Michael A. Gass

Adventure Therapy With Youth

This state of knowledge article provides an overview of Adventure Therapy (AT) as it is practiced with adolescents in North America, presenting (a) current findings in AT research with adolescents, (b) critical issues in AT, (c) the need for training and professional development in AT, and (d) professionalization in AT. Implications of current findings in AT research for practitioners, researchers, and consumers of AT services are also discussed.

The Effectiveness of Project Adventure's Behavior Management Programs for Male Offenders in Residential Treatment

SUMMARY Recent studies analyzing juvenile delinquents participating in wilderness therapy programs have reported little statistical effectiveness. Interpretation of these findings may be unjustified due to definitional confusion more than a clear examination of program effectiveness. Using a research methodology similar to Jones, Lowe, and Risler (2004), this study demonstrates the statistically significant three-year effectiveness of an adventure-based behavior management program (BMtA) with juvenile re-arrest rates when compared to outdoor therapeutic camping programs and standard Youth Development Center (YDC) programs in the State of Georgia. The article also offers clarity concerning the range and types of adventure therapy programs and treatment differences. It further highlights the importance of understanding intervention/treatment fidelity in adventure therapy programs, particularly regarding program settings and key clinical factors.

Effects of Program Differences With Wilderness Therapy and Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Programs

Organizations within the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs differ on a variety of programmatic attributes. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between individual characteristics, programmatic use of adventure therapy, and YOQ-30 scores of participants attending Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare and Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs). No statistical relationship was found between length of treatment and type of program as measured by client scores, while gender, involvement in individual adventure therapy, percentage of time spent on expedition, and admission scores were significantly related to changes in client scores. Characteristics associated with recovery in both treatment environments are discussed.

Treating Juveniles in a Sex Offender Program Using Adventure-Based Programming: A Matched Group Design

Ninety-five male juvenile sex offenders in an adventure-based behavior management program (LEGACY) were matched with male juveniles in state treatment-as-usual and other specialized programs in the same state to determine program effectiveness (as measured by rearrest rates). The LEGACY program demonstrated significant treatment effectiveness on rearrest rates when compared with youth development centers and other specialized programs two and three years later. Overall, three-year rearrest rates for the most serious reoffenses for each of the placements were as follows: 34.8% for YDC, 32.6% for OSP, and 19% for LEGACY.

Adventure Education and Resilience Enhancement.

This study assessed the effect of an experiential, adventure-based program on levels of resilience in fifth-grade Latino students. A mixed methods, quasi-experimental design was used to measure the impact of the Santa Fe Mountain Centers Anti-Bullying Initiative on internal assets commonly associated with resilient individuals. Results indicated this adventure education program positively affected certain resilience traits, although concerns with research methodology are raised. Female students demonstrated greater gains than male students. Suggestions for practitioners include the following: clearly defining intended outcomes, developing a safe and supportive learning environment, establishing tools and strategies that students can use in a variety of settings, and connecting the adventure experience to the school or home setting. Future research could use a more recent and reliable survey, look at varying outcomes based on gender, and assess how levels of resilience correlate with improved educational and social outcomes.

Changes: An Assessment Model Using Adventure Experiences

urrent efforts with therapeutic adventure programming generally focus on creating effective interventions for specific populations.1 Connected to the creation of such interventions, as well as the organization of other therapeutic processes, are assessment techniques. Assessment is a critical and ongoing component of all therapeutic processes, often used for diagnosing tude and the higher the stress, the more likely the client will ‘project’ unique and individual personality aspects into the ‘test’ situation. (p. 154)

The Effectiveness of Metaphoric Facilitation Styles in Corporate Adventure Training (CAT) Programs

The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes of using metaphors to enhance learning in the framing and debriefing of teamwork issues for a corporate adventure training (CAT) program. Through random assignment, four different but intact regional work groups from a European banking institution participated in a CAT program for the purposes of team-building. A fifth randomly selected intact work group from another region in Europe served as a control group. Each group received the same CAT program, but the groups were provided with different forms of facilitative metaphors in their program. All groups were measured for changes in teamwork during an initial development period, as well as during two follow-up periods to determine the maintenance of potential changes. The mixed isomorphic framing/metaphoric debriefing approach proved to be the most effective training methodology for initially developing, as well as maintaining, teamwork in the CAT training program.

Focusing on the “Solution” Rather than the “Problem”: Empowering Client Change in Adventure Experiences:

Father Sanchez: This way of consciously relating, in which everyone attempts to bring out the best in others rather than to have power over them, is a posture the entire human race will eventually adopt. Think of how everyones energy level… will increase at that point! (Redfield, 1993, p. 219).

The Effect of an Experiential, Adventure-Based "Anti-Bullying Initiative" on Levels of Resilience: A Mixed Methods Study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an experiential, adventure-based “Anti-Bullying Initiative” on levels of resilience. The goal of this initiative was to create a more positive, caring, and safe learning environment for all students at a local elementary school in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Activities were designed to promote participants’ resiliency skills, reduce bullying behavior, and create safer classroom environments. This study examined the effect of program participation on immediate changes in resilience, the enduring impact on resilience at 4 months post-treatment, and differences based on gender. In addition, this study sought to identify key program components that may have contributed to the observed changes.

How Presenting Problems and Individual Characteristics Impact Successful Treatment Outcomes in Residential and Wilderness Treatment Programs

This research expands the examination of the effects of individual characteristics on client treatment outcomes at private Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) and Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) programs. A sample of 1,058 participants was used from the NATSAP Practice Research Network. Logistic regression analyses found that within OBH programs females were significantly more likely to have clinically significant improvements than males. RTC participants reporting a history of sexual abuse were more likely to achieve clinically significant improvements than those with no history. All other presenting problems within RTCs and OBH programs were nonsignificant, demonstrating equally beneficial treatment effectiveness with all other individual client characteristics.