Wilderness and Adventure Therapy  

Wilderness therapy and adventure therapy are both mental health interventions that are typically geared toward at risk teens, or those with behavioral or mental health challenges for whom traditional therapy has been unsuccessful.

Nearby Rehab Centers with a Wilderness Setting

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What are Wilderness Therapy and Adventure Therapy?



Both wilderness therapy and adventure therapy involve engaging teens in challenging physical activities that are intended to help them increase their resilience, self-reliance and self-esteem. Meeting physical challenges also helps teens develop positive interpersonal relationships through teamwork and through interactions with counselors and other team members.

Wilderness therapy takes place in an outdoor environment that is often remote and involves taxing physical activity such as camping out in the open with primitive provision and few physical comforts. It includes strict daily routines, long, arduous hikes and cooking food over an open fire. It often involves the setting up and taking down of a new campsite each day.

Adventure therapy can take place either outdoors or indoors, and while it also involves some challenging physical activities, these are more structured and less extreme. For instance, adventure therapy might involve navigating an outdoor ropes course or climbing on an indoor rock wall using a harness rather than climbing on rocks in the wilderness.

Adventure therapy doesn’t include overnight stays in the outdoors. It may be part of a daytime treatment program such as a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program, where it is used as a recreational component of treatment.

The main difference between wilderness therapy and adventure therapy is that wilderness therapy involves living outside for an extended period in a rugged, often difficult environment. The wilderness setting itself is used to develop the participant’s inner strength, grit, determination and perseverance. Adventure therapy is less strenuous. Additionally, adventure therapy activities may be included in wilderness programs.

Wilderness and Adventure Therapy Models and Techniques

Wilderness Therapy has two main models. In the expedition model, participants hike daily from one location to another, setting up a primitive camp in each location. This nomadic lifestyle takes place over two to three months.

In the base camp model, participants may hike daily for shorter distances or engage in other outdoor activities, such as canoeing, but they return each evening to a permanent campsite where they have showers and larger, more comfortable tent structures that may be heated in colder weather. Participants still engage in making campfires, cooking and experiencing communal living. Base camp programs often last between six and 12 weeks.

Wilderness therapy programs involve regular group counseling sessions and intermittent individual counseling sessions. Most programs have systems for maintaining communication between teen participants and their parents, such as letter writing and phone calls. Sometimes family counseling takes place through video conferencing.

Adventure therapy camps focus on challenging but fun activities and include group work that is focused on teamwork and problem-solving activities. The activities encourage teens to take personal responsibility for their behaviors and learn how to better manage their emotional responses.

These programs place more emphasis on successfully accomplishing positive behavioral change activities with less emphasis on exploring past dysfunctional behavioral patterns. The adventure activity itself is deemed to be therapy, so there is less time spent discussing a teen’s past issues. This follows an experiential therapy model that uses activities to elicit and heal emotional issues.

Adventure therapy techniques can include daytime outdoor expeditions and activities such as ropes courses, zip lines, obstacle courses and horseback riding. Many activities are group oriented. Others can be done solo, such as scavenger hunts and orienteering, wherea person navigates rough terrain using a compass and a map that leads them to various checkpoints.

What Can Wilderness Therapy Help With?


Benefits of Wilderness Therapy


  • Gain insight into their feelings, beliefs and motivations
  • Control explosive behavior and learn to manage their emotions
  • Develop coping skills
  • Improve interpersonal communications
  • Reduce negative thoughts and negative beliefs about themselves
  • Improve self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Take responsibility for their choices
  • Develop goals and make plans to reach them
  • Become more self-aware
  • Improve physical fitness

Why is Wilderness Therapy So Controversial? 

Program Related Death and Abuse Reports

Wilderness therapy for teens has been controversial ever since its inception in Utah during the 1960’s. Wilderness therapy began as a survival skills training course at Brigham Young University in Utah and was expanded and made into a business by an alumnus of the university.

