237: Climbing Mount Moosilauke: Therapy, Adventure, and Personal Triumph
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
Release Date: 06/18/2024
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...
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259: The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act: What It Means for Outdoor Behavioral Health
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this Will speaks with Derek Daley, the incoming president of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), about the transformative implications of the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (SICAA) for outdoor behavioral health. This federal legislation focuses on increasing oversight, transparency, and accountability within youth treatment programs, aiming to establish national standards for ethical care and safety. Daley explains that the next two years will involve data collection and evaluation to guide future regulations, with NATSAP actively engaging policymakers...
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258: From Survival Skills to Life Skills: John Tobias on Red Cedar Transitions
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode Will talks with John Tobias, founder of Red Cedar Transitions. John shares his journey from working at Boulder Outdoor Survival School to Aspen Achievement Academy and other wilderness therapy programs to establishing in Asheville, North Carolina. He discusses the evolution of his career, blending wilderness therapy, coaching, and psychotherapy, and highlights the flexibility and individualized approach of Red Cedar’s community-based model. John emphasizes the importance of supporting young adults as they navigate transitions, providing them with tools for independence while...
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256: Inside Elements: New Models, Neurodiverse Focus, and the Future of Wilderness Therapy
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode Will talks with John Karren, co-founder of . John reflects on how Elements has evolved over its 17-year history, moving from a strictly nomadic wilderness model to more flexible, tailored programs, including a new “Eclipse” option designed for neurodiverse adolescents. He explains the behind-the-scenes decisions that led them to integrate adventure activities, introduce heated tents, and adopt family-centric approaches, all while maintaining a commitment to the transformative power of the outdoors. John also discusses the critical role of collaboration with partners and...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode Will sits down with Zack Shaffer, executive director of Mountain Valley Treatment Center, to discuss their recent hike up Mount Moosilauke. They recount the challenging Memorial Day hike with ten residents and adventure coordinator TJ Bauman, exploring the profound physical and emotional benefits of outdoor adventures in addressing anxiety. The episode delves into exposure therapy, adventure therapy, and the therapeutic effects of nature, highlighting how these experiences foster personal growth and resilience. Zack also shares a deeply personal story about the significance of the day, marking the anniversary of a close friend's passing, adding an emotional and reflective layer to the conversation.
Zack uses this episode to emphasize the center's mission of helping adolescents and young adults overcome anxiety and related disorders through innovative therapeutic practices. He discusses the importance of creating opportunities for residents to step outside their comfort zones and embrace challenges, reinforcing the center's commitment to fostering an exposure-based lifestyle. Zack's heartfelt narrative and dedication to mental health advocacy resonate throughout the episode, making it a compelling listen for anyone interested in the transformative power of therapy and nature. This compelling conversation between Zack and Will offers listeners valuable insights into the intersection of mental health treatment and the outdoors.