Teen wilderness therapy programs are therapeutic offerings that usually take place in an outdoor setting. Teens with behavioral issues, aggression, self-harm urges, and other serious mental health problems go to these programs for treatment. The key goal is to provide them with a peaceful environment so that they can develop a healthy bond with themselves, their environment, and their peers.Â
Some reports say one in seven 10- to 19-year-olds experience one or the other mental health problems. So, it is high time that mental health issues should not be regarded as taboo but rather discussed openly. To take this forward, Anasazi Therapy offers premium quality wilderness therapy programs for teens to help them deal with complex issues.
Objectives of Teen Wilderness Therapy programs:
To come out of a dark phase in teenage, all you need is a supportive environment. Behavioral health programs provide you with exactly that. Its key objectives include,
- Developing Self-awareness:
In the teen years, everybody changes. From their body to their mind, nothing remains the same. That’s why teens feel like strangers to themselves. These therapy programs offer therapeutic interventions, self-reflection exercises, etc., to help them understand their patterns, behaviors, emotions, and thoughts.
- Improving resilience:
It is hard to build confidence and be happy within your body and mind in your teen years. However, wilderness therapy programs by the Anasazi Foundation encourage you to overcome obstacles on your own, face various challenges, and adapt to different situations. This develops resilience and confidence among them.
- Boosting personal growth:
As mentioned earlier, these programs offer a way to be self-aware. Personal growth comes from self-awareness. Unless you accept the present ‘you,’ you can never go to the next step. With various exercises and activities for self-discovery, these programs are a great way to deal with problems in teen years.
- Enhancing communication skills:
In these group outdoor activities in therapy programs, all the teens connect with their peers. By living in a group setting and doing things together, teens learn effective communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork.
Challenges of teen wilderness therapy programs:
- Limited clinical support:
Although there are expert wilderness therapists available in these outdoor programs, they may not be as efficient as clinical therapists. In extreme cases, emergency requirements of licensed psychiatrists or psychologists can pose serious problems to teens. However, by collaborating with one or two such practitioners, this problem can be solved.
- Physical Safety Concerns:
Even in normal conditions, controlling a group of teens outdoors is a task. However, when they are mentally unstable with self-harming attitudes and behavioral problems, the difficulty is insane. However, with proper safety precautions, committed and trained staff, premium quality equipment, etc., the risk of such incidents can be minimized.
- No long-term support:
No matter how big your teen wilderness therapy programs are, you can’t host them for months. And it is quite impossible to treat a mentally ill person in a few days. While exposure to the outdoor environment and structured and peaceful surroundings can help a teen heal faster, it can’t replace long-term treatments. So, if any teen around you suffers from such problems, explore these programs, but remember to treat them first.
- One-size-fits-all approach:
In group outdoor therapy programs by organizations like the Anasazi Foundation, nobody can give customized solutions to your specific problems. Whatever the activity, exercise, etc., will be, it is the same for everyone. However, this approach is faulty. Everyone’s problem is different. Their patterns, thoughts, and ways of dealing with complex emotions are different. So, a one-size-fits-all approach is not the best one for a healing program.
What happens in teen wilderness therapy programs?
Now that you are aware of its benefits and challenges, you may wonder what exactly happens when someone goes to such a program. Firstly, the timings, duration, place, weather, activities, etc., can widely vary from program to program. However, usually, two models of wilderness therapy programs work.Â
- Groups hike from one destination to another and live in primitive tents and camps.
- Another one is going hiking or trekking and returning to the base station.
Besides hiking, camping, trekking, etc., behavioral health programs can include games involving critical analysis and problem-solving skills, self-reflection activities, group therapy sessions, etc.
Final Words:
Teenage is a time of transition from kids to adults. So, changes and challenges are normal. However, if it creates troubles in your life, wilderness therapy programs by Anasazi Therapy can be a great way out. Their program helps with a wide range of problems, from low self-esteem to porn addiction, suicidal tendencies, etc.Â
Your life’s meant to experience all kinds of emotions. So, learning how to deal with it is crucial to navigate a happy and fulfilling life. In the formative teen years, you shouldn’t ignore mental health problems. Rather, explore different programs and see which one meets your requirements and go for it.
