Adventure therapy and its impact on the functioning of youth in a community setting

The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of one type of activity-based group work, adventure therapy (AT) group practice, on youth in a community-based mental health setting. Using data collected from Adventure Works, a nonprofit outdoor behavioral healthcare and adventure therapy counseling center, this article explores treatment outcomes to identify the effectiveness of adventure therapy group interventions. AT has been identified as an effective intervention within wilderness and residential settings, but little research exists focusing on adventure therapy in a community setting. Data collected shows positive outcomes for youth participating in adventure-based group therapy. Research and practice implications are discussed

Utilizing adventure therapy to increase hope and well-being among shelter residents

Women experiencing homelessness have high levels of psychosocial distress related to complex trauma, barriers to mental health treatment, and social isolation. The HOPE Adventure Therapy program utilized outdoor adventure therapy to increase hope and well-being among women homeless shelter residents. Using the Hope Scale and the Outcome Rating Scale, this exploratory, quasi-experimental study measured differences in hope and well-being between women who did and did not participate in the HOPE Adventure Therapy program. Women who participated in adventure therapy reported significant improvements in social and interpersonal well-being. Additionally, higher attendance in adventure therapy predicted larger improvements in wellbeing for residents in a women’s shelter. Future studies can further explore outdoor adventure therapy and experiential interventions to address gaps in service for women experiencing homelessness

The effectiveness of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare with struggling adolescents: A comparison group study

This study examined the longitudinal impact of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare on youth participants as reported by their parents. This analysis fills a critical gap in past research by including a Treatment as Usual (TAU) comparison group. Findings showed that youth participants who attended an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare treatment program were, as reported by their parents, were functioning significantly better than the TAU group one year following the program as measured by the Youth Outcome Questionnaire 2.01. Youth who remained in their communities were still at acute levels of psychosocial dysfunction during the same time span. Despite some differences between the means of the treatment and TAU groups across time between gender and groups, a regression analysis revealed age and gender not to be significant predictors of improvement. The only significant predictor was participation in the treatment group