Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
233 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 70 ratingsStories from the Field: Mental Health in the Outdoors is an authoritative and enlightening podcast that explores the vast landscape of mental health therapies in outdoor settings. Hosted by seasoned mental health professional Dr. Will White, the podcast offers deep insights into outdoor therapies like Adventure Therapy, Eco-Therapy, Wilderness Therapy, and Experiential Therapy, among others.
Dr. White engages with a diverse range of guests, including leading researchers, practitioners, authors, executive directors, guide staff, mental health clinicians, and critics, helping to shed light on the nuances of these unique therapy practices. In addition to exploring the modern implications of these evolving therapeutic modalities, he delves into their rich history, providing a holistic perspective for listeners.
With over 30 years of experience at the juncture of mental health and outdoor environments, Dr. White's expertise is unparalleled. As a co-founder of the pioneering Summit Achievement, an adventure therapy program based in Maine, he has been a guiding force in the field since the 1990s. His scholarly contributions include the book "Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy" and a chapter in "Adventure Therapy: Theories, Research, and Practice." His doctorate work, "Stories from the Elders: Chronicles and Narratives from the Early Years of Wilderness Therapy," traced the origins and evolution of this specialized field.
To connect with Dr. White, visit storiesfromthefield.com. Listen to this immersive podcast to understand the power and potential of outdoor therapies in addressing mental health concerns.
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Episodes
131: Research:Transporting Young People to Wilderness: Part 1
June 29, 2021 15:19 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBThis episode examines research studies regarding transporting teens to wilderness therapy programs with Dr. Christine Norton, a research scientist at the OBH Center at UNH. Transporting unwilling participants to wilderness therapy programs has been referred to as "escorting," "gooning," as well as "legal kidnapping" and is one of the more controversial aspects of the field. Dr. Norton reviews transport research studies, how the research can help inform practice, and changes she is seeing in ...
130: The Research at the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center
June 22, 2021 10:36 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBIn this episode, Dr. Mike Gass talks about research in the field of wilderness therapy that is occurring at the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center (obhcenter.org) at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Gass reviews the history of the center, its leadership team, and the researchers. He shares how researchers address biases and how the center is funded. He educates about the research related to the safety of participants, transports of young people to programs, and a new million-dollar re...
129: Scott Vee: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student
June 15, 2021 11:35 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBScott Vee is a parent of a wilderness therapy student. Scott shares the journey of trying to help his teenage son during the beginning of the pandemic. He explains how he heard about wilderness therapy after a residential treatment program director told him that he had to pick up his son as his son was not complying with the program's model. Scott found Evoke in Utah after searching different treatment models. Scott shares he "learned as much" as his son during the wilderness process and adv...
128: Jennifer Glazer: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student
June 08, 2021 09:59 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBJennifer Glazer is a parent of a wilderness therapy student from Mass. Jennifer shares her journey of trying to help her teenage son during the beginning of the pandemic. She explains how they had tried different mental health treatments and then a friend suggested wilderness therapy. Jennifer searched the web and found True North in Vermont, which was the beginning of change for the family. Jennifer shares what they learned and the importance of "being gentle with oneself" when everyone is ...
127: Cynthia Cohen: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student and Educational Consultant
May 31, 2021 17:33 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBCynthia Cohen is a parent of a wilderness therapy student and educational consultant. Cynthia shares her family's journey of trying to help their teenage son while living in New York City over a decade ago. Cynthia reviews the unsuccessful treatment of her son by well-educated and well-intentioned mental health professionals in NYC until one suggested wilderness therapy. Cynthia shares her personal and professional journey from wilderness therapy parent to educational consultant helping othe...
126: Jill Needleman: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student
May 25, 2021 00:44 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBJill Needleman is an educator and a parent of a wilderness therapy student. Jill shares her family's journey of helping her eighth-grade son get help for emotional struggles that caused him to refuse to go to school. They tried different interventions, but nothing seemed to help. They eventually found an educational consultant who referred them to Summit Achievement as it has a school component. Jill shares how wilderness therapy saved their family and the challenges of finding a good after-...
125: Katie McDevitt: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student
May 19, 2021 10:59 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBKatie McDevitt is a mother of five children in Illinois. Katie shares her family's journey of helping her oldest son get help for overwhelming anxiety and depression that he dealt with by substance using. They tried a different school, intensive outpatient treatment, and then a one-to-one school. Nothing seemed to help. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and things became even more challenging. Katie shares how the family navigated helping their son via wilderness therapy in the spring of 2020 ...
