Wilderness Programs -
Fresh Approaches after Almost Three Decades of Helping Troubled Teens

Wilderness programs have been helping troubled teens deal with depression, defiance, attention deficit, substance abuse, and other behavioral issues since the 1940s. Although the concept of teens venturing out into the wilderness to learn teamwork, communication, and responsibility is not new, wilderness therapy has come a long way over the years. As the adolescent psyche has evolved, so have therapeutic wilderness programs. Kathy Rex, Executive Director of SUWS Adolescent and Youth Program, a wilderness program that has helped at-risk teens aged 11 to 17 since 1981, describes the trends she has observed in the past three decades.

First, transitions into and out of wilderness have become a major focus of today's wilderness program, according to Rex. Whereas earlier wilderness programs would place teens in the wilderness setting without much notice or explanation, and take them out and return them home without continuing support, the new approach is a more gradual introduction and conclusion to the wilderness experience. "Gone are the days when a child is out hiking 10 miles just six hours after arriving at the program," says Rex. "When students arrive at SUWS, we spend the first 48 hours introducing them to the program, explaining the process, and helping them accept change. We also gather information from therapists at home so that the students aren't starting from scratch."

At the end of wilderness camp, many students continue on to longer term treatment at a therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment center. Some teens need extra support in making this transition. "At SUWS, we make the transition smoother by getting on the phone with the therapist who will treat the child at the receiving program two weeks before graduation. We share information and insights that help the new therapist pick up where we left off. Then, we follow up with the child's therapist a week into the new program to make sure the child is doing well."

This level of support and involvement was unprecedented in earlier wilderness programs. "In the old days," says Rex, "many wilderness programs tried to catch teens off guard, often waiting until the last day of the program to tell them where they'd be going next. Now, we talk to them and prepare them for the next stage of therapy by providing information about their new school, what the setting will be like, how it will differ from wilderness, and so on."

For teens who will return home at the end of a wilderness program, they can expect more support for their entire family. The first three months after camp can be a trying time for the student and family, as they struggle to create new behavior patterns and relate in positive ways. "Wilderness therapy used to be entirely teen-focused, with just an occasional update or recommendation offered to parents," Rex explains. "Now, we really wrap our arms around the entire family, not just the child." Programs like SUWS talk with families about appropriate types of aftercare and how to set up therapeutic resources in the local community. They also offer Web-based alumni support where parents can talk to other parents, share stories on message boards, and take online parenting courses.

Parents also are becoming more involved in the process while their child is away at camp. A wilderness program can have a profound effect on a struggling teen, but unless the child's parents are learning new skills as well, progress at home can be limited. Through family therapy sessions, counseling recommendations, online parenting courses, and family camps and workshops, today's wilderness programs teach parents the same skills their child is learning in the field. "In the wilderness, teens learn dozens of new skills to improve their relationships," says Rex. "But these skills have to translate into real life. At SUWS, our new family camp offers families a chance to test their new skills against real-life family conflicts, all under the supervision of a trained therapist."

Wilderness therapy is a powerful but short-term intervention, lasting about six weeks on average. According to Rex, another new trend is wilderness camps that last longer than a few weeks, in some cases up to 2-3 months. "More time in the field working with wilderness instructors and therapists often means a greater chance for lasting change. By taking a few extra weeks, students make more progress and feel better prepared to transition into normal life," Rex explains.

With 24-hour supervision by field staff, wilderness provides a highly nurturing and protective environment, where children can heal and learn about themselves far away from the pressures of daily life. Parents also receive tremendous support during a wilderness program, from weekly phone calls and progress reports to websites with pictures and updates. "But in real life," warns Rex, "students have homework, teachers, tests, and temptations to face, along with greater freedom and less hands-on guidance. Similarly, in real life parents won't get weekly phone calls and updates on their child's behavioral and emotional progress. We want to prepare families for these changes by offering extra support through every stage of the process."

Another significant change has occurred in the way some wilderness programs assign teens to groups. In previous years, children that enrolled in a program were grouped together simply because they signed up at the same time. "The new approach is for wilderness programs to carefully match children with peers that they can learn from," states Rex. "For example, at SUWS, a 14-year-old boy struggling with depression will not be placed with a group of teens battling substance abuse. And while younger children may benefit from co-ed groups, older kids often get distracted by members of the opposite sex. So each group member has been hand-picked to play an important role within the group dynamic."

The therapeutic approach at many wilderness programs has evolved as well. According to Rex, it is common for programs to have trained, licensed clinical staff providing treatment with a more clinical focus than programs of the past. "At SUWS, our therapeutic approach differs depending on the age and maturity of our students. For instance, younger children are motivated by a token economy in which they are rewarded with beads or other tokens for learning a new skill. Our approach with older kids is more process-driven and metaphorical."

Finally, wilderness programs have become far more specialized over the years. "At SUWS, each therapist has a distinct specialty - one is trained in dialectical behavioral therapy, one is an expert in family dynamics, one concentrates on drug and alcohol counseling, one specializes in nonverbal learning disabilities and Asperger's, and one has spent years working with female issues and girls groups. We determine the issues facing each child needs and tailor our treatment to those particular needs."

The top wilderness programs are keeping up with the changing needs of today's teens. By offering more family support, greater flexibility, and increased specialization, wilderness therapy promises to be a powerful experience for teens for decades to come.

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Drug Rehab
Addiction Treatment Centers
Substance Abuse Treatment
Recovery Programs