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
Episode 32: Mike Petree, Founder Petree Consulting
May 28, 2019 21:29 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBMike Petree, Founder of Petree Consulting, which helps wilderness therapy programs do evidenced-based research by teaching effective ways to collect data and review outcomes. Mike shares his story on how in 1999 he and his wife, Bekkah, who both had high paying jobs decided to respond to a help-wanted ad for wilderness therapy field guides and shortly after that received a VCR cassette. The video, from Red Cliff Ascent, changed their lives forever as after viewing it, they quit their j...
Episode 31: Bryan Delaney, Program Director SUWS of the Carolinas
April 30, 2019 17:22 - 45 minutes - 51.9 MBBryan Delaney, Program director at SUWS of the Carolinas, has been working in the outdoors with adolescents since he was a young man. Much of his early outdoor training was in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and he would go onto become an Eagle Scout as a teen. In college he worked for several years at the BSA's world’s largest summer camp, Philmont Scout Ranch, and was offered a full time job there. Bryan, who is gay, refused the job after being asked to sign a document in order to be empl...
Episode 30: Paul Wolf, Outdoor Leadership and Wilderness Therapy Program Director at Southwestern Community College
April 29, 2019 14:15 - 1 hour - 93.3 MBPaul Wolf is the Director of the Outdoor Leadership and Wilderness Therapy Program at Southwestern Community College located in Sylva, North Carolina. This program is the only one in the nation that provides a certificate in wilderness therapy for those interested in working as field staff. Paul helped developed the certificate program and has been the director and mentoring students for over 18 years! Paul's journey into the field includes working as course director, climbing technician a...
Episode 29: Bill Brown, Co-founder and Family Services Director of Confluence
April 22, 2019 00:59 - 27 minutes - 31.2 MBBill Brown is the Co-founder and Family Services Director of Confluence which is a wilderness therapy program for young adults located in Thetford Center, Vermont. Bill and his brother, Patrick, founded the program in 2016 to be a hybrid wilderness program with a focus only on emerging adults (age 18-28). Bill shares his story of working as a field staff and field director for almost half a decade at Second Nature Wilderness Program in Utah to being a transition coach for Second Nature 36...
Episode 28: Robert Trout, Founder and Director of The Experiential Healing Institute
April 09, 2019 13:53 - 41 minutes - 57.6 MBRobert Trout is the founder and director of The Experiential Healing Institute which is an organization that provides family support before, during and after treatment when a family member is in a wilderness therapy program. Robert was a student in a wilderness program as a teen and went onto work as a clinician in wilderness therapy programs in different programs. Robert's journey into the field began after a family tragedy occurred and he was sent to a wilderness therapy program to addr...
Episode 27: David Koorits, Co Founder Good To-Go, gourmet dehydrated foods
March 29, 2019 19:58 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MBDavid Koortis is a former wilderness therapy field guide at several programs including Summit Achievement and Second Nature who went onto start Good To-Go foods which makes the best lightweight dehydrated gourmet meals in the world. David shares the story of his time as a wilderness therapy guide and what he learned from his time working in the field. He recounts how he met the amazing chef, Jennifer Scism, who would soon become his wife and business partner. Jennifer was a chef from New Yo...
Episode 26: Dr. Sandy Newes, Founder of Clear View Psychological Services
March 28, 2019 21:51 - 45 minutes - 62.9 MBDr. Sandy Newes is a researcher, practitioner and trainer in the wilderness therapy. She has been active in the field for over twenty years and currently provides psychological testing for participants in wilderness therapy programs as well as training services for guide staff via Peak Performance Training which she co-founded. Sandy shares her journey into the field from her travels around the country to working on her doctorate degree at Penn State in which she had to educate her psychol...
Episode 25: Mark Synnott, author of "The Impossible Climb"
March 05, 2019 11:24 - 1 hour - 89.6 MBMark Synnott is an amazing athlete, writer and father of four. His newest book,"The Impossible Climb: Alex Honnold, El Capitan and The Climbing Life" has just been published and is a must read for those interested in adventure and an outdoor life. Mark's book delves deep into the history of climbing, free climbing as well as Honnold's historic free climb of El Capitan (seen in the 2019 Oscar winning documentary "Free Solo"). Mark shares his life journey and how he has changed after becoming...
Episode 24: Reid Treadaway,Co-Founder and Admissions Director of Bluefire Wilderness Therapy
February 27, 2019 00:47 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MBReid Treadaway, Co-founder and Admissions Director of BlueFire Wilderness Therapy, started working in the wilderness therapy field in 1996 at the Ascent Program, in Idaho, as a field guide. After several years he moved onto being a admissions person and eventually would move to North Carolina in 2001 to become admissions director for SUWS of the Carolina. After a few years in North Carolina he decided to return back to Idaho and in 2014 he would join with others to start BlueFire Wildernes...