124: Carolyn Lambert: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student and Parent Coach
May 04, 2021 13:10 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBCarolyn Lambert is the founder of Nathans WayPoint a parent coaching service. Carolyn shares her challenging journey of helping both of her teenagers get help for crippling anxiety and depression. Carolyn helped her son enroll in a residential treatment program and two years later her daughter asked for help and was enrolled in a wilderness therapy program. Carolyn shares the challenges she faced in getting help for her teenager and how it changed the course of her own life to help parents t...
123: Andy Goldstrom: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student, Podcaster and Parent Coach
April 26, 2021 23:07 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBAndy Goldstrom is a parent of a former wilderness student. When Andy's daughter began high school she struggled with behavioral issues. Andy and his wife, Lori, tried various ways to help their daughter but to no avail. They learned about wilderness therapy and decided to have their daughter transported to Pacific Quest in Hawaii. Andy shares his family's treatment journey and how their lives changed. Andy is now a parent coach and host of the "Wilderness Therapy and Residential Treatment Jo...
122: Flint Barber, Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student
April 20, 2021 12:30 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBFlint Barber is a parent of a teen who attended a wilderness program. Flint's journey begins with how he had "no idea" about his son's challenges until a neighbor informed him, which started Flint onto the path of wilderness. Flint recounts trying to convince his son to attend Anasazi and that his son replied, "you will need to have me kidnapped." Flint shares the most challenging day of his life when his son ran away from Anasazi. He shares what he has learned through the process and advice...
121: Mark Synnott, author of "The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Everest"
April 13, 2021 00:37 - 54 minutes - 49.4 MBMark Synnott is a climber, writer, father, and The North Face Athlete. His newest book, "The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest," is an in-depth look into the history of Mount Everest and what drives people to climb the tallest mountain in the world. Mark shares his journey from being a big wall climber who would never think of climbing Everest to a convert who would risk it all to get to the top of the mountain and the bottom of the mystery of who was the first to cl...
120: Tami Ann: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student and Aspiring Author
April 06, 2021 10:45 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBTami Ann is an aspiring writer working on a book about her experiences of being a parent of a teen who went to a wilderness therapy program. Tami shares her journey into the wilderness field that began when her teenager was spiraling down in a cycle of depression and drug use. They tried all types of therapy until they settled on wilderness therapy. Her husband brought her son to Open Sky, and they all began the process of change. Tami shares what she learned through the process and advice f...
119: Brenda Zane: Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student and Podcaster
March 29, 2021 23:13 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBBrenda Zane is the host of the podcast "Hopestream" and has an online space to help moms with struggling teens. Brenda shares her journey into the wilderness field that began when her teenager was using drugs and she was unable to find a local resource that could make a difference. She met with an educational consultant who taught her about wilderness therapy and her son was transported to Elements Wilderness Therapy. Brenda shares what she learned through the process and how she is now help...
118: Louise Slater: Educational Consultant and Parent of a Wilderness Therapy Student
March 24, 2021 22:35 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBLouise Slater is an educational consultant at The Price Group and is the parent of a former wilderness student. Louise shares the story of her family's struggles with different treatment options before deciding to place their son in a wilderness therapy program in Georgia in 2004. Louise tells us about what her family's wilderness experience was like, what she and her family learned from the process, and how the field has changed over the years. She shares how she helps parents prepare for ...
117: Josh Flaherty, Executive Director of Adventure Recovery
March 16, 2021 11:41 - 47 minutes - 43 MBJosh Flaherty is Executive Director of Adventure Recovery (AR). Josh's love for adventure began as a child when he traveled to national parks with his family. After college, he pursued a path as a rock band manager, including Motley Crue. Although successful, he struggled with addiction. In treatment, Josh participated in an outdoor program with AR, which reignited his early passions, and he never looked back. Josh Flaherty shares his story of being a client, field guide, and executive dire...
116: A History of Controversies Part 2, Kenneth Rosen follow up
March 10, 2021 01:06 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBIn this second controversies episode, we explore the history of more controversies related to the field. We review the history of staff training and wages for field guides. We explore why programs are expensive and discuss resources to help families pay for treatment. We look into the safety of wilderness therapy programs and review research related to risk in the field. Included is a follow-up conversation with Kenneth Rosen, author of "Troubled: The Failed Promise of Behavioral Treatment ...
