Co-Adventuring in Adventure Therapy

Will Dobud MSW Charles Sturt University

Uummannaq, Greenland

“The therapist is a co-adventurer, exploring the landscape and encountering multiple vantage points while crossing the

terrain of the client’s theory of change. When stuck along the way, we join clients in looking for and exploring alternate

routes on their own maps. In the process clients uncover trails we never dreamed existed.”

(Duncan, Miller, & Sparks, 2004, p. 136)

My Name is Will & I’m a Social Worker

Education BSW - University of Maryland

MSW[AP] - Charles Sturt University v

Run a small adventure therapy program in SA Awarded Australian Postgraduate Award by CSU Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy

History of Adventure Therapy

Outward Bound

•  Kurt Hahn – Experiential Education (1941) •  Rescue Training, Leadership, Service (Walsh &

Gollins, 1976) •  Massachusetts Dep. of Youth Services (Kelly &

Baer, 1968)

Expanding Adventure Therapy

•  Project Adventure Begins in 1971 •  Youth Leadership through Outdoor Survival

in 1968 •  School of Urban & Wilderness Survival in 1981 •  Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare

Growing Pains: Unethical Practice

•  Client Deaths, Suicides, Abuse (GAO, 2007) •  Government of Accountability Investigation •  No Requirement of Qualification •  “There is no definition”

What is Adventure Therapy?

“…the prescriptive use of adventure experiences provided by mental health

professionals, often conducted in natural settings that kinesthetically

engage clients of cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels”

(Gass, Gillis, & Russell, 2012, p. 1)

Process-Oriented, Model-Driven

Proper Diagnosis + Prescriptive Intervention = Effective Treatment

Targeted Diagnostic Groups +

Evidenced Based Treatments = Symptom Reduction

First Step: The Killer D’s

•  Most mental illnesses have no boundaries •  They’re Socially Influenced •  Attribution Creep – Rosenhan Experiment (1973) •  Project MATCH - a $33 million dollar study

Next? Bring on the Models

•  How do we find the best treatments? •  Treatment vs. Control or TAU •  Human Affairs International Study •  What all models have in common? •  Why are some providers better?

The Common Factors Theory

A New Equation

Client Resources and Resilience +

Client Theories of Change +

Client Feedback about the Fit & Benefit of the Service

= Client Perceptions of Preferred Outcomes

Clinical Excellence & Supershrinks

•  Who are the Supershrinks? •  Routine Outcome Management •  A Culture of Feedback •  Practice-Based Evidence

The Victor Harbor FLO Pilot

True North Expeditions, Inc. | 0477161768 | www.truenorthexpeditions.com.au

True North Expeditions, Inc. 0477161768 admissions@truenorthexpeditions.com.au http://www.truenorthexpeditions.com.au

Progress Note

Name: Date: ORS Score: Parent Score:

Progress:

Progress addressed in session by: Between session plan:

SRS Score: [] Above 36 [] Below 36

[] Increasing [] Same [] Decreasing

Was the SRS addressed directly? [] Yes [] No Clinician Signature: Consumer Signature:

0510152025303540

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ORSSRS

Program Structure

•  Individual Phase - 1-3 Days •  Team Phase - 4-8 Days •  Solo – Day 9 •  Leadership Phase – Days 9-11

17 Year Old Male Participant

16 Year Old Female Participant

Group Outcomes