Episode 17: Lynn Smith, Co-founder of Elements Wilderness Program
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
Release Date: 01/24/2019
209: Addressing Anxiety & OCD with Mountain Valley Techniques: Zack Schafer's 'Fear Less' Insight's
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this enlightening episode of "Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors," we sit down with Zack Schafer, the Executive Program Director at . With a rich background in occupational therapy, Zack opens up about how the center uniquely addresses the challenges faced by young people battling anxiety and OCD. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding exposure response prevention (ERP) therapy, as Zack shares stories aboout this technique as well as juxtaposes ERP with adventure therapy and other ways to address anxiety. The conversation also delves into the intricacies of school...
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208: Navigating Autism & Anxiety in College: The Transformative Power of Adventure
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
This week, we talk with Jake Weld, an experienced educator and Vice President of , as he delves into the multifaceted nature of anxiety among college students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). With nearly 35% of college students and 40-50% of those with Autism confronting anxiety, this episode aims to unravel why these rates are significantly high within the ASD community. Jake sheds light on various contributing factors, from sensory sensitivities like light and sound to challenges in handling task-based frustrations and navigating social nuances. Utilizing an illustrative...
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207: From Aspiro Wilderness/Adventure Therapy to Nature Based Preschool: Jenna Krueger’s Story
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
Dive deep with us in this heartwarming episode as Jenna Krueger, a former field guide at Aspiro, opens up about her journey and the profound shifts in her career and the outdoor therapy landscape. Jenna's candid revelations about learning of Aspiro's closure after dedicating over a year and a half of her life to the program offer an intimate glimpse into the ever-evolving world of wilderness and adventure therapy and the struggles when programs close. Sharing both personal and professional anecdotes, Jenna touches on the nuanced challenges of aiding students with anxiety, all while managing...
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206: Harnessing the Outdoors: How Summit Achievement Addresses Adolescent Anxiety with Mike DeLuca
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this enlightening episode of "Stories from the Field: Mental Health in the Outdoors," we're joined by the insightful Mike DeLuca, LCSW, a clinician at - a unique adolescent residential treatment program with an adventure therapy component. Mike delves deep into his transformative journey, starting from his years at Outward Bound and the experiences that shaped his perspective on therapeutic outdoors practices. It was these formative years that led him to his different roles at . Mike's narrative shines a light on how not only influenced him professionally but also played a role in his...
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205: WinGate's Closure and the Future of Wilderness Therapy Programs
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this revealing special episode, we dive into the announcement that WinGate Wilderness Therapy in Utah is closing in September. WinGate has joined three other outdoor behavioral healthcare programs (SUWS of the Carolinas, Aspiro, Outback) to shutter its doors in recent months. We trace WinGate's origins, its rapid rise under Shayne and Sherry Gallagher and Family Help and Wellness, and ponder why these wilderness therapy programs, once hailed as life-changers, now face such existential challenges. Beyond the heartfelt narratives, we also explore the broader shifts in the industry, from...
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204: Nature-Based Healing: The Millcreek Experiential Approach with Jessica Jo Stenquist
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode, we hear the story of Jessica Jo Stenquist, the inspiring Founder and CEO of . With an illustrious seventeen-year-long career as a mental health clinician, Jessica Jo is no stranger to the transformative power of experiential therapy, and at Millcreek, she's sculpted a haven where nature becomes the ultimate therapist. In our conversation with Jessica Jo, we explore her journey, from her early days in therapeutic recreation to working at a wilderness therapy program to her vision behind . Through her narratives, we come to understand how nature, when paired with expert...
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203: Reimagining Therapy in the Outdoors: Darcy Holt's Path at Three Peaks Ascent
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode, we talk with Darcy Holt, admissions director of , a new outdoor mental health treatment program in Utah. Darcy also helps at , a wilderness therapy program that is a partner program of Three Peaks. Darcy discusses the similarities and differences between the two programs and how is reimbursable by insurance companies to help young people and their families get financial support for treatment. Darcy highlights the unique aspects of the Three Peaks program, such as the ability for program therapists to have phone calls and conduct family sessions with parents and students...
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202: Running with Anxiety to Fear Less
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode, we delve into the compelling narrative of Will Laughlin, an ultra-marathoner, father, and CEO. Laughlin, a seasoned athlete who has endured the scorching heat of Death Valley and the severe cold of the Yukon, articulates how ultra-running has become a therapeutic tool for addressing his fears and anxieties. He expounds on the evolution of high-risk adventure expeditions and the impact of fatherhood on his perception of risk. Currently serving as the CEO of the innovative , Laughlin examines the instrumental role physical challenges and adventure play in mental health. He...
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201: Celebrating 20 Years of Wilderness Therapy Symposium
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In this episode, we celebrate the 20th Wilderness Therapy Symposium by speaking with two key figures in the field. Our guests are Rob Meltzer, educational consultant and founder of the Wilderness Therapy Symposium, and Cristina Picozzi, executive director of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council. We start by delving into Rob's journey and inspiration for creating the Wilderness Therapy Symposium, highlighting the inspiration for starting the symposium and how it almost ended in its early years. Rob shares the symposium's history, including a conversation with one of the early keynote...
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200: The End of Wilderness Therapy?
Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors
In 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...
info_outlineWill talks with Lynn Smith, Co-Founder and Director of Family Services of Elements Wilderness Program. Lynn shares his journey from growing up in California to joining Aspen Achievement Academy in 1994 to co-founding Elements Wilderness in 2008.