115: A History of Controversies, Part 1
February 25, 2021 11:48 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MBIn this special two-part episode, we explore the history of controversies related to the field. Part 1 has five segments. We discuss the outdoor aspect of wilderness therapy and how did it all begin. We review boot camps and wilderness therapy and why they are often confused. We look into the research in the field and who funds this research, and why. We discuss transporting young people to wilderness programs, the history, and quandaries. We finish with a review of licensure/accreditation o...
114: Jessica Dallman, Founder of Natural Wisdom Counseling
February 11, 2021 11:59 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBJessica Dallman is the founder of Natural Wisdom Counseling. Jessica's journey into the field began at a young age by being raised by veterinarian parents and growing up on a rural vet clinic. Jessica would take a "transformational" Outward Bound course in high school and would go on to attend college, teaching deaf people on a Navajo reservation, and then onto Naropa University for a master's degree. Jessica shares the evolution of Natural Wisdom Counseling and her work with deaf people an...
113: Chaim Livneh, Senior Staff for Juvenile Probation Services for Israel
February 03, 2021 11:35 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MBChaim Livneh, Senior Staff for Juvenile Probation Services for Israel. Chaim's journey into the field started as a child in the U.S. and then to Israel when his family emigrated there when he was a teen. Chaim shares how being in a tank corps helped him to get closer to the wilderness and how he found healing in a greenhouse when he had cancer. Chaim shares how Israel views wilderness therapy and how it is funding wilderness therapy treatment for juvenile offenders. Chaim shares where the f...
112: Kenneth R. Rosen, author of "Troubled: The Failed Promise of America's Behavioral Treatment Programs"
January 26, 2021 10:57 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBKenneth R. Rosen is the author of "Troubled: The Failed Promise of America's Behavioral Treatment Programs" and is an award-winning journalist who has written for the New York Times. Ken's journey into the field began as a teen when he was transported to a wilderness program in Upstate New York. Ken shares his story of going from a wilderness program to a therapeutic school and other treatment programs. He shares how he went about researching and collecting stories for the book and his hopes...
111: Tony Alvarez, Founder of Alvarez Consulting, author, agent of change
January 19, 2021 11:37 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBTony Alvarez is the founder of Alvarez Consulting. Tony's journey into the field starts in the Philippines, where he was born and raised before coming to the U.S. Tony shares his story of being part of social justice in the 1970s to helping marginalized young people in Michigan with adventure work for much of his career. Tony has mentored many of the leaders in the field through his work as a college professor, books, and numerous talks about how the field can help promote social justice and...
110: Aaron Leonard, Campaign Representative for Sierra Club Military Outdoors
January 13, 2021 11:40 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBAaron Leonard is Campaign Representative for Sierra Club Military Outdoors. He became involved in the field while serving in the U.S. Army when he participated in an Outward Bound for Veterans expedition, which would start a chain of events that would change his life. He shares this story and more about what caused him to retire from the army after 27 years to begin leading and promoting outdoor experiences for veterans. Aaron has been working at the Sierra Club to help veterans via the outd...
109: Dr. Will Dobud, Teacher and Researcher at Charles Sturt University, author, outpatient practitioner
January 05, 2021 00:25 - 59 minutes - 54 MBWill Dobud is a lecturer at Charles Sturt University in Australia. He is co-editor of the book "Outdoor Therapies" and is the founder of True North Expeditions located in Australia. Will shares his journey into the field that began at age 8 when he agreed to attend summer camp. So began a long journey of "being in the dirt," including stints at Alldredge Academy, Potomac Pathways as well as Alaskan Crossing. He would fall in love with an Australian, move there to get his Ph.D., and begin pra...
108: Dr. Bobbi Beale: Co-founder of Life Adventures for All Consulting, Author and Podcaster
December 23, 2020 12:19 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBBobbi Beale is Co-founder of Life Adventures for All Consulting which supports programs, agencies, and organizations to achieve their goals for improving the lives of their clients by providing training, consulting and technical assistance to implement Adventure Therapy locally. Bobbi's journey into the field began at a young age as she grew up on her family's campground. Bobbi shares collaboration stories including the new book, "Adventure Group Psychotherapy" and the podcast "Pondering Li...
