The Resilient Cycle of Wilderness Therapy: Navigating Through Winter to a Spring Rebirth-
By Will White
Essay from Episode 222- The Closure of Open Sky: Is this the “Winter” of Wilderness Therapy?
The field of wilderness therapy for adolescents in the U.S., a dynamic and ever-evolving sector, has recently entered a transformative phase. This period, reminiscent of winter, is marked by challenges and reflection, crucial for the industry's growth and rejuvenation. The closure of five wilderness therapy programs in the last year - Wingate, Outback, SUWS of the Carolinas, Aspiro, and Open Sky - symbolizes a significant shift in this sector.
The downturn in wilderness therapy for adolescents mirrors earlier field contractions, notably in the 1990s when the notorious Challenger Foundation operated, as explored in the Netflix documentary “Hell Camp,” and the mid-2000s when over 30 programs closed due to the great recession and other factors. These closures included both state-funded initiatives and private equity-driven entities like the programs run by Aspen Education Group. I delve deeper into these historical shifts in my book, “Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy,” providing a comprehensive overview of the field’s evolution. This historical perspective is essential to understanding the current landscape and preparing for future growth.
Despite these challenges, wilderness therapy has always shown remarkable resilience and capacity for reinvention. In the later 1990s licensed mental health professionals entered the field in response to Challenger. In the 2000s when programs like Open Sky, Aspiro, etc. first opened they brought fresh perspectives to the field. However, changing circumstances have led to their closure, marking the end of an era for these programs whether private equity funded or not.
Current challenges offer a chance to address criticisms from groups like Breaking Code Silence and Unsilenced, and to rethink ethical considerations, treatment methods, and engagement strategies. This reevaluation is key to aligning future programs with contemporary standards of mental health, ethical treatment, and holistic care.
The field is evolving, with mental health practitioners increasingly working outdoors with different populations including young adults, veterans, people in recovery, etc. These insights are shared on the "Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors" podcast. Upcoming models for adolescents are expected to be more inclusive and trauma-informed, with more family inclusion, emphasizing voluntary participation and integration with other therapies.
Like nature after winter, the field is set to emerge stronger, embracing a new phase in its evolution. Just as the natural world awakens rejuvenated after winter, so too will the field of wilderness therapy for adolescents emerge with new strength, wisdom, and vitality, ready to embrace the spring of its evolution.