Wilderness Therapy Essay

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Struggling Teens and the Solace of Nature “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth, create reserves of strength to last their entire lives,” said famous ecologist Rachel Carson in the mid-1900s (Ferguson xvi). Today, teenagers in America are taking pills to treat anything from ADHD to depression to oppositional defiance disorder. However, the prescription that may offer them the most relief from their emotional struggles is one heavy dose of nature. During the years of adolescence, many teenagers develop symptoms of mental disorders, begin abusing drugs, running away from home, and exhibiting other concerning behaviors. The parents of defiant teens often aren’t sure where to turn. Wilderness therapy programs provide an alternative approach to healing that no other form of therapy can. A quiet place to reflect, separation from all distractions, and the formation of a deep relationship with the natural world is exactly what struggling teenagers need in order to turn their life around. Wilderness therapy was first introduced in the early 1900s in New York. Overcrowding at the Manhattan State Hospital in New York City led to forty patients being placed in tents in the hospital’s lawn. These patients showed improvements in behavior, mental and physical health. Only five years later in San Francisco, a similar situation occurred where patients at a mental hospital were taken to live in tents on the lawn. These patients also showed dramatic improvements in all areas. “Tent therapy” became popular amongst asylums. In 1961, Kurt Hahn established Outward Bound, which served participants through “active learning expeditions that inspire character development, self-discovery, and service” (Klinger 5). Outward Bound served as a model for many other wilderness therapy programs, and is still running today. Wilderness therapy includes therapeutic assessment, intervention

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