107: Russell Chamberlain, Founder of LifeSTREAM Therapy
December 15, 2020 13:01 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBRussell Chamberlain is the founder of LifeSTREAM Therapy located in Portland, OR. LifeSTREAM's motto is "Life Success Through Relationship in Experiential & Adventure Modes." Russell has worked in the field for almost 40 years from being a field guide to a field director to an outpatient clinician. He has worked at NOLS, Outward Bound, as well as for programs all over the nation. He shares his journey in the field which includes being a parent of a teen who went to a wilderness therapy progr...
106: Dr. Nevin Harper, Associate Professor at the University of Victoria and co-edited the books "Outdoor Therapies" and "Nature Based-Therapies."
December 08, 2020 13:43 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBDr. Nevin Harper is an Associate Professor at the University of Victoria and co-edited the books "Outdoor Therapies" and "Nature Based-Therapies." Nevin shares his journey from being raised in rural Canada to working as a field guide and running wilderness programs. He shares why he decided to become a graduate student in the U.S. and his time assisting at the Outdoor Behavioral Research Center. Nevin returned to Canada to teach, write books, and be a counselor at the Human-Nature Counsellin...
105: Kim Sacksteder, Co-founder of Adventure-Therapist.com and so much more.
November 30, 2020 22:17 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBKim Sacksteder is co-founder of Adventure-Therapist.com and residential clinical supervisor of the adventure therapy program at the Buckeye Ranch in Ohio. Kim shares her journey into the field and how she has worked tirelessly for over 20 years to help the field evolve by volunteering. Kim is a true servant leader and received the 2020 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award from the Therapeutic Adventure Professionals Group. She is also co-author of the just-released book, "Adventure Group Psychot...
104: Tim Walsh, Founder of Adventure Recovery
November 24, 2020 11:36 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBTim Walsh is the founder of Adventure Recovery in CT. Tim’s journey into the field started at a young age due to trauma and addiction. Tim shares that in his 20’s while in treatment he “walked through fire” to realize that mentors in his life including a mobster, a judge, and a friend’s mother had changed the course of his life from going to jail to a path of service. He shares his journey and how he founded Adventure Recovery which is a recovery-focused adventure guide service and so much m...
103: Emily Isaacs, Founder of Emily Isaacs Counseling
November 17, 2020 14:46 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBEmily Isaacs is the founder of Emily Isaacs Counseling in Colorado. Emily's journey into the wilderness therapy field began in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco where she grew up. Emily shares stories including going from being a city kid to a field guide at Open Sky to contributing to diversity in the outdoors as the Executive Director of Women's Wilderness. Emily shares her work with women veterans and the Climbing Grief Project. Emily has a thriving outpatient wilderness thera...
102: Patrick McMillion, Clinical Director of Adventure Works of DeKalb
November 11, 2020 14:42 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBPatrick McMillion is the Clinical Director of Adventure Works of Dekalb which is a non-profit adventure therapy program located in Illinois. Patrick began his journey into the field at the age of 3 when he vividly recalls camping with his father. Patrick shares this story and many more including his time as the Chair of the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group of the Association of Experiential Education and how the evolution of the Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist credential came ...
101: Kimberly Beck, Founder of Relational Rewilding
October 31, 2020 16:53 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBKimberly Beck is the founder of Relational Rewilding in CO. Kimberly shares that she was obsessed with animals and nature as a child. Her passion grew into facilitating the relationship between people and nature, people and animals, and people and people in various ways. Kimberly has designed and led environmental programs as a Naturalist and a Certified Interpretive Guide. She would go earn a Master’s in Counseling from Colorado State University which began her path into healing others via ...
100: Dr. Will White, Co-founder of Summit Achievement and host of Stories from the Field
October 27, 2020 13:49 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBIn celebration of the 100th episode of Stories from the Field, Dr. Will White, tells his story about how he became involved in wilderness therapy and how the Stories from the Field podcast, book, and dissertation came into being. He shares how his family, scouting, college professors, and Buddhist teachers led him to the path of wilderness therapy. He reveals how he became involved in starting Summit Achievement in 1996 when there were no other wilderness therapy programs on the east coast....
99: Dr. Maurie Lung, Founder of Life Adventures Counseling and Consulting
October 20, 2020 11:01 - 56 minutes - 52 MBDr. Maurie Lung is one of the foremost leaders in the field of adventure therapy and is the founder of Life Adventures Counseling and Consulting. She has over 25 years of experience as an adventure therapist, business owner, author, mentor, evaluator, and university instructor. Maurie shares many stories including how she was inspired as a child to help people through adventures in the outdoors after an incident in her first week at a summer camp. Maurie tells how the Adventure Therapy Certi...
