Wilderness Treatment ProgramsIf you have an adolescent or teen that has a substance abuse problem and have tried talking, begging and screaming with no results, there are programs that might help. Wilderness treatment programs are available and have a reasonable success rate with troubled adolescents. Wilderness Treatment Programs are also called Outdoor Therapy Programs. When you have an adolescent with a substance abuse or behavior problem removing them from their environment can have a positive effect. Your 'home' environment may be perfectly fine, but outside influences such as peers, neighborhood and others, can directly affect an adolescent who has lost their way. A wilderness treatment program removes all these undesirable outside influences along with the noise and stressors of everyday life. Wilderness Treatment Programs concentrate on changing undesirable behavior through self discipline, teaching skills for self accountability and raising self esteem through accomplishments. Most of these types of treatment programs for substance abuse or behavior problems will also incorporate traditional therapy sessions along with a 12 step program. Most Wilderness Treatment Programs incorporate a spiritual approach to treating anxiety, depression and substance abuse issues to help the adolescent get in touch with the underlying reasons for the continued behaviors. Also the 12 step program teaches one to rely on his/her higher power for inner strength and peace. Wilderness Treatment Programs take the adolescent out of the comfortable, routine environment where destructive behavior patterns keep repeating themselves and put them in an environment that forces them to learn self reliance. Self reliance is key to 'breaking away' from 'following the crowd' and learning to take responsibility for one's own actions. Usually in Wilderness Treatment Programs the adolescent or 'camper' will have the bare necessities (no video games, cars or cell phones) and will live in the outdoors. They will learn to rely on themselves and be taught basic survival skills that will help them to build self esteem and to build healthy relationships with those that can impact them in a positive way instead of 'dragging them down' .These types of programs provide emotional and physical challenges to the 'camper' and give them time to examine, discuss and take responsibility for their actions. When you are experiencing these devastating problems with your teen it is emotionally draining. If you are considering a Wilderness Treatment Program, there are many available today. Be sure to do your research to find a program that would be best suited for your adolescents needs. Ask the management of the program if they have names and numbers of parents that you may contact to speak with about their teens' experience at that particular Wilderness Treatment Program. Never send your teen out of the country for treatment and look for a Wilderness Treatment Programs that involves the family in therapy. Most importantly, don't give up. There can be light at the end of the tunnel. |