The first wilderness therapy program was billed as a “tough love” rehabilitation program for teens. Run by a former special forces officer, the program used military-like discipline and routines and taught teens survival skills in the Utah desert. The teens had to make a 500-mile hike carrying a heavy backpack, and they had to sleep on the ground.

Such strenuous activity and difficult conditions became the norm for wilderness therapy programs, and unfortunately from the early days of the programs through today, such conditions have led to deaths from exposure, dehydration, stroke and neglected medical issues.

In a 2001 article, the New York Times reported that there were 31 deaths reported at wilderness camps in the years between 1980 and 2001. A University of Pennsylvania journal, The Regulatory Reviewreported in 2023 that some wilderness programs currently in business do not provide adequate counseling for participants and don’t have enough qualified mental health professionals.

However, it’s important to differentiate between these “wilderness camps” and licensed, accredited, and well regulated wilderness therapy programs that offer robust, evidence-based therapy programs for youth with mental and behavioral health challenges.

Need for More Oversight and Regulation

There are no centralized state or federal databases to track reports of abuse allegations or the closings and re-openings of wilderness programs following allegations. In 2022, a bill was introduced in Congress to create a framework to regulate wilderness programs, but it failed to get out of committee and was never passed.

Some states have stepped up to regulate their own wilderness programs. Utah passed one of the first state statutes to address many aspects of wilderness programs such as rules for providing protection from the elements and adequate water and food provisions for program participants.

In 1996, several wilderness programs joined together to form the Outdoor Behavioral Health Council, an industry organization that sets standards for best practices, effective treatment, and evidence-based research in the field of outdoor behavioral healthcare, including adventure therapy and wilderness therapy programs.

They also created the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Cooperative (OBHRC) to conduct research related to industry issues. In 2013, OBH joined with the Association of Experiential Education to create accreditation standards for outdoor behavioral healthcare programs. There are approximately 20 accredited wilderness therapy programs today.

Involuntary Transport Services

Another controversy for the wilderness therapy industry involves the practice of involuntary youth transport services. These services provide the means for getting about half of all the teens in wilderness programs to their program destinations.

Many parents rely on these transport services to come into their homes, often in the middle of the night, and coerce or forcibly take their teen to a program location because they feel that the teen would not willingly go otherwise. Some teens have reported being traumatized by this practice, and there are many social media stories covering this viewpoint.

However, some teens do not see the practice in that way, and some say afterwards that they are glad they were made to go into a program, even forcibly. A 2015 report in the Child and Youth Care Forum journal found that the use of a transport service had little effect on the outcome of the treatment for the 350 teens studied.

Limited Parental Communication and Access

Complicating the issue of possible neglectful or abusive treatment in wilderness programs is the fact that teens are cut off from the outside world, with no direct access to cell phones or other electronic devices, and they often have limited opportunities to communicate with family members.

Some programs only allow communication via letters, and these may be read by counselors or other program staff. However, this practice is less stringent today than it was in past years, and some programs now allow scheduled phone calls and video conferencing. Some also have scheduled family visitation days, especially in base camp model programs that are not as remote and rugged.

Despite these concerns, high quality wilderness therapy programs do exist and can offer proven results for teens who are struggling. Parents and caregivers who are considering an adventure therapy program for their teen must do their due diligence to find the program that is aligned with current best practices in adolescent mental and behavioral health care.

With the right program the outcome can be truly life changing for your teen.

