How Adventure Therapy Works in Addiction Treatment
At Elevate, they use a wide range of holistic and experiential therapies and treatments to address and heal the root causes of substance abuse. Adventure therapy is one of the activities available that forms part of the physical fitness program that is designed to strengthen the mind, body, and spirit through unusual experiences.
In this article, we take a closer look at how adventure therapy works to the benefit of addicts in helping them overcome substance abuse disorders.
What Is Adventure Therapy?
Adventure therapy is defined by the Handbook of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy as an approach that is experiential and active. What this means is that it is a therapy that uses an activity-based approach to experiencing and exploring events, emotions, and feelings within a rehab context.
Adventure therapy normally uses outdoor pursuits to encourage and empower clients to make positive changes both in terms of lifestyle and attitude. Naturally, a certain level of fitness is required to enjoy the full benefits of adventure therapy, which is also an invaluable tool in achieving recovery. Elevate offers a physical fitness program as a component of rehab at all its centers.
Some generalized approaches to adventure therapy include:
Trust activities: Individuals who have been using substances for a prolonged period of time have generally become withdrawn from those close to them. Lack of trust is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome when initially seeking rehab and this can be addressed with adventure therapy. Activities involving group or family members encourage team building and mutual support, which are strong foundations for a healthy recovery from addiction.
Problem-solving initiatives: Mental clarity needs to be restored once a person has gone through detox and this is a process that continues in rehab. Adventure therapy places people outside of their comfort zone, forcing them to face unique challenges that test their ability to survive. Finding quick solutions to problems is one of the initiatives of adventure therapy that serves as effective relapse prevention in recovery.
Outdoor pursuits: Elevate’s holistic approach to treating addiction is designed to address emotional, physical and mental health issues with an integrated approach of complementary and evidence-based therapies. Adventure therapy offers a new angle on achieving an improved fitness level and also challenges the mind which combines to act as motivation to continue on in sobriety.
Wilderness expeditions: This activity is designed to allow clients to recognize their weaknesses and strengths. Being challenged in conditions far beyond the average person’s experience forces them to develop quick and healthy responses to situations. This stands them in good stead for responding in healthy ways to triggers for substance abuse in recovery.
All of the activities of adventure therapy involve an element of risk and problem-solving while instilling important coping skills and improving self-esteem. Adventure therapy teaches individuals how to share control or hand it over when the situation calls for it while assuming aspects of control and responsibility for themselves.
How Does Adventure Therapy Work?
The main benefits of adventure therapy for individuals receiving treatment for substance use disorders are that it offers the following:
- A solid structure and firm objectives together with the means to attain goals
- An opportunity for self-discovery
- Different methods of experience and self-expression including verbal, visual and tactile
It is important to recognize that adventure therapy is not a stand-alone treatment for substance use disorders and that it is offered as an adjunct, or additional, therapy. Although adventure therapy can significantly enhance the effects of other treatments, it is not designed to replace them.
According to research, adventure therapy has some positive benefits in an addiction treatment context, particularly for adolescents and young adults. Findings show that adventure therapy is highly effective when integrated with other holistic and evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment.
Adventure Therapy as One Component of an Elevate Treatment Program
Elevate Addiction Services designs and personalizes a unique treatment program for each individual entering their centers. Adventure therapy is offered as a program component if it is felt that the individual will benefit from this kind of psychotherapy. Generally speaking, it is particularly effective for younger adults and often prevents them from returning to delinquent behavior but physically fit and active people who are older are certainly not precluded from participating in adventure therapy.
The ultimate objective of adventure therapy is to give clients a challenge, perceived risk or opportunity to overcome obstacles regardless of the risk. This pushes individuals to their limit and allows them to recognize their inner strengths which they can then employ as a mechanism to maintain sobriety. Adventure therapy builds self-esteem, improves social skills and allows clients to regain control of their lives.