98: Vicenzo Narciso, Undergraduate Student at San Diego Mesa College and Former Wilderness Therapy Student
October 14, 2020 18:31 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBVicenzo Narciso grew up in Seattle, Washington, and struggled as a teenager in following rules at home and school. He also began using substances and regularly skipped school. Early one morning two individuals transported Vicenzo to Utah, a place that he could not even find on a map, and he was enrolled at Elements Wilderness Therapy. This is how Vicenzo began his journey to treatment and eventual recovery. Vicenzo shares his unique journey and how wilderness prepared him for the current CO...
97: Hansen Hundahl, Undergraduate Student at Plymouth State University and former wilderness therapy student
October 06, 2020 13:55 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBHansen Hundahl is an undergraduate student at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H. When Hansen was a high school freshman he was struggling with his parent's divorce, substance use, and learning challenges. Hansen shares his journey of change that began one night when he was transported to BlueFire Wilderness Therapy program in Idaho. Hansen attributes his change to the field guides who taught him mindfulness and other important lessons. Hansen hopes to start a wilderness program in ...
96: Dr. Lee Gillis: Honors the legacy of Karl Rohnke, Defines adventure/wilderness therapy, Honored by APA
September 29, 2020 13:31 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBDr. Lee Gillis is a psychology professor at Georgia College. Lee shares stories about his friend and mentor, Karl Rohnke, who passed away last week. Karl impacted the field in many ways including writing classic texts such as "Cranking out Adventure", "Cowtails and Cobras", "Silver Bullets" and others. Lee also explores the definitions of adventure and wilderness therapy and how he was recently honored by the American Psychological Association for his work in adventure group therapy. A firs...
95: Chris Squier: Family Services Coordinator at Black Mountain Academy and former wilderness therapy student
September 15, 2020 14:13 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBChris Squier is the Family Services Coordinator at Black Mountain Academy in N.C. As a teen, Chris was transported from Florida to New York and attended Adirondack Leadership Expeditions due to behavioral challenges. Chris shares his story of difficulties in the change process as after wilderness he returned home and continued to struggle. He enrolled in Four Circles in N.C. as a young adult and attended it twice. Chris feels that wilderness programs saved his life and is committed to a path...
94: Connor Boyle, Founder of Revival Wilderness Therapy and former wilderness therapy student
September 08, 2020 13:13 - 59 minutes - 54 MBConnor Boyle is the founder of Revival Wilderness Therapy located in New Hampshire. Connor shares his story of having a successful law career in Boston while suffering from anxiety/depression combined with alcoholism. He tried traditional residential treatment but it did not help. He shares how went to a wilderness therapy program at the age of 33 which was the "most impactful" experience of his life. He left his law career worked in behavioral healthcare and a wilderness program and then st...
93: Nick Slovak, Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery and former wilderness therapy student
August 31, 2020 22:30 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MBNick Slovak is the Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery located in North Carolina. When Nick was a teen he experienced several challenges including his father dying on Nick's 15th birthday. Nick shares his story of how he struggled and with his mother's support he ended up going to Summit Achievement where his life began to change. He shares how time in the wilderness with supportive peers helped chart a new course in his life. Nick has over a decade of sobriety and is now a leader in t...
92: The Business of Wilderness Therapy: Part 2- Q and A
August 27, 2020 14:02 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBThis episode is a follow up to Ep. 91: The Business of Wilderness Therapy. We crowdsourced questions related to the business of wilderness therapy from listeners and others to ask questions about the business side of the field. Some of the questions to be answered include: What qualifications do people have in running a wilderness therapy business? What are the business skills one has to have? How do you thing insurance reimbursement will impact wilderness therapy? What is the future of the ...
91: The Business of Wilderness Therapy: Part 1
August 25, 2020 12:55 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBHave you ever thought about starting a wilderness therapy program? Have you ever wondered how and why the field of wilderness therapy went from being primarily dominated by non-profit programs to currently being inundated with for-profit programs? This episode focuses on the business side of wilderness therapy and the different models of operating in the field. This story explores the history of the business of the field including how the for-profit Aspen Education Group emerged in 1989 and ...