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Addiction Centers That Include Wilderness Setting

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    69 Deer Hill Road Fryeburg, ME 04037
    3.6
    (30 reviews)
    4
    Top 10 Rehab In Maine
    Summit Achievement in Fryeburg, Maine, provides a special program for 13 to 20 year olds who are struggling with substance abuse or experimentation. This licensed and accredited residential treatment center is located in the stunning White Mountains region of Maine. Through the integration of classroom academics, adventure therapy expeditions, and
    My daughter (age 14) was at Summit Sept-Dec this 2024. It is an excellent program and I highly recommend it! There is a lot of negative press surrounding these types of programs and we were nervous sending our daughter, but I can assure you that this program is amazing and very professionally run. The kids and adults gain incredible insight into their old patterns and behaviors. Ultimately, the kids learn how to navigate old and new relationships, how to move forward and how to make healthy, appropriate choices. The therapist my daughter worked with was incredible and very talented. We met with her once a week as well, so we were kept informed about our daughter’s progress. The parent coach that we worked with was also excellent and very professional. This program is unique because it is more of a hybrid program that offers wilderness therapy combined with education, so the children do not fall behind in school. Summit is a top notch program and it provided the reset we all needed!
    Tracey Aaron
    5 months ago
    As a former student of summit it’s a chill place and the expo is fun the only downside for me was therapy because I don’t like it at all but overall great experience and would do it again
    Brody Karis
    7 months ago
    Great company to work with! Friendly and knowledgeable staff
    Dan Horgan
    1 year ago
    Summit Achievement ME 4037
    56 S Main St Loa, UT 84747
    4.7
    (32 reviews)
    Legacy Outdoor Adventures is a residential treatment center located in Loa, Utah. They treat men and women ages 18 to 40 for substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring mental health disorders. The center accepts many major insurances. They’ll work with you to get your treatment preauthorized. They’ll often take a downpayment instead of the
    This place changed my life!!! I came to Juniper canyon in February of 2022 absolutely broken and defeated. This place got me sober (and kept me sober) changed my entire perspective on life and what it means to be me, and shaped me into the woman I am today. My most sacred and special moments were spent in Utah with these absolutely incredible people and I am forever grateful. I have a beautiful, fun and full life today that would not have been possible without Legacy.
    Camille Siler
    8 months ago
    This place is definitely one of the most amazing treatment centers The people there all of them the staff the students or peers and therapist are the best so thankful to have had the opportunity to go there
    Mhsinger 15 (Mhsinger15)
    9 months ago
    The love that this team has for their community, their team, and most importantly.. their clients, is admirable.
    Kaysha Sorensen
    1 year ago
    29997 S Buffalo Park Rd Evergreen, CO 80439
    4.8
    (90 reviews)
    Spero Recovery Center, located in Evergreen, Colorado is a private alcohol and drug rehab that offers treatment for a variety of substance abuse addictions including alcoholism, co-occurring mental health disorders, and opiate addiction. Spero Recovery Center has received accreditations from The NAATP and the state of Colorado.
    Entering Spero Recovery Center as a client changed my life. The staff, facility, programing and clinical team were absolutely amazing and redirected the trajectory of my life. I stayed for 60 days and the phase 2 (second set of 30 days) portion provided additional experiences and therapy. I also got to participate in outdoor excursions with other clients at Spero that helped build trust and community and brought zest back into my life. I highly recommend Spero Recovery Center and making the move to change your life.
    John Alwine
    1 month ago
    Carrying staff members and really good food cooked by an awesome chef
    Match26 White
    3 months ago
    Amazing program. Got alot out of it. Staff is helpful and really wants to help you get your life together and aid through getting sober. The clinical staff is tremendous and will find the therapy that works the best for you, if therapy is what you want. Food was great. You get a good bit of freedom. The post 30day programming is stellar. The IOP program is very unique and is quite the experience. I look forward to staying connected to the program and returning for alumni events
    Kellen McKinney
    4 months ago
    3
    53 Indian Ln E Towaco, NJ 07082
    4.8
