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Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do you define “at-risk”? For the purposes of our program, we define “at-risk” youth as those who are currently engaged, or very likely to engage, in some mode of self-destructive behaviors or cognitions. This could include youth struggling with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, attachment difficulties, and behavioral difficulties, or youth who simply are having a difficult time interacting positively with their family. How do you screen applicants?
These questions are addressed during a face-to-face interview between our program therapist, one field staff, the adolescent, and parent(s), as well as by gathering information from relevant sources (referring agency, probation officer, therapist, school counselors, etc.) We have developed a list of screening criteria (available to all therapists and agencies considering referrals) that list DSM, medication, behavioral and history concerns. In general, we screen out youth who are at high or moderate risk for suicide, violence, and arson, or experience psychotic episodes. Are the kids really alone for three days at solo? No. While solitude is an important component of solo, safety is our primary concern. Youth camp in a circle around the staff area, out of sight from others, but within easy earshot of staff. Water and medications are distributed as needed, and food is picked up at night and returned in the morning (for bear issues). Often no words are exchanged during these visits, except for two visits from the therapist. While some participants benefit from having very little contact with staff, others benefit most when there is some guidance from staff, or require extra supervision to remain safe. We consider the individual safety and therapeutic needs of each student, and supervise the experience accordingly. What is InnerRoads’ therapeutic stance? We believe strongly in hiring the best staff we can find for the job, and allowing them to use and adapt their own therapeutic stance while working within our overall framework. To support this, we are developing staff training experiences to help staff clarify, articulate, and continue to develop their personal approach to therapy. In general terms, InnerRoads is not as focused on behavior modification as many other wilderness programs. We believe that behaviors are often the client’s best effort at adapting to dysfunctional systems, and that emotional and mental issues (e.g., self-worth, attachment difficulties, patterns of communication and interpersonal misunderstanding, histories of abuse and neglect) underlie behavioral issues and typically must be addressed before maladaptive behaviors will change. We have a more client-centered approach than most Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs (with which we are often categorized), believing that ultimately all of our clients want to be happier, and that the client’s own personal goals must be uncovered and given the highest priority. Our staff are unconditionally expected to provide the structure and consistency of care necessary to keep the participants emotionally and physically safe, but are also expected to engage the clients in collaborative and respectful ways. Treatment plans and approaches are tailored to best meet each individual’s needs and aspirations.
Recent studies done on large numbers of wilderness therapy participants show that at-risk adolescents do very well in wilderness programs, especially when compared with other forms of residential treatment. Wilderness therapy has been shown to be particularly effective at helping troubled adolescents improve self-worth, reduce aggressive behaviors, improve interpersonal skills and increase their ability to form healthy relationships. This is remarkable when one considers that most adolescent participants have partaken in other forms of treatment, with little or no success. There are a number of thoughts about what makes it effective for teens. Among the most prevalent are: the newness of the environment helps promote change, the intimacy of the living experience promotes more effective alliances between counselors and clients, group cohesion is increased by sharing the challenges and beauties of living in the wilderness, the experiential component is especially helpful for adolescents who primarily learn through doing as opposed to conversation, the physicality is in itself beneficial, and that wilderness has inherent healing power. Longitudinal studies indicate that wilderness therapy participants do very well both immediately after the course and one year after program completion. However, the research also indicates that many youth tend to struggle in-between and often returning to their pre-course behaviors shortly after the program ends. As youth acculturate their wilderness experience into their lives at home, they tend to climb gradually back to their original post-course functioning. This indicates a need for strong community-based support, as well as the inclusion of family therapy and parent support into program design. |
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Living in small groups in the wilderness and community and engaging in therapeutic work naturally create a very intense and challenging process. However, we are in no way a boot camp or survival program. A healthy, supportive, and open therapeutic alliance between staff and client is considered essential.
