November 22, 2019

What is Wilderness Therapy?

Have you been planning to take part in an outdoor therapeutic program? Perhaps your lack of progress with any of your outpatient talk therapy sessions was what led you to believe that the wilderness is worth a shot.

Wilderness therapy can be an extremely rewarding and healing experience for most people with mental health issues. The environment you’ll find yourself in coupled with the challenges you’ll encounter can only encourage growth and progress.

Before you pack your bags and head down to your outdoor destination, you may want to know more about wilderness therapy. Veteran Car Donations shares you this information:

Wilderness Therapy Explained

In case you’re not familiar with the term, wilderness therapy or outdoor behavioral healthcare is a form of unconventional treatment that involves the use of expeditions into unfamiliar environments as a way to address a wide range of behavioral and mental health issues. It combines experiential learning and individual and group therapy in the wilderness setting. People who take part in these therapy programs are usually between the ages of 10 to 17 for adolescents, and 18 to 28 for adults.

How Does it Work?

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This type of treatment provides you with a secure, supportive, and non-critical environment that will nurture your sense of discovery. In most cases, those who engage in it are often guided by an examination that determines their appropriate adjustment to the environment and the situation they find themselves in. The wilderness therapy involves expeditions where team building exercises are conducted and primitive skills such as fire starting are learned.

According to experts, wilderness therapy mimics the challenges and the pressures that we normally encounter within our families as well as our social structures. The only difference is that unlike society, the environment is controlled and is therefore free from negative influences. For example, trust, self-confidence, teamwork, and communication skills are developed as the participants forge alliances with others to complete specific tasks.

These controlled expeditions often challenge a person’s set of beliefs as well as their views. That’s why most of those who’ve participated in such expeditions claim that their experiences have totally transformed their previously unproductive or disruptive worldviews.

How Do I Choose a Wilderness Therapy Program?

First, you’ll need to make sure that your program of choice is safe. This means that an operational structure is set in place, the staff and equipment are accessible, and that you’ll be working with licensed, trained, and experienced personnel.

Next, it’s important to be aware of the specific issues that are affecting you. Doing so will help you determine the type of equipment and personnel you may need during the course of your treatment. Before you make your final decision, don’t forget to seek professional advice from a mental health expert who knows about the ins and outs of wilderness therapy.

Do You Have a Clunker You Want to Donate?

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Wilderness therapy is indeed a promising field in mental health research that can normalize the lives of our former servicemen and servicewomen who are suffering from mental health issues because of traumatic combat-related experiences.

You can help needy veterans grappling with such issues and other concerns by teaming up with us at Veteran Car Donations. All you have to do is donate a vehicle that’s been nothing but a burden to you for the past few months. Once you do this, you’ll turn this burden into a blessing for you and for the struggling veterans and their families in your area.

We accept any type of vehicle—whether running or otherwise. We also offer free pickup and towing services in all 50 states. Plus, you’ll get a chance to enjoy a healthy tax break in the next tax season.

Best of all, your donation will help our IRS-certified 501(c)3 nonprofit partners provide vital assistance to deserving veterans. Thanks to your donation, program beneficiaries will receive mortgage-free housing, educational scholarships, general transitioning assistance, and employment services among other benefits.

If you want to know more about our car donation process, visit our FAQs page or send us a message online.

However, if you want to get started with your donation process today, simply fill out our online donation form or call us at 877-594-5822 now.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes? Call us at 877-594-5822 now to show your support with your car donation!

Last Updated: March 8th, 2023