Courage is Contagious
“Don’t ask the world what it wants from you, ask yourself what makes you come to life. Because what the world really needs are more people who have come to life.”
Blog
Girls Daring Greatly: Elements of vulnerability and strength in a therapeutic wilderness setting.
When discussing the idea of girls in the wilderness, the topic of vulnerability comes up a lot. Often it is in the context of how girls are vulnerable in fragile ways that we often want to protect or tuck away. However, having been a teenage girl myself and having worked as a therapist now for 8 years – I can confidently say that vulnerability among girls in the wilderness has more to do with courage and resilience than anything else.
Promising Results for Young Adults…
A Second Nature Study, Published in the Journal of Residential Treatment of Children and Youth, Suggests Promising Results for Young Adults in Wilderness Therapy
The Journal of Residential Treatment for Children and Youth published an article by Second Nature researchers entitled, “Efficacy of Wilderness Therapy for Young Adults: A First Look”. This is one of the first studies examining outcomes for young adults in wilderness therapy, and suggests promising results for this group.
“A Brand New Life”—One Student’s Brave Journey… A Journal by Caite
My Journey: Second Nature Entrada
October 22, 2012- December 18, 2012
My journey at Second Nature Entrada is one I will never forget. It was the start of the rest of my life. The feelings and emotions I had before entering the wilderness were ones I never thought would change. Feelings of emptiness, heavy sadness, hopelessness, and anger swirled in my body as I boarded the plane to go to Utah. I remember feeling anxious and overwhelmed, not knowing what to expect and not knowing what I had just signed myself up for. At this point I felt this program was my last shot at living, feeling like if it didn’t “work” I was destined to committing suicide. I held my breath, my heart beating out of my chest… I got off the plane, ready or not– my journey begins.
Dr. Matt Hoag, Katie Massey and Sean Roberts present at 13th Annual SEER Conference
Matt Hoag, PhD, Katie Massey, MSW and Sean Roberts, MS present the major evolutions in Wilderness Therapy clients’ complexity and meeting the new challenges with sophisticated clinical intervention at Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER) conference Oct 31 – Nov 2.
Making a Dent in The Universe
Second Nature Wilderness Program was not supposed to happen.
Stress, Anxiety and Resiliency: What Emerging Research Tells Us About How Children Handle Pressure
Based on a New York Times Magazine Article, Published February 6, 2013 by Vera Tutinuk
Defining Wilderness Therapy
Recently, a reputable Wilderness Therapist presented on the effectiveness of Wilderness Therapy at the American Psychology Association conference. Upon his return he shared his presentation was grouped in the same category as dance therapy! This is an amusing illustration of the confusion in defining Wilderness Therapy. A growing number of behavioral healthcare professionals are asking what should and shouldn’t be considered “Wilderness Therapy.” With interpretations ranging from boot camp to adventure trips there is an obvious need for a clear definition of Wilderness Therapy. A clear definition provides universal understanding of what Wilderness Therapy is and the extensive benefits gained from it.
Applying the Principles of Group Therapy to the Wilderness Setting
Irvin Yalom1 identified eleven factors that contribute to healthy functioning in group therapy, which therapists may use to facilitate meaningful and effective interventions. Application of these factors to the Wilderness Therapy experience allows clinicians to both understand Wilderness Therapy on a more sophisticated level and to design interventions that serve to highlight or develop any of the factors.
Open Space and Room to Breathe
The sun was setting on this particular balmy evening in October. A gentle breeze rustled through the juniper trees and brought wafts of sweet smelling sage across the open field near where the group was camped. The temperature was that perfect in-between: not real warm or real chilly. It was altogether different than the images of red rock formations and sprawling cactus that comes to mind when one thinks of the southwest, but then this was autumn in the high desert.