Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
Health & Fitness:Mental Health
In this special episode Will discusses the announcement of the upcoming closure of Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, marking a significant moment in the private pay, adolescent-focused wilderness therapy sector. This closure is part of a larger trend, as Open Sky is the fifth program of its kind to shut down within a year. The episode offers an in-depth analysis of these closures, examining common challenges such as shifting societal perceptions, increased competition from other types of mental health treatment, and economic difficulties.
Listeners are taken through a journey beginning with a reading of Open Sky's closure announcement, offering a personal and direct insight into the issues faced by the program. The episode revisits previous interviews with Open Sky employees, highlighting their dedication to providing exceptional outdoor mental health care for adolescents. In a reflective essay, the Will draws parallels between the current state of wilderness therapy and a 'winter' phase – a time for introspection and preparation for future growth.
Significantly, the episode also revisits a January 2021 interview with Kenneth Rosen, author of “Troubled: The Failed Promise of America’s Behavioral Treatment Programs”, who had predicted these closures in a conversation with Will. This discussion offers a unique perspective on the challenges and criticisms facing the adolescent wilderness therapy sector, providing a comprehensive understanding of its evolution and the potential paths forward. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the complex dynamics of wilderness therapy and the factors shaping its future.
We want to thank Adventure Recovery for underwriting Season 18 which focuses on addiction and recovery.
Listeners are invited to explore the rich archives of over 200 episodes of this podcast on Stories from the Field.com.
176: Daniel Rogers, Director of CityScape Therapy
175: Evan Oppenheimer, Primary Therapist at True North
174: Mark Oerther, Chief Development Officer at Balance House
173: Dr. Mona Treadway, Co-founder of Dragonfly Transitions
172: Bob Hennen, Primary Therapist at Emerald Arrow
171: Carson McCord, Former Wilderness Therapy Student and Current Field Guide
170: Jill Allen, CEO of Brightstone Transitions
169: Alex Mufson, Founder and CEO of Aspen Growth Coaching
168: Patrick Hawkins, Founder of Triple Divide Lodge
167: Lucy Pritzker, author of “Crisis Interrupted: A Parents Guide to Residential Treatment for Children, Teens & Young Adults"
166. Matt Nannis, Founder and Executive Director of PIVOTpoint
165. Beth Laughlin, Director of 360 Transition Services
164. Psychological Testing and Wilderness Therapy
163: Mark Adamski, Founder of Wilderness Reboot
162: Shayna Abraham, Founder of Prepare to Bloom and Co-founder of Therapeutic Consulting Association
161. What is Coaching, and how does Wonder help families?
160. What is a "Therapeutic Consultant" ?
159: What is "Solutions Parenting Support"?
158: Exploring "All Kinds of Therapy"
157: Dr. Fred Peipman, Primary Therapist at Second Nature
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