    (59 reviews)
    Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center, located in , is a private alcohol and drug rehab that offers treatment for a variety of substance abuse addictions including alcoholism, co-occurring mental health disorders, and opiate addiction. They offer supervised medical treatment to safely manage withdrawal symptoms during detoxification, r
    The staff is extremely helpful and patient when it comes to helping individuals out with whatever their needs may be. They take the time to make sure Guardian is a perfect fit, and answer any questions you may have. I know that I can trust Guardian and make sure people are in good hands!
    Muge Gore
    2 months ago
    This place is actually amazing I went here for treatment and it was one of the best things to happen to me I’m over 300 days sober because the amazing staff taught me a lot of important information on why drugs don’t always work in your favor. One of my main reasons for staying sober if my favorite staff there Adam Schaffer any time I needed to talk to him or get something off my chest he was always there to talk and is just a straight forward person who gets what people go through and is just very sympathetic and again thank you too all the staff for my amazing stay
    Gavin Bralczyk
    2 months ago
    Guardian team – starting with Melissa and Adam, and throughout your entire support staff, including the very friendly kitchen staff who fed us well when we visited our daughter, thank you for the genuine care you demonstrated everyday. This is a tough situation for all of us, and we unfortunately have experienced other facilities, and none are on this level in the way you approach caring for our children. I highly recommend parents do their homework and trust Guardian. Thank you Guardian!
    Steve Katz
    6 months ago
    10
    10
    5950 Rock Farm Rd Reno, NV 89511
    4.8
    (22 reviews)
    The Differents- Drug Rehab in Reno, located in Reno, Nevada is a private drug rehab center that specializes in the treatment of addiction rehab.
    The Differents was amazing! The time I spent there was life changing! The staff made me feel so comfortable the whole time I was there to the point it felt like another home for me, they saved my life! The comfort level I felt while in an uncomfortable situation, was truly heart warming! Joe, Cory, Mike and Michelle along with all the other staff are truly a dream team. The alcohol addition therapy I received while at The Differents has helped me live a life I can now be proud of. Definitely the best facility one could hope for. Leaving the Differents, I not only learned how to manage my addiction, I made lifetime friends. It really feel’s like a family there. The incredible views, amazing landscape and beautiful home made me feel at ease as well. The trama therapy course along with all the other groups we attended while there, both inside the home and ones we visited, I felt empowered and strong in a way I haven’t felt for over 20 years! On my last morning at the home, I cried leaving because I owe everything to this team of amazing people! My only regret is I didn’t check myself in sooner! Michelle and Cory, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you guys, thank you for helping me get my life back! The Differents exceeds all possible expectations one could have for treatment centers. I will be forever grateful!
    Kristen Mayer
    1 month ago
    My experience here was amazing and I feel great. I learned a lot of amazing tools and met some amazing people. If you are looking to get sober and stay sober- this is the place to go!
    Jennifer Glass
    2 months ago
    I am a US Coast Guard veteran with service related PTSD, severe anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, that I self medicated with alcohol for. I had been treatment once before at a much larger classic facility and did not succeed and struggled on my own after being discharged from the military. I am now 80 days sober and finally feel like I have my alcoholism and mental health under control. I feel like the Dillon I have always wanted to be. My time at the Differents was significant for many reasons. I can’t express how much the environment in the house was the exact type of structured freedom I needed to boost my confidence in myself and my ability to build a solid foundation underneath me and help me build myself back up to the person I know I can be and have always wanted to become. The relationships I built with my house mates was organic and as helpful as the groups themselves were for my recovery. The activities were amazing from IR sauna, climbing gym, a sensory room, escape room and snowboarding! I had fun at the same time I was working hard on myself and growing back to who I know I can be. I will be spreading the messages and positivity I found at the Differents and I will recommend it to anyone who needs help. I forgot to mention the Group Trauma workshop with Paul! It was one of the hardest things I’ve done but it was amazing to have answered so many questions I never know I had about myself. I love me now and I can thank everyone involved in this program, especially Cory. Cory thank you for helping get me to the Differents and helping save my life. I will forever be grateful for my time spent here.
