Adventure therapy, wilderness therapy


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One definition of adventure therapy:

Adventure (psycho)therapy is an active, experiential approach to group (and family) psychotherapy or counseling:

- utilizing an activity base, (cooperative group games, ropes courses, outdoor pursuits or wilderness expeditions)

- employing real and or perceived (physical and psychological) risk (distress/eustress) as a clinically significant agent to bring about desired change

- making meaning(s) (through insights that are expressed verbally, nonverbally, or unconsciously that lead to behavioral change) from both verbal and nonverbal introductions prior to (e.g., frontloadings) and discussions following (e.g., debriefings) the activity experience

- punctuating isomorphic connection(s) (how the structure of the activity matches the resolution of the problem) that significantly contribute to the transfer of lessons learned into changed behavior (Gillis & Thomsen, 1996)