What is Wilderness Therapy?

The Wilderness Therapy concentration provides students with experience in such areas as counseling psychology, wilderness skills, ecopsychology, adventure therapy, wilderness therapy, group dynamics and outdoor leadership.

Ecopsychology: Explores and develops the relationship between humans and the rest of nature.

Adventure Therapy: Utilizes outdoor challenges as a means for therapeutic change, often in a group setting.

Clinical coursework: Involves hands-on practice with counseling skills.

Expressive therapies: using creative expression, such as art or music, for healing in the therapeutic process.

Rites of passage: A multi-day vision fast and ceremony at the end of two years of course work to mark the transition into the third-year.

The second year of Wilderness Therapy includes extensive outdoor expeditions integrating classroom learning and hands-on experience. We address the therapeutic use of survival skills, rock climbing, initiatives, canyons, rivers, horsemanship, horticulture, rites of passage and creative modalities such as art and music.

There are four core areas that comprise the Wilderness Therapy program:

1. Clinical and theoretical course work required for licensure in most states;
2. Training in wilderness skills and therapeutic interventions;
3. Contemplative practice and body awareness practice throughout the program;
4. Extensive professional experience during the required nine-month internship.