    Dillon Ralls
    2 months ago
    8
    8
    33-41 Newark St. Suite 4A Hoboken, NJ 07030
    4.5
    (32 reviews)
    Guardian Intensive Outpatient Treatment – Hoboken, located in Hoboken, New Jersey is a private alcohol and drug rehab that offers treatment for a variety of substance abuse addictions including alcoholism, co-occurring mental health disorders, and opiate addiction. They offer supervised medical treatment to safely manage withdrawal symptoms durin
    Attended here for 5 months. Best therapy experience I have had so far in my life. Small intimate group therapy. Constructive one-on-one therapy sessions. Very friendly and supportive staff. Lots and lots of in depth material offered to clients to help us learn how to help ourselves. I met some of nicest people I have ever met in here between my fellow clients and the staff. I learned a lot of strategies to take care of my health in all aspects of life. I learned a lot of coping skills to help with my mental health.
    Mpho Anderson
    2 months ago
    Staff and atmosphere is the best and caring. They will do everything to work with you and give you help/assistance if you need referrals to other services. I really recommend this place for mental health and substance use IOP.
    Jocelyn Ramos
    4 months ago
    I was helped immensely by the team at Guardian. Thank you.
    Michael Richards
    6 months ago
    4
    1500 Pinnacles Way Newport, TN 37821
    4.1
    (75 reviews)
    Summit at Harmony Oaks, located in Newport, Tennessee is a private drug rehab center that specializes in the treatment of addiction rehab.
    Summit at Harmony Oaks is a beautiful facility. The food is amazing and the new cabin is awesome. I’m so thankful for stay there and look forward to using the skills I’ve learned from the wonderful staff.
    Erica Davis
    3 months ago
    Help is possible! There’s a beautiful life just waiting on you to get outta your own way to live it! If you’re seeking help, this place will welcome & support you from the moment contact is made! We do recover 🫶
    Leah Cooper
    3 months ago
    Great place to get help
    Heather Hart
    3 months ago
    Large, stately brick building with a central arched entrance and a gray shingled roof. The building features multiple chimneys, evenly spaced windows, and a covered walkway extending along the front. Several cars are parked in the paved area in front of the building. The sky is bright blue with fluffy white clouds, and trees are visible in the background.
    4
    Large, elegant building with white columns and a red brick facade, set against a backdrop of vibrant autumn foliage. The building features a multi-tiered portico with white columns and railings, and dormer windows in the pitched roof. A well-maintained green lawn stretches out in front, and a single chimney rises from the right side of the building. The sky is partly cloudy with patches of blue. Dining room with light green walls, featuring several square wooden tables with dark chairs. A large window with white curtains overlooks a green outdoor scene. A white refrigerator is visible in the back right, and a decorative chandelier hangs from the white ceiling. The floor is light-colored wood. Bedroom with blue walls, featuring two twin beds with dark comforters, two armchairs, and a large wooden wardrobe. Two windows with blue and gold curtains flank a central armchair. A smaller armchair sits to the left. A light blue and pink rug covers part of the hardwood floor. A chandelier hangs from the white ceiling.
    N19 W24101 Riverwood Dr Waukesha, WI 53188
    3.2
    (9 reviews)
    Newport Academy Teen Mental Health & Addiction Treatment – Waukesha, located in Waukesha, Wisconsin is a private alcohol and drug rehab that offers treatment for a variety of substance abuse addictions including alcoholism, co-occurring mental health disorders, and opiate addiction. They offer supervised medical treatment to safely manage withdra
    We highly recommend Newport. We were in a position where we needed “a little more mental health help” with our teen. We enrolled her in an IOP which is where she goes to school but then has therapy for 3 hours, 3 days a week. They helped her build confidence in herself and restored her self-love. People often ask “why do a PHP or IOP”? The reason for us, was it jump started her on the right path. Think of it like staring a work out. If you do a “boot camp” and exercise intensely, it helps kick start your weight loss/muscle building skills. Same goes for mental health. The staff was always kind, courteous and professional. My daughter really loved her therapist, Jen. She connected with her. My daughter had seen other therapists outpatient (not through Newport) but always felt like they were “just doing their jobs” and didn’t “actually care about her.” Not so at Newport. You can tell EVERY. SINGLE staff member was invested in her. They also worked with us, as our insurance did not cover their services. They outlined a financial plan that was doable for our family. They are “the best” for a reason. If you are even remotely in need of their services, set up an appointment. It’s the first step to healing. ❤️
