Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Articles

Two Years Later: A Qualitative Assessment of Youth Well-Being and the Role of Aftercare in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment

This study evaluated youth well-being 24-months after the conclusion of outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) treatment and explored how youth transition to a variety of post-treatment settings. OBH treatment involves integrating clinical treatment approaches with wilderness expeditions that average over 50 days. Transition from OBH treatment often requires that youth and family utilize aftercare services, which are typically: (a) outpatient services, which are comprised of individualized, group or family therapy, or (b) residential services, which are comprised of residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, and others. The results suggest that 80% of parents and 95% of youths perceived OBH treatment as effective, the majority of clients were doing well in school, and family communication had improved. Aftercare was utilized by 85% of the youths and was perceived as a crucial component in facilitating the transition from an intensive wilderness experience to family, peer and school environments. Results also indicated that many continued to use alcohol and/or drugs to varying degrees, had legal problems, and still had issues forming friendships with peers. OBH treatment was perceived as being a necessary and effective step in helping youths address, and eventually overcome, emotional and psychological issues that were driving destructive behavior prior to OBH treatment.

Preliminary Results of a Study Examining the Effects of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment on Levels of Depression and Substance Use Frequency

Preliminary Results of a Study Examining the Effects of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment on Levels of Depression and Substance Use Frequency

An Assessment of Outcomes in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment

Outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) is an emerging treatment that utilizes wilderness therapy to help adolescents struggling with behavioral and emotional problems. The approach involves immersion in wilderness or comparable lands, group living with wilderness leaders and peers, and individual and group therapy sessions facilitated by licensed therapists in the field. OBH also offers educational and psychoeducational curriculum all designed to reveal and address problem behaviors, foster personal and social responsibility, and enhance the emotional growth of clients. The extant studies on the effectiveness of OBH and wilderness therapy reveal consistent lack of theoretical basis, methodological shortcomings and results that are difficult to replicate. This publication reports the results of an outcome assessment for adolescent clients who received treatment in seven participating OBH programs that averaged 45 days in length from May 1, 2000 to December 1, 2000. Adolescent client well-being was evaluated utilizing the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ) and the Self Report-Youth Outcome Questionnaire (SR Y-OQ) (Burlingame, Wells, & Lambert, 1995). Complete data sets at admission and discharge were collected for 523 client self-report and 372 parent assessments. Results indicated that at admission clients exhibited presenting symptoms similar to inpatient samples, which were on average significantly reduced at discharge. Follow-up assessments using a random sample of clients found that on average, outcomes had been maintained at 12-months posttreatment.

A Nation-Wide Survey of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs for Adolescents with Problem Behaviors

Outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) is an emerging intervention and treatment method in mental health practice which helps adolescents overcome emotional, adjustment, addiction, and psychological problems. OBH programs apply wilderness therapy as a treatment approach, which involves immersion in an unfamiliar environment, group living with peers, individual and group therapy under the supervision of licensed professionals, and educational curricula. The goal of OBH treatment is to reveal and address problem behaviors, foster personal and social responsibility, and enhance the emotional growth of adolescent clients. A nation-wide survey of 86 OBH programs that annually serve over 10,000 clients and their families showed that over 80% of all OBH programs are licensed by state agencies. Results also showed that there are more private placement than adjudicated programs by nearly five to one, and that less than 25% of client treatment costs are covered by insurance payment. OBH program models vary and are often used as an alternative treatment for adolescents not reached by traditional counseling services.