The | Outside – Experiential/Adventure

For those recovering from deep emotional wounds, unresolved trauma, or the grips of a destructive addiction, adventure therapy can open doors to healing that traditional forms of talk therapy often can’t by itself. This is why adventure therapy is a key component of EVNSQ and all of the Balance House programs.

Unlike most forms of therapy, adventure therapy does not require you to spend all of your time sitting and talking to a therapist one-on-one, or sitting in group all day. Programs that last for a weekend or several days out in nature provide individuals with ample opportunity to listen, instead, to the still, small (or perhaps raging or crying) voice within. For many participants, this may be a very foreign experience as the majority of their waking hours are bombarded with almost non-stop noise from multiple sources – mobile phones, computers, social media, traffic, planes, trains, and automobiles, neighbors, and family members, and the self-talk that is often so negative and can sometimes be the loudest.

Adventure therapy has many wonderful benefits for those who participate in it, including the following: 

• Trust in oneself as well as others
• Opportunity to model healthy behaviors of therapy staff in a safe, supportive setting
• Sense of personal empowerment and accomplishment
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Increase in leadership skills
• Stronger self-esteem and greater self-confidence
• Greater sense of self-awareness
• Greater problem solving skills
• Emotional discovery and healing
• Greater sense of self-reliance
• Increase sense of worthiness and personal value
• Better communication skills
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to set appropriate limits and boundaries
• Ability to cooperate with others to achieve a common goal
• Greater sense of personal responsibility
• Willingness to accept help from others when needed
• More optimistic outlook on life
• More positive attitude
• Appreciation and respect for the needs of others
• Increased ability to face one’s fears rather than avoiding or numbing them
• Greater focus and attention
• Increased ability to identify unhealthy patterns of behavior
• Greater awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses

Adventure therapy can be fun, exciting, and challenging. It’s a great way to learn and practice new behaviors, improve your interpersonal skills, face your fears, overcome personal obstacles and challenges, and heal painful emotions.

• Wilderness excursions (e.g. camping, backpacking, hiking in the mountains and other remote areas)
• Problem solving initiatives
• Trust activities
• Outdoor activities (e.g. kayaking, rock climbing and rappelling, skiing/snowboarding, whitewater rafting)
• Ropes courses (high and low)

Each of these activities is designed to be therapeutic in nature. They may focus on fostering communication and cooperation, building trust in self and others, or developing and improving problem-solving skills.