What is Adventure Therapy?
Adventure Therapy is a holistic, therapeutic approach provided by mental health professionals in an outdoor setting. The focus is on individuals facing and overcoming challenges in a way that invites deep change. Participants engage in real-time activities that encourage learning new ways to cope with stress, altering old patterns of behavior, and inviting a shift in their relationship with themselves.
Nature becomes a co-facilitator of change, where the therapist can integrate the natural setting into the therapy through metaphor and experiential learning.
Integrating movement and action in tandem with verbal narrative offers an opportunity for exploration of the old narratives with new insight, attitude, and depth, bringing change and insight beyond the cognitive and emotional domains, and into the physical and behavioral domains.
A primary benefit of Adventure Therapy is challenging unhealthy self-concept by building self-efficacy and self-esteem.
Benefits of Adventure Therapy
Increasing self confidence and self efficacy
Working through anxiety and depression
Creating resilience and empowerment
Learning new ways to communicate with and trust others
Identifying and breaking unhealthy relationship patterns
Encouraging restorative healing in the mind and body
Common Adventures
Trails: Hiking, Rock Climbing, Biking
Water: Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle boarding, Surfing, Swimming
Snow: Skiing, Snowshoeing, Fire making
Nature: Grounding, Earthing, Farming, Mindfulness
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Nature heals
All people are deserving of dignity, respect, and benevolence
Respect our social community and natural environment
Concern for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being
Sustainable growth
Competency, compassion, and accessibility for all
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To provide mental health opportunities hosted outdoors
To invite clinicians and clients into nature for healing
To provide part-time and seasonal work for clinicians and guides in an outdoor setting
To make mental health services more accessible to underserved populations in the community
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OATS was born in 2021 in an effort to integrate adventure and nature with traditional therapeutic modalities, recognizing that traditional therapy ignores nature as a powerful tool for healing and growth.
History of Adventure Therapy
In 1800’s Friends Hospital in Philadelphia integrates natural environment
In 1929 the camping movement invites outdoor experience with therapeutic intentions
In 1941 Outward Bound Program started using Adventure Therapy developed by Kurt Hahn
More organizations use adventure therapy which include: National Outdoor Leadership School, The Outdoor Behavioral health association organizations
Ulrich study, Kaplan study, Kellert, etc.
The Team
The OATS team is made up of licensed clinicians and volunteers who share a passion for helping people heal through the outdoors.
Clinicians
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Sean Fitzpatrick
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Nathan Michels
Board
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Fred Cole
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Cathy Cole
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Sarah Brinkman
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Nathan Michels
Volunteers & Clinician Collective
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Katrina Stoner
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Courtney King
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Sean Fitzpatrick
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Chelsea Kuzmak-Aho