Episode 90: Miriam Miller, Field Guide at Trails Carolina and former wilderness therapy student
August 11, 2020 14:17 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBMiriam Miller is a new field guide at Trails Carolina and former wilderness therapy student. Miriam grew up in South Carolina and faced many challenges during her childhood. By the time she got to college she became overwhelmed with issues related to trauma that she reached out to her mother to get her into a wilderness therapy program. Miriam shares her treatment journey and why she choose wilderness therapy. She shares the difficulty of paying for wilderness therapy treatment and how she w...
Episode 89: Emma Stein, Undergraduate Student at University of New Hampshire and Former Wilderness Therapy Student
July 28, 2020 14:14 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBEmma Stein is an undergraduate student in Outdoor Education at the University of New Hampshire. When Emma was young she suffered a great deal of loss as her father died when she was 9 and her mother died when she was 16. Emma shares the story of challenges related to the pain she was suffering and how traditional mental health treatment had limited impact. At 16 she went to Summit Achievement a wilderness therapy program in Maine and it changed her life forever. She shares her story of grit...
Episode 88: Kaiumati Roche, Co-owner of Sojourn Consulting and former wilderness therapy student
July 21, 2020 18:35 - 1 hour - 66 MBKaiumati Roche is co-founder of Sojourn Consulting which supports and consults companies and individuals in Experiential Education and Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare. Kai shares his story of struggling in college and going to a wilderness therapy program in Utah which changed the course of his life to pursue a career in wilderness therapy. He has been a field guide or director at Wingate, New Visions, BlueFire, and Evoke. Kai shares his thoughts on the field and how Sojourn Consulting helps...
Episode 87: Tom Whalen, Undergraduate student at Plymouth State University and former wilderness therapy student
July 14, 2020 15:57 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBTom Whalen is an undergraduate student at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H. Tom grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, and really struggled high school. Tom shares how outpatient and inpatients interventions did not help him. While in a residential treatment center a clinician recommended wilderness and he decided to give it a try. Tom shares his transformational story of being a student in a wilderness program, how it changed his life and why he is interested in pursuing a career i...
Episode 86: Sarah Stusek: Filmmaker, Author and Former Wilderness Therapy Student
July 07, 2020 14:05 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBSarah Stusek of Stusek Studios has worked in the film and television industry since childhood. When she was 17 years old she was brought to a wilderness therapy program in Montana called Three Rivers. The transporter told her, "You should write a book about this" and now, 13 years later, she has finished the book and it will soon be a motion picture. Sarah shares her challenging journey into the wilderness and how it changed her life. She shares her thoughts about the field, her book, and th...
Episode 85: Bryce Bauer, Relationship Coach and Former Wilderness Therapy Student
June 30, 2020 15:38 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBBryce Bauer is a relationship coach in Utah. Bryce shares his story of mental health and substance abuse challenges as a teen and young adult which eventually led to a traumatic car accident. After a family intervention, he reluctantly enrolled in a wilderness therapy program. He shares how his journey into the field and the challenges of being a student that shifted the course of his life. Bryce would later work as a field guide in several wilderness programs. He is committed to service to ...
Episode 84: Judith Sadora, Therapist at Evoke Cascades
June 23, 2020 10:01 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBJudith Sadora, Therapist at Evoke Cascades. Judith shares her story of being the first black woman therapist in a program that is part of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council, and perhaps, the first-ever black woman therapist in wilderness therapy. She shares her challenges in the field and how she connected with allies who encouraged her along the way. Judith also educates the listener on how racism should be seen through a mental health lens and how she works with teens of color in wi...
Episode 83: Wilderness Therapy and the Five Pandemics
June 18, 2020 21:30 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBThis episode will delve into the history of wilderness therapy and how the field responded to five pandemics (crisis) during its long evolution. Will White will share the story of how different national and global calamities were catalysts for the evolution of wilderness therapy including a viral pandemic in 1901, global strife in 1941, the civil rights movement in 1968, the great recession of 2008 and how wilderness therapy is best suited to address the mental health crisis of 2020.
Episode 82: Alex White, Adventure Therapy Outpatient Clinician
June 09, 2020 14:32 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBAlex White is an adventure therapy outpatient clinician. His journey into the field began as a child as his parents were mental health professionals. In college, he led outdoor orientation trips for incoming students and fell in love with the work. He went onto be a field guide at Red Top Meadows a state-funded wilderness therapy program in Wyoming. He shares his journey from field staff to clinician to outpatient adventure therapist. He shares why he believes that the future of the field is...