The benefits of nature on the human psyche have long been espoused, but in recent years researchers have discovered that nature therapy can be just as effective against depression and other mental health conditions as traditional therapy or medication. A study conducted in 2007 found that 90% of those struggling with depression reported higher self-esteem …
Adventure Therapy utilizes active experiential methodology to engage clients and establish a parallel process between the client’s life experience and the client’s therapeutic experience. It focuses on cognitive and behavioral therapeutic goals and incorporates a focused use of the surrounding environment. Adventure therapy is often utilized in wilderness therapy and provides a plethora of benefits …
Outdoor Therapy Has Far-Reaching Benefits The modern teen tends to be indoors for the majority of the day. When a teen does get the proper amount of exercise, it helps stimulate the production of vitamin D, and with severe issues like depression, substance abuse and ADHD behavior. Outdoor Therapy Helps Depression People are meant to …
Read more Your Brain Does Better with Sunshine: Outdoor Therapy for Teens
We generally assume that there are gender differences that explain why teens appreciate organized sports. Girls seek out activities for the social aspects, while boys chase opportunities for competition, right? According to a new study that analyzed determinants that make outdoor activities fun for teens, teens tend to be drawn to activities that teach them …
Read more Boys and Girls Appreciate Values Learned From Adventure Activities
Physical activity releases similar amounts of dopamine and endorphins, feel-good neurotransmitters, as engaging in risky behaviors, like substance use, reckless driving, and theft. Impulsive teens tend to be thrill seekers and sensation seekers and look for intense emotional experiences to add a sense of adventure to their lives. When they build a tolerance for the …
Teens who struggle with mental illnesses that can include but are not limited to addiction, anxiety, depression, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder may need more help than you can give them at home. There are various therapeutic approaches that can be beneficial to teens who need to learn to cope with their struggles or develop healthy …
If you’ve ever been rock climbing, you know the unbelievably good feeling you get when you conquer that wall and reach the top. Whether it’s on a fake wall or a real rock face, it gives you a feeling of accomplishment and confidence. That’s what rock climbing therapy and other adventure therapy activities are based …
Read more Rock Climbing Therapy & Other Activities Improve Depression, Anxiety
Physical exercise has been shown to have significant benefits to mental health and wellbeing. One of the many benefits of exercise, is its help with depression. Developing good mental health and brain function as a teen is incredibly important to achieve overall well-being. A recent article by The Huffington Post discussed how promoting exercise in …
There are many factors to consider when choosing a wilderness program for struggling teenagers. Safety, therapy, and respect are cornerstones of what a wilderness program for struggling teenagers should offer your child. But that’s only the beginning. At its best, the perfect wilderness program for struggling teenagers can provide your child with an individualized experience …
Read more The Wild Card: Finding a Wilderness Program for Struggling Teenagers
Too often, therapy gets a bad name. Be it out-to-get-you psychologists that bill thirty minutes as an hour or prison-like asylums with evil nurses. That mentality is desperately outdated. Today, therapy is a progressive field of medicine that takes many forms, with therapeutic recreation being one of them. As defined by the American Therapeutic Recreation …
Read more Therapeutic Recreation: Getting Better While Having Fun