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.
116: A History of Controversies Part 2, Kenneth Rosen follow up
115: A History of Controversies, Part 1
114: Jessica Dallman, Founder of Natural Wisdom Counseling
113: Chaim Livneh, Senior Staff for Juvenile Probation Services for Israel
112: Kenneth R. Rosen, author of "Troubled: The Failed Promise of America's Behavioral Treatment Programs"
111: Tony Alvarez, Founder of Alvarez Consulting, author, agent of change
110: Aaron Leonard, Campaign Representative for Sierra Club Military Outdoors
109: Dr. Will Dobud, Teacher and Researcher at Charles Sturt University, author, outpatient practitioner
108: Dr. Bobbi Beale: Co-founder of Life Adventures for All Consulting, Author and Podcaster
107: Russell Chamberlain, Founder of LifeSTREAM Therapy
106: Dr. Nevin Harper, Associate Professor at the University of Victoria and co-edited the books "Outdoor Therapies" and "Nature Based-Therapies."
105: Kim Sacksteder, Co-founder of Adventure-Therapist.com and so much more.
104: Tim Walsh, Founder of Adventure Recovery
103: Emily Isaacs, Founder of Emily Isaacs Counseling
102: Patrick McMillion, Clinical Director of Adventure Works of DeKalb
101: Kimberly Beck, Founder of Relational Rewilding
100: Dr. Will White, Co-founder of Summit Achievement and host of Stories from the Field
99: Dr. Maurie Lung, Founder of Life Adventures Counseling and Consulting
98: Vicenzo Narciso, Undergraduate Student at San Diego Mesa College and Former Wilderness Therapy Student
97: Hansen Hundahl, Undergraduate Student at Plymouth State University and former wilderness therapy student
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