200: The End of Wilderness Therapy?
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
Release Date: 07/18/2023
269: Into the Ice: Bestselling Author Mark Synnott on Sailing the Northwest Passage and Finding Meaning in Adventure
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this special live episode Will welcomes his longtime friend and world-renowned adventurer Mark Synnott, a veteran big wall climber, elite alpinist, National Geographic writer, and bestselling author of The Impossible Climb and The Third Pole. Mark joins remotely—from a sailboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean—for a captivating conversation recorded live at the Whitney Community Center in Jackson, New Hampshire. The discussion centers on his newest book, Into the Ice, which chronicles his bold journey through the Northwest Passage and his deep dive into one of history’s greatest...
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268: Helping Fathers Thrive: Jason Frishman on Journeymen Foundation, Mental Health, and Outdoor Growth
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this heartfelt episode, Will welcomes Dr. Jason Frishman, clinical psychologist and founder of the , an organization dedicated to helping fathers foster connection, resilience, and growth through community and mentorship. Jason shares how his years of clinical practice led him to create Journeymen, moving beyond traditional therapy models to build spaces where fathers can share stories, support one another, and rediscover their essential role at home and in their own lives. The conversation explores why so many fathers feel isolated in today’s world, the importance of redefining...
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267: The Tragedy on Mount Washington That Changed Search and Rescue: Ty Gagne on “The Lions of Winter”
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this powerful episode Will sits down with acclaimed author and risk management expert Ty Gagne to discuss his latest book, Ty takes listeners behind the scenes of the tragic 1982 search and rescue mission that claimed the life of volunteer Albert Dow—an event that forever changed New Hampshire’s backcountry rescue protocols. Through gripping storytelling and deep reflection, Ty illuminates the heroism, emotional toll, and legacy of this landmark incident, shedding light on the psychological challenges faced by rescuers and the evolution of mountain safety over the past four decades....
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266: Healing in the Wild: Audrey Costa on Nature, Addiction, and Personal Transformation
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this powerful episode Will speaks with Audrey Costa, founder of , about her powerful journey from personal hardship to purposeful healing. Audrey opens up about her struggles with addiction, parenting through adversity, and how turning to nature—and backpacking in particular—transformed her mental health. Through her vulnerability and wisdom, she shares how movement, nature, and creativity became the cornerstones of her recovery and the foundation for her work with others. Audrey also dives into her nature-based offerings, including trauma-informed hiking experiences, Wild Resilience...
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265: Grief, Healing, and the Outdoors: Jason Stout’s Journey from Loss to Purpose
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Will welcomes Jason Stout, founder of , to share his story of grief, healing, and the outdoors. Jason opens up about experiencing multiple profound losses as a child—including the deaths of his sister, grandmother, and father—and how those early tragedies shaped the course of his life. Jason describes how time in nature helped him begin to heal and led him to dedicate his career to supporting others who are grieving. From guiding wilderness expeditions for teens who have lost loved ones to facilitating peer support programs for military...
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264: Helping Neurodivergent Teens Thrive: Brandon Moffitt from Black Mountain Academy
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode, Will welcomes Brandon Moffitt, Executive Director and Co-Founder of in North Carolina. Brandon shares his journey from working in wilderness therapy to founding , a specialized therapeutic school for neurodivergent students. He discusses the importance of integrating academic, social, and therapeutic support for adolescents with learning differences and neurodevelopmental challenges. He also highlights how outdoor experiences play a crucial role in fostering confidence, resilience, and social engagement among students. Brandon also introduces Black Mountain Academy’s new...
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263: The Rise of Nature-Based Therapy: A Conversation with Katie Asmus
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this engaging conversation, Will welcomes back Katie Asmus, founder of the to discuss the evolution of her work integrating nature-based therapy, somatic awareness, and rites of passage. Over the past five years, her practice has expanded significantly, growing into a group practice and training center that helps therapists incorporate nature therapeutically. Katie highlights how nature supports emotional regulation, trauma healing, and overall well-being, explaining how the accessibility of nature-based therapy has grown, especially post-pandemic. She discusses the various ways her...
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262: The Evolution of Outdoor Therapy Research: Dr. Tucker & Dr. Norton on the Outdoor Research Collaborative for Health, Wellbeing, and Experiential Engagement
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode Will talks with Dr. Anita Tucker and Dr. Christine Norton about the transformation of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Center into the newly established at the University of New Hampshire. The ORC's mission is to expand research efforts beyond wilderness therapy to encompass a wider array of outdoor-based mental health interventions, including community-based programs, trauma-informed practices, and experiential engagement. Dr. Tucker and Dr. Norton explain how the ORC is creating a more inclusive research environment by incorporating diverse voices, including former...
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261: Can AI Be Your Outdoor Therapist? A Real-World Experiment in Mental Health & Nature
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
Want to listen to an outdoor therapy session? In this episode Will embarks on a personal experiment inspired by Reid Hoffman’s new book, Superagency. After reading about AI’s potential role in mental health, Will decided to test whether an AI chatbot could function as a real-time outdoor mental health counselor. While hiking and skiing in the backcountry, he engaged in a structured conversations with an AI therapist he named “Diane,” trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and recorded it. The session provided insights into processing emotions, adjusting to life...
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260: Myths, Groups & Outdoor Mental Health: Brant Evans on Ancient Wisdom in Modern Therapy
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
What can ancient myths teach us about group dynamics, leadership, and mental health? In this episode Will sits down with Brant Evans (pen name Brant Elwood), co-author of , to explore how timeless stories offer powerful insights into modern therapy and leadership. Drawing from his experiences as a wilderness therapy field guide, an executive director in recovery programs, and now a therapeutic consultant at , Brant shares how archetypal narratives help us understand the unconscious forces shaping group behavior. Will and Brant discuss the evolving landscape of wilderness therapy, the impact of...
info_outlineIn the celebratory 200th episode of Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors, guest host Jake Weld catches up with the podcast's creator, Dr. Will White, who reflects on the transformative changes witnessed in outdoor therapies in the last 200 episodes. Will sees the field in a transformative era, with more acceptance of outdoor therapy's impact on mental health. However, he also notes a contraction in segments due to controversies surrounding adolescent programs that enroll students via transport.
Will analyzes the popularity and reach of the podcast, noting that the most downloaded episodes focus on controversies, research, and change within wilderness therapy. He explains this led to the rebranding of the podcast from "Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy" to "Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors," aiming to better reflect the diverse stories and topics discussed.
In the discussion, Will shares insights about varying perspectives on wilderness therapy, adventure therapy, and outdoor behavioral healthcare, all underscored by recent Google search trends. He emphasizes the need for mental health practitioners to incorporate outdoor therapy into their treatment approaches, justifying the podcast's name evolution.
Looking to the future, Will reveals that the next season will focus on treating anxiety in different settings. Upcoming special episodes include celebrating the 20th Wilderness Therapy Symposium and announcing a new outdoor mental health treatment program. For his personal journey, Will is investing his time in advocating for outdoor therapy integration, supervising younger mental health practitioners, and working on a new podcast about anxiety titled "Fearless."