    jami graber
    1 year ago
    I researched Newport Academy on line and was impressed with the different services and therapy offered. The reviews that I read of youg people and how Newport Academy has helped change their life. My son and I did a tour, and met the staff. We both had seperate interviews as to what we were looking for, as we left my son immediately said to me “I want to go there mom, I really like the staff”. Here we are several months later and my son loves the people, they are the most welcoming, empathetic, supportive not justfor my sons needs but to support our family and teach us the tools to build strong healthy relationships. My son was able to participate in Horse therapy at Equine and he discovered the love for horses, and confidence that he gained there through the program. He is looking forward to continue his journey at Newport Academy through volunteering and hope to work their as an adult, he wants to empower other young people to push through the difficult stuff because the rewards are for life. As a mother i immediately felt safe to know that my son was coming to a good place because they truly care. I am looking forward to continue our journey with the staff and am excited to see where this journey takes us. I am so grateful to the whole team for what they have helped us achieve. With love ❤️ always.
    Vincenza L
    2 years ago
    very friendly staff very motivational and hard workers they even got me caught back up with school in 6 weeks even tho i was behind a year i would highly recommend for others
    Nico Lopiparo
    2 years ago
    3
    142 East Strong Road Shelton, WA 98584
    2.7
    (15 reviews)
    Rites of Passage operates an expedition-based wilderness therapy program designed for adolescents ages 11-17 and adults ages 18-30+ who are struggling with a variety of emotional and behavioral concerns. Rites of Passage is located in Shelton, Washington. With a staff to student ratio of 1:3, sets Rites of Passage apart from other programs. The pr
    This program changes lives! I have seen many youth (and older adults too) struggling in life, gain clarity and direction with this program. Existing in the wilderness for even the shortest amount of time can really change thought processes and behavior. The owners, therapists and guides all have a genuine concern for the participants’ well-being with life on trail, and once they return to the ‘real world’. I even know a few former participants who came back to become guides themselves. Nature heals and soothes!
    Erin Keil Peters
    2 years ago
    Saved my daughter’s life
    Eileen Wain
    5 years ago
    Let the wilderness do the work!
    luis ofray
    6 years ago
    Rites of Passage WA 98584
    20173 Gleedsville Rd Leesburg, VA 20175
    2.7
    (3 reviews)
    Newport Institute for Young Adults – Monticello, located in Leesburg, Virginia is a private alcohol and drug rehab that offers treatment for a variety of substance abuse addictions including alcoholism, co-occurring mental health disorders, and opiate addiction. They offer supervised medical treatment to safely manage withdrawal symptoms during d
    Their hard work and their commitment to marginalized populations is admirable
    L.P.
    11 months ago
    7
    7
    462 1st Avenue And 27th street Administration Building Room A-438 New York, NY 10016
    2.3
    (2 reviews)
    Bellevue Hospital – Opiate Treatment Program, located in New York City, New York is a private alcohol and drug rehab that offers treatment for a variety of substance abuse addictions including alcoholism, co-occurring mental health disorders, and opiate addiction. They offer supervised medical treatment to safely manage withdrawal symptoms during
    Bellevue Hospital – Opiate Treatment Program has no reviews yet. Leave a review.
    Bellevue Hospital - Opiate Treatment Program NY 10016
    255 South Orem Blvd Orem, Utah 84058
    Wasatch Behavioral Health is a public organization that offers comprehensive behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) services to children, teens, and adults throughout Utah. One of their locations is this treatment center in Orem, Utah. This location offers medication assisted treatment (MAT), a youth outpatient and young adult program,
    Wasatch Mental Health – Orem has no reviews yet. Leave a review.
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