryland)
- Relationships with others is a key ingredient in happiness (2009, Harvard, Grant Study)
- Connecting with nature boosts energy and happiness (2009, University of Rochester)
Tags: community, research, connection, adventure therapy, strength, social skills, value