Episode 23: Jesse Quam, Educational Consultant and Clinical Social Worker
February 25, 2019 22:48 - 39 minutes - 53.7 MBJesse Quam, educational consultant and clinical social worker, started working in the wilderness therapy field after landing a job at Aspen Achievement Academy as a field instructor in 1996. Jesse shares stories about his upbringing in which his father was a pastor and the family traveled all over the country providing services to those in need which influenced Jesse to start a life of service. Jesse describes how he worked at Aspen for seven years and eventually became a field director a...
Episode 22: Dr. Mike Gass, Director of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center and Professor in Outdoor Education at University of New Hampshire
February 17, 2019 14:22 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBDr. Mike Gass is a Professor in the Outdoor Education Program in the Department of Kinesiology at University of New Hampshire as well as the Director of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center. Mike shares his journey of being recruited to play college football at St. Olaf College, in Minnesota, to becoming one of the foremost researchers and teachers in the field of wilderness/adventure therapy. He is one of the creators of the Browne Center, a program development center on adventure ...
Episode 21: Misty Blakesley, Program Manager at The Mountain Center (previously known as the Santa Fe Mountain Center)
February 12, 2019 22:27 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MBMisty Blakesley is a Program Manager at The Mountain Center (previously called the Santa Fe Mountain Center) a non-profit community based educational and therapeutic organization that, since 1979, has been dedicated to promoting personal discovery and social change among youth, families and groups through the use of creative learning experiences in wilderness, community and cultural environments. Misty shares her unique journey into the field and what it is like to work at the Mountain Ce...
Episode 20: Rick Heizer and Dr. Matt Hoag, Co-owners of Evoke Therapy Programs
January 31, 2019 20:26 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBWill talks with Rick Heizer and Dr. Matt Hoag, Co-Owners and Co-Founders of Evoke Therapy Programs. Rick is the Executive Director at Evoke Therapy Programs while Matt is the Clinical Director of and Therapist at Evoke Entrada. These long time practitioners of wilderness therapy share their journey from working at different wilderness programs to co-founding Evoke Therapy Programs in 2014.
Episode 19: Derek Daley and Gil Hallows: Co-founders of Legacy Outdoor Adventures
January 29, 2019 12:54 - 44 minutes - 61.5 MBWill interviews Gil Hallows and Derek Daley who co-founded Legacy Outdoor Adventures after working many years in the wilderness therapy field. Gil had been executive director of Aspen Achievement Academy from 1996 until it closed in 2011. He tells his story of the day that he was told Aspen Achievement Academy was going to be closed by the company and how he responded by starting Legacy Outdoor Adventures. Derek shares his story on how he worked at numerous wilderness therapy programs in ...
Episode 18: Lynette Spencer, Executive Director of Adventure Works, and Ryan Bromberek, Program Director of Adventure Works
January 25, 2019 15:42 - 43 minutes - 59.2 MBWill interviews Lynette Spencer and Ryan Bromberek from Adventure Works, a non-profit, community based, accredited outdoor behavioral healthcare program located in DeKalb, Illinois. Lynette and Ryan share their journeys into the field and why they feel community based programs are the next growth area for the field.
Episode 17: Lynn Smith, Co-founder of Elements Wilderness Program
January 24, 2019 14:57 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBWill talks with Lynn Smith, Co-Founder and Director of Family Services of Elements Wilderness Program. Lynn shares his journey from growing up in California to joining Aspen Achievement Academy in 1994 to co-founding Elements Wilderness in 2008.
Episode 16: Rochelle Bochner and Lani Dorff, Co-founders of Sky's the Limit Fund
December 31, 2018 22:35 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MBWill talks with Rochelle Bochner and Lani Dorff, Co-founders of Sky's the Limit Fund. Skys the Limit Fund is a non-profit that provides grants and support to young people and their families in attend wilderness therapy programs. Rochelle share what inspired her to take this mission on and how Lani joined in.
Episode 15: Greta Lutman, Family Services Specialist of Greenbrier Academy
December 31, 2018 22:24 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBWill visits with Greta Lutman, Family Services Director at Greenbrier Academy. Greenbrier Academy is an emotional growth boarding school for girls. Greta has been a clinician and clinical director in many wilderness programs in the Southeast region of the United States. Although not an “outdoor person” Greta tells how she fell in love with wilderness therapy and how it helped her see how change can really happen outside the office.
Episode 14: Leah Madamba, Director of Vive Family Services
December 31, 2018 22:15 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBWill visits with Leah Madamba, Director of Vive Family Services, a family support program that operates throughout the country. Leah elaborates on her long history in wilderness therapy in a variety of positions including clinician, guide and program director.
Episode 13: Krissy Pozatek, author of the book, "The Parallel Process"
December 19, 2018 13:14 - 38 minutes - 53.5 MBWill interviews Krissy Pozatek, author of the book “The Parallel Process," about her journey from growing up in New England to working as a field guide at Aspen Achievement Academy in Utah. Krissy recounts going back to school and getting her MSW and returning as a clinician at Second Nature. She would leave that position and return to the New England to write “The Parallel Process” a book that she was inspired to write after years in the field. “The Parallel Process” is used by many wild...
