Advantages of the Wilderness Therapy Programs is Tremendous
Retreating to the wilderness, we can escape from the distractions of today’s society and return to our essence. The idea behind a wilderness therapy program is to instill a sense of self confidence in its students. By teaching those the skills and resources needed to meet the challenges of living in the wilderness.
Benefits
Wilderness will make you learn on how to be in the present moment. People are also applying this even when they go back to their homes. They fell the wilderness is therapeutic, since it strips away problems and relationships that are toxic and you get to know who you actually are, focus on what your problems are, get to the core and work on it.
Immersing in the wilderness has changed many in many ways:
- Helped to get sober
- Helped to realize how they are missing the life by not leading in a proper manner
- Helped to get closer to the families.
Adult and Teen Wilderness therapy have been around for years, few have addressed the components necessary for overall wellness.
History
Open sky was started by the one who worked ten years in wilderness therapy. The majority of the programs ignored the importance of Nutritional health and lacked parent involvement in the process. It was evident that more holistic healing approach was necessary. The program should promote physical, mental, and emotional, and spiritual well being.
The healing is not just for the Troubled Teenagers and adults we work with, but also for the parents as well. The wilderness therapy program addresses a variety of issues faced by teens and young adults. From low-self esteem to depression to substance abuse.
Wilderness Therapy “vs” Conventional Therapy
The difference between wilderness therapy and conventional therapy is that conventional therapy can’t match the living and traveling through the high desert wilderness, forming strong relationships with the nature, family, friends, with one-self and the community. These are the things that create profound change. Incorporating the family, into the process of is absolutely essential. Here the parent doesn’t just send their children away but become active participants in the family’s healing.
Communication Skills
The incorporation of the communication skills is not only to the child but to the parents as well by bringing them together and utilizing the skills.
About one hour and 45 minutes away from open sky wilderness headquarters in Durango Colorado, lies the base camp, set in the picturesque beauty of the high desert region of southern Utah, where lives have transformed, abilities are discovered, strengths are nurtured, and confidence and self-esteem are restored. The therapy begins with establishing a relationship with the student. The masters and PhD level therapists individualize their approach according to a specific student’s need.
Wilderness Camp Activities
For a less verbal student who is reluctant to talk in therapy will be engaged in an activity together like building a bow drill fire with materials at hand. For young people who have been resistant to or haven’t responded to traditional therapy are one on one experiential approach. Really engages them, and we see a lot of positive results.
Students, parents and staff, work closely with open sky wilderness naturopathic physicians who developed the holistic program that addresses the individual needs of each student – Body, mind and heart and soul.
Individualized Treatment Plan
To determine each student individualized treatment plan, they meet with a naturopathic physician the first week. The family then has the option if they want to continue naturopathic therapy that includes botanical medicine, nutritional supplement and homeopathic remedies. Naturopathic physicians are in the field each week meeting with individual students, and also running wellness based groups from nutrition to self-care practices.
Nutrition is important because of the building block for every function in the body. Research shows that it is not only an important role in physical health, in many mental health issues. In open-sky they make sure they prepare all the meals and snacks using whole foods in their natural state. Such as raw nuts and seeds, organic meats that are free of hormones and antibiotics
Exercise is key
Another departure from conventional wilderness therapy programs touches again on holistic elements. Yoga and meditation is used to help students center themselves. Yoga and meditation help open sky wilderness students in a number of ways.
Yoga Benefits
- Yoga is a low-impact exercise that anybody can do.
- It improves muscle strength, tone, flexibility, it reduces stress and it actually can calm the mind.
This leads into mediation it not only calms the mind but also develops a heightened sense of self awareness. So students know how they are doing mentally, physically, emotionally. What research shows is that beginner practitioners of meditation can have immediate benefits of lower blood pressure, increased focus, mental attention, when students do this every day they understand they can have an active role in their overall health and wellness. The Research shows that the students are making statistically significant reductions in acuity of their mental health problems. More importantly they are maintaining these gains years after they have left the program.
For more information please visit www.Openskywilderness.com
