Adventure Group Therapy

Sure Foot Adventures is currently working with several therapists and counselors to develop a model for group therapy sessions held in the woods. This program is based on the philosophy outlined below by Sure Foot’s President, Jonah McDonald:

“Group therapy can be particularly successful when done in tandem with a camping trip. First, the participants must all physically exert themselves (hiking) and work together (setting up camp, cooking dinner, etc.) before ever sharing in a group therapy session. This physical community-building leads to deeper community and trust between participants. The clear air of the mountains, the sound of the running streams, and wind rustling the leaves in the trees provide a soothing environment, suitable for therapy. Also, because the woods are such a different experience than our regular lives, this external shift might allow internal shifts to occur.

“When group therapy sessions are held in camp, we circle a campfire in the darkness - providing an anonymity (only voices in the darkness) and focal point (the fire) that can help clients open themselves and connect with the group.

“I believe that group therapy and wilderness trips can be transformational individually. Combining the two models seems like a natural direction to move.”

Do you have ideas about how to develop such a program? Would you like to partner with Sure Foot in this endeavor? Please contact us.