Episode 12: Nichol Ernst, Executive Director and Co-Owner of Summit Achievement
December 12, 2018 17:08 - 36 minutes - 50.2 MBWill talks with Nichol Ernst, Executive Director and Co-Owner of Summit Achievement, a hybrid wilderness therapy program in Maine. Nichol shares his unique journey into wilderness therapy including his time as a concert pianist, world class sailor and his challenges when getting an ivy league education. Nichol reveals how he first found out about Summit Achievement and went from being a field guide to clinician to clinical director to executive director and, now, owner.
Episode 11: Dr. Anita Tucker, Professor of Social Work at University of New Hampshire and Associate Director of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center
November 13, 2018 15:28 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MBWill interviews Dr. Anita Tucker, Professor of Social Work at University of New Hampshire (UNH), Associate Director, Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center at UNH. Co-Coordinator, Dual Masters Program in Social Work and Outdoor Education. Dr. Tucker talks about her long journey into the field of wilderness therapy and how she has become one of the foremost researchers in the field.
Episode 10: Shayne Gallagher, Founder and Executive Director Wingate Wilderness Therapy
November 13, 2018 15:14 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBWill talks with Shayne Gallagher, Founder and Executive Director of Wingate Wilderness Therapy. Shayne shares how his high school years greatly influenced his direction into wilderness therapy. Shayne has been active in the field for almost 30 years and has worked at various programs before founding Wingate.
Episode 9: Nathan Olsen, CEO of Bestnotes
November 01, 2018 18:17 - 36 minutes - 50.7 MBWill talks with Nathan Olsen, CEO of BestNotes, an electronic health records company that is used by many wilderness therapy programs. Nathan shares is unique childhood experiences from being raised by Larry Olsen who is considered the founder of the primitive skills model of wilderness therapy. Nathan reveals that he first started working in some of the wilderness programs that his father founded when he was age 11!
Episode 8: Tracy Hopkins, Founder of Dare to Rise and Director of Business Development for Outback Wilderness Therapy
November 01, 2018 18:15 - 34 minutes - 47 MBWill has a conversation with Tracy Hopkins Founder of Dare to Rise Consulting as well as Director of Business Development of Outback Treatment. Tracy shares her passion for wilderness and her mission to empower others.
Episode 7: Drew Hornbeck, Co-founder of New Visions Wilderness
November 01, 2018 18:12 - 34 minutes - 47.6 MBIn this episode Will interviews Drew Hornbeck who shares his journey into the wilderness therapy field and how he ended up co-founding New Visions Wilderness.
Episode 6: Gary Ferguson and Mary Clare
November 01, 2018 17:34 - 44 minutes - 61.2 MBWill interviews Gary Ferguson and Mary Clare, Gary is the author of many books including “Shouting at the Sky: Troubled Teens and the Promise of the Wild” and Mary Clare is founder of Clare Consultation. They were the keynote speakers at the 2018 Wilderness Therapy Symposium. Gary and Mary talk about their lives together and what they see going on in the wilderness therapy field and beyond.
Episode 5: Rob Meltzer, educational consultant and founder of the wilderness therapy symposium
October 30, 2018 15:54 - 31 minutes - 42.6 MBIn this interview Will talks with Rob Meltzer, educational consultant and founder of the wilderness therapy symposium. Rob talks about his journey into the field and how the Wilderness Therapy Symposium began.
Episode 4: Jenney Wilder, Founder of All Kinds of Therapy
October 30, 2018 15:50 - 40 minutes - 56 MBIn this interview Will dialogues with Jenney Wilder who founded the website, https://www.allkindsoftherapy.com/, which is helps parents and young people navigate the difficult task of finding treatment options including wilderness therapy programs. Jenney talks about how she feels the field of wilderness therapy field does not do an adequate job in informing the public of all the benefits of this form of treatment as well as economic benefit to rural areas.
Episode 3: Dr. Lee Gillis, Professor at Georgia College
October 30, 2018 15:42 - 37 minutes - 51.6 MBIn this episode Will interviews Lee Gillis leading researcher in the field of Wilderness and Adventure Therapy just after he was awarded the 2018 Eagle Award by the Outdoor Behavioral Research Council for his contributions to wilderness therapy. Lee talks about his time in the field and the many changes he has seen in the research area.
Episode 2: Andrew Taylor, Founder of Pure Life Aspiro
October 30, 2018 15:33 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBIn this interview Will White interview Andrew Taylor, Founder of Pure Life Aspiro a wilderness adventure program in Costa Rica. Andrew is also host of the podcast, "In the Trenches."
Episode 1: Introduction to Stories from the Field Podcast
October 30, 2018 15:21 - 5 minutes - 6.9 MBIn this episode Dr. Will White does a brief synopsis of his background and what motivated him to create the podcast, Stories from the Field.
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
October 30, 2018 14:17Stories from the field is a podcast dedicated to demystifying wilderness therapy and is hosted by Dr. Will White. In this podcast Will interviews various wilderness therapy researchers, program founders, writers, executive directors, guide staff, clinicians, former students and more. He educates the listener to the long history of the field and different trends related to this evolving treatment option. Will has worked in the wilderness therapy field for over 30 years and co-founded Summ...