Understanding Adventure Therapy: A Transformative Approach to Mental Health

Theodora Blanchfield, an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and experienced mental health writer, leverages her expertise to support others. She earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University and serves on the board of Still I Run, a nonprofit dedicated to raising mental health awareness among runners. Her work has been featured in publications like Women’s Health, Bustle, and Healthline, and she has been cited in major outlets including The New York Times, Shape, and Marie Claire.

What Is Adventure Therapy?

Adventure therapy is a therapeutic method that integrates adventure-based activities led by mental health professionals, typically conducted in natural environments. These experiences aim to engage individuals, families, and groups on multiple levels—physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral—to foster healing and growth.

Rooted in principles from the Outward Bound Process Model, adventure therapy empowers participants, both teens and adults, to challenge self-imposed limitations by embracing responsibility, assessing risks and rewards, and acting with courage, intention, and empathy.

Research involving teens who completed a 21-day Outward Bound program demonstrated lower rates of recidivism compared to peers undergoing intensive outpatient therapy, highlighting the effectiveness of adventure therapy in behavioral change.

Curious about what adventure therapy involves and how to access it? Keep reading to explore its various forms and benefits.

Types of Adventure Therapy

Adventure therapy encompasses three primary formats, each with unique structures but unified goals:

1. Wilderness Therapy: Conducted in remote natural settings, this approach involves small, consistent groups participating over several days. Programs often follow the Outward Bound model.
2. Adventure-Based Therapy: Typically held near treatment centers, these programs cater to individuals in intensive outpatient or residential care. Group composition may vary as participants enter and exit, and activities might be adapted to controlled environments like indoor climbing walls designed for therapy.
3. Long-Term Residential Camping: Participants reside in outdoor camps or mobile training environments, such as sailing on clipper ships, for extended periods—sometimes up to a year. This immersive experience fosters positive peer cultures, daily life problem-solving, and accountability through natural consequences.

Core Techniques in Adventure Therapy

Adventure therapy is grounded in seven foundational principles:

1. Action-Centered Approach: Moving therapy beyond traditional settings, it immerses individuals in holistic environments where nonverbal cues and physical engagement enrich the therapeutic process.
2. Exposure to New Environments: By stepping outside familiar surroundings, participants are encouraged to adopt fresh perspectives and embrace change more readily.
3. Introducing Positive Stress: Known as 'eustress,' this beneficial challenge helps individuals recognize their capacity for behavioral and attitudinal transformation.
4. Comprehensive Assessment: Observing clients in natural contexts provides therapists with deeper insights into behavioral patterns that may not surface in conventional therapy sessions.
5. Small Group Dynamics: Fostering community and mutual support, these groups enable participants to consider others' needs and celebrate collective achievements.
6. Strength-Based Focus: Emphasizing successful behaviors over deficits encourages confidence and resilience.
7. Redefined Therapist Role: Therapists actively participate alongside clients, leveling the playing field and enhancing rapport through shared experiences.

Conditions Addressed by Adventure Therapy

Adventure therapy offers support for a diverse range of mental health challenges, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Grief and Loss
• Eating Disorders
• Substance Use Disorders
• Schizophrenia

Benefits of Adventure Therapy

This approach provides numerous advantages, both socially and clinically. It aims to transform negative self-images, enhance communication skills, and alleviate symptoms associated with mental illnesses, such as:

• Lowering suicidal ideation
• Reducing depressive symptoms
• Mitigating feelings of hopelessness
• Boosting self-confidence and efficacy

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for immediate support. In emergencies, dial 911.

For additional mental health assistance, explore our National Helpline Database.

Evaluating Effectiveness

A comprehensive meta-analysis reviewing 197 studies with nearly 3,000 participants revealed that adventure therapy yields significantly greater improvements compared to alternative treatments or no intervention. Furthermore, participants maintained positive changes up to six months post-treatment.

Research highlights benefits for at-risk youth, individuals with combat-related PTSD, body image concerns, and more.

Important Considerations

Despite its benefits, adventure and wilderness therapies often come with high costs—averaging $500 to $1,000 per day—and are rarely covered by insurance, limiting accessibility. Some programs also require substantial time commitments.

Reports of ethical concerns within addiction treatment emphasize the need for thorough research before enrolling in any program.

Key questions to ask potential providers include:

• Do they specialize in addressing your specific issues?
• How is individual success measured?
• Are practical life skills taught for real-world application?
• Is the program accredited by the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council?

Many adventure therapy options are integrated into residential or intensive outpatient programs, making them less accessible for standard outpatient therapy clients.

Getting Started with Adventure Therapy

Given its intensity, discuss adventure therapy thoroughly with your current mental health provider to weigh benefits and physical suitability.

Since most programs are privately funded, they often have a strong online presence. A reliable starting point is the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council’s directory, which features vetted providers.

Upon selecting a program, expect an intake process to ensure the therapy aligns with your or your child’s needs, including a review of mental health history and previous treatments.

Final Thoughts from Verywell

Adventure therapy represents a unique, immersive healing opportunity, albeit with significant financial and time investments. Advocate for your needs to maximize the benefits, and embrace the experience fully to foster meaningful growth.

Explore more about how adventurous activities can positively impact children’s mental health and learn how to begin your journey.

• Therapy Insights
• Starting Your Adventure Therapy Journey

References

1. Gass MA, Gillis, Lee, Russell KC. Adventure Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice. 2020.
2. Kelly FJ, Baer DJ. Outward Bound Schools as an Alternative to Institutionalization for Adolescent Delinquent Boys. 1968.
3. Cambridge Dictionary. Recidivism.
4. Wilderness adventure therapy effects on the mental health of youth participants. Evaluation and Program Planning. 2016;58:49-59.
5. Sturm J, Plöderl M, Fartacek C, et al. Physical exercise through mountain hiking in high-risk suicide patients. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2012;126(6):467-475.
6. Bowen DJ, Neill JT. A meta-analysis of adventure therapy outcomes and moderators. TOPSYJ. 2013;6(1):28-53.
7. Gelkopf M, Hasson-Ohayon I, Bikman M, Kravetz S. Nature adventure rehabilitation for combat-related posttraumatic chronic stress disorder: A randomized control trial. Psychiatry Research. 2013;209(3):485-493.
8. BS SCA. Transforming body image through women’s wilderness experiences. Women & Therapy. 1994;15(3-4):43-54.
9. Rein R. Storms in Sunny States: Fraud in the Addiction Treatment Industry. Social Science Research Network; 2021.

By Theodora Blanchfield, AMFT
Theodora Blanchfield is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and mental health writer committed to helping others through her clinical insights. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University and serves as a board member for Still I Run, a nonprofit promoting mental health awareness among runners. Her expertise has been featured in Women’s Health, Bustle, Healthline, and more, with citations in The New York Times, Shape, and Marie Claire.

Updated by Hannah Owens, LMSW
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