Treatment For Students In Wilderness Therapy

It is no surprise that after the year we’ve had there is an uptick in the need for the healing qualities that can be found in nature. The School Solution has offered a wide variety of wilderness therapy treatment options over the years, offering the most clinically innovative outdoor therapeutic programs for counseling young adults in the country. If you have been looking for a way to nurture your student back to health in nature, The School Solution and Karen Mabie are here for you.

Treatment for students in wilderness therapy is available for a variety of issues, which may arise in those who are in their late teens and early twenties. In wilderness therapy treatment, students get to work with high-level clinicians in a natural and supportive setting to help heal trauma. Real-world living skills are practiced and perfected in a community setting, and most importantly are translatable to life after wilderness therapy.

Every aspect of wilderness therapy counseling models are individualized and integrated to achieve lasting and meaningful change. Young adults are immersed in a community living model where practical life skills are established, practiced and ultimately mastered. Their days are typically structured to encompass: personal accountability, time management, emotional health and physical well-being.

The teens and young adults who come to The School Solution in need of healing with wilderness therapy have a number of issues and/or diagnoses in common such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Lack of self-esteem/confidence
• Lack of motivation or follow through
• Entitlement
• Substance use or abuse
• Anger/defiance
• Mood Regulation Issues
• Internet Addiction
• Video Game Addiction
• Adoption/Attachment Issues
• School or college struggles
• OCD
• ADHD/learning differences
• NLD/high-functioning Asperger’s
• Family conflict
• Social and/or Adjustment Issues
• Negative peer group
• Grief and loss
• Trauma

Nature Heals Trauma: Wilderness Therapy

The transitional period of development from adolescent to adult is frequently a time of turbulence, but in 2020 our young people experienced higher than usual levels of trauma. The young adult period of life is characterized by rapid physiological, sexual, cognitive, and emotional changes. At this age, they may be expected to accept responsibility for themselves legally, make decisions for themselves, and—in many cases—are often encouraged to begin supporting themselves financially.

Many of our teens and young adults are trying to move into new adult roles and responsibilities: They may have begun higher education studies, entered the workforce, or moved back home.

Despite experiencing a higher prevalence of mental health and substance use issues, young adults today statistically have lower treatment rates than older adults. It is only in the last few years that counseling for young adults has taken on a whole new level of success. Many serious mental health conditions can emerge in the late teens and early twenties, further complicating an already difficult period of development. These feelings of being overwhelmed and confused, along with rapid changes in biological, psychological, and social development, may help contribute to the development of major issues, such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. 

It has been well proven that nature heals the traumas associated with young people. The School Solution can assist families in finding wilderness therapy programs with truly integrated medical and wellness teams, representing both clinical and therapeutic treatments. They can work in tandem with the young adult, his or her Primary Therapist, referring professionals when applicable, and parents to address and manage the clinical and medical complexity of each young adult.

The School Solution Is Here: Help For Students With Trauma

Therapeutic wilderness programs are one possible solution for students with trauma who need to be nurtured back to health and well-being or even catch up on academic credits. Now is the time to look into winter wilderness programs or plan for ones in the spring or summer. These programs place teens and young adults who are desperately in need of help and guidance in a new setting, far away from their current negative distractions like video games, TV, and cell phones and drinking or drugs, with round-the-clock supervision

The School Solution is always here as advocates for families and students who need help. We believe that the proper treatment and healing can help students make better choices and live healthier more productive lives. If you would like more information on how we are cultivating change and providing solutions for young adults please contact us today!