of Deschutes Wilderness Therapy
What does a typical day
in wilderness therapy look like?
Wilderness therapy is a safe and effective way for mental health professionals to provide clients an avenue for cognitive, emotional and behavioral growth. Participants are monitored at all times while the therapeutic effects of nature aide mental health professionals in guiding participants toward new perspective and healing. New scenery means less distractions and helps troubled youth to focus on the ability to recognize the unique gifts they have. They learn to access their inner strength and how to use their gifts to create positive and happy lives. Activities focus on self reliance, self reflection, open communication and individualized and group therapy.
Hike Day
Therapy Day
8:00
8:15
8:45
9:30
10:00
10:20
10:40
12:30
1:15
3:00
4:30
5:30
6:15
6:45
7:15
8:15
8:15
10:30
15-minute snooze
Meds administered if needed, health checks performed on students’ hands & feet
Breakfast prep by chef, students take down camp
Breakfast
Morning check-in
Clean up breakfast, brush teeth
Start hike
Lunch, go to growth-zone to work on therapy or school work
Resume hike
Sets up camp
Chef starts dinner, group sits around a fire or plays a game
Dinner
Evening check-in
Clean up dinner, brush teeth
Group therapy by a fire
Decompress: play a game around the fire or chat with peers
Tent time
Guides gather headlamps to signal end of day
8:00
8:15
8:45
9:30
10:00
10:20
10:30
12:30
1:30
4:30
5:30
6:15
6:45
7:15
8:15
9:30
10:30
15-minute snooze
Meds administered if needed, health checks performed on students’ hands & feet
Breakfast prep by chef
Breakfast
Morning check-in
Clean up breakfast, brush teeth
Individual therapy sessions, others participate in group activity
Lunch
Do an activity or work on assignments
Dinner prep
Dinner
Evening check-in
Clean up dinner, brush teeth
Group therapy
Decompress: play a game around the fire or chat with peers
Tent time
Guides gather headlamps to signal end of day
What does it mean?
Morning check-in
At morning check-in group members say what they are emotionally feeling and where they feel it in their body. They’ll also set their intention for the day and say if they accomplished what they said they would do during their “tent time” the night before.
Growth-zone
It is an opportunity for a student to sit alone in the wilderness during each day and work on therapeutic assignments, educational work, read a book, work on their mastery, create art, write letters, or take a moment to sit with themselves.
Evening check-in
At morning check-in group members say what they are emotionally feeling and where they feel it in their body. They’ll also set their intention for the day and say if they accomplished what they said they would do during their “tent time” the night before.
Tent-time
At tent-time students a time spend time in their tents to work on their assignments, read books, or reflect on whatever has been on their minds.
“You have 100% potential, and although it’s always
been there, it may have not always been seen by you.
Leaving wilderness you have a new outlook on life.”