On adventure therapy and the natural worlds: Respecting nature's healing

Abstract

Some forms of adventure therapy and adventure programming rely heavily on the outdoors to achieve their objectives of client change. Due to the dominant paradigm in psychology and psychotherapy, the natural worlds are not always considered to be a factor in the curative relationship, the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions being credited to program design, facilitation, and small group dynamics, among others. This paper argues for a paradigm shift in adventure therapy and adventure programming, to accept and honor the healing powers of nature and to re-conceptualize adventure therapy as an “ecology of healing” which includes human factors as well as the natural worlds.