long term
Therapy

ABOUT

Long-term adventure therapy is a form of therapy where mental health professionals use adventure experiences in natural settings to engage individuals, families, and groups on physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural levels. This practice is supported by the Outward Bound Process Model, which helps participants overcome self-limiting beliefs. Adventure therapy encompasses three major types: wilderness therapy, adventure-based therapy, and long-term residential camping. While the structures of these types vary, their goals remain consistent.

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Packages

1. Wilderness therapy typically occurs in remote wilderness settings in a one-on-one or small-group, multi-day format. The group composition remains consistent throughout the program, mirroring models like Outward Bound.

2. Adventure-based therapy is often conducted whilst travelling, catering to individuals in multi-day programs. Activities are limited by the imagination. we travel around Australia, Europe, America, and Bali and immerse in volunteer work, history and outdoor adventure sports; each project is built specifically for the individual with therapeutic purposes.

3. Long-term residential involves placing individuals with a therapist and mental performance coach in outdoor camps, Airbnb's or apartments for an extended period, often 6 months. This extended timeframe allows participants to develop a positive peer culture, confront daily living challenges, and experience the natural consequences of their actions. This is also great for elite athletes who are in emergency care or residential care, are in an unsafe environment, or have behavioural issues. Each program includes self-regulation, mental toughness, mindfulness, sports mental skills, and everyday life skills. We take the young person to all training sessions, competitions and physical performance sessions. Our head trainer offers sports conditioning and assessments and connects them to world-class programming with a world-class team of specialists whose clients consist of Olympic medals and national teams at an additional cost.

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All adventures are guided by seven core tenets:

• Action-centered therapy takes therapy out of traditional settings, allowing therapists to observe body language in a more holistic environment.

• Unfamiliar environments remove individuals from their comfort zones, facilitating perspective shifts and resistance to change.

• Climate of change introduces "eustress" (positive stress) to demonstrate individuals' capacity for behavioural and attitudinal change.

• Observation of individuals in natural habitats, revealing patterns that may not be apparent in traditional therapy settings.

• Small group development fosters a sense of community and consideration for others' needs.

• Strength based and positive behaviour focus over weaknesses or deficits of each individual.

• The altered role of the therapist levels the playing field, as therapists participate in the same challenges as participants.

Long-term adventure, wilderness and sports therapy can help with various conditions, including:

• Choking

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Trauma

• Aversion

• PTSD

• Grief, loss and

• Substance use disorders.

This may offer benefits such as reducing feelings of suicidality, decreasing depressive symptoms, and promoting feelings of self-efficacy. Studies have shown that adventure therapy is effective, with adventure groups demonstrating more significant change than those receiving alternate or no treatment.

However, adventure therapy is often not covered by insurance and can be costly, averaging $500 up to $1,000 per day for some programs. Despite this, it is a unique opportunity for those who can access it.