Adventure Based Counseling | Behavioral Health Services North

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Adventure Based Counseling

Adventure Based Counseling (ABC) is a group oriented program that helps participants learn to increase self-awareness, accept responsibility for their choices, and connect with others. These outcomes offer a unique opportunity to help adolescents achieve positive therapeutic outcomes.

A wide range of activities includes problem initiatives, ropes courses, rock climbing, backpacking, and community service. These activities are utilized as an experiential framework from which to teach children and families how to work well with others.

ABC is a strengths-based approach that builds self-esteem, judgment and decision-making skills, communication skills, conflict resolution and pro-social peer affiliation and family team building. ABC operates in collaboration with several area schools and youth service providers. Although there is no cost to the teens who participate or their families, the ABC Program is funded, in part, by the Office of Mental Health of New York State, grant from the United Way of the Adirondack region and other community partners.

ABC was identified in a national research project by Access Measurement Systems (AMS) and Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) as the single most effective treatment program for ADHD out of over 300 agencies involved in the research and, as a result, received the Excellence in Service – Outstanding Achievement Award from the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Primary Elements of ABC

Clients are directly involved in their treatment, rather than merely observing from the sidelines.
Individuals receive positive therapeutic benefits from the process, because they are motivated to participate in it.
Ongoing reflection during therapy enhances personal growth and progress.
The activities that are chosen must teach lessons that are applicable to both past and future experiences.
The experience is both meaningful and real to the participants because it reflects real life scenarios.

Benefits of ABC

Trust in oneself as well as others
Opportunity to model healthy behaviors of therapy staff in a safe, supportive setting
Sense of personal empowerment and accomplishment
Ability to work as part of a team
Increase in leadership skills
Stronger self-esteem and greater self-confidence
Greater sense of self-awareness
Greater problem-solving skills
Emotional discovery and healing
Greater sense of self-reliance
Increase sense of worthiness and personal value
Better communication skills
Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
Ability to set appropriate limits and boundaries
Ability to cooperate with others to achieve a common goal
Greater sense of personal responsibility
Reflect on experiences and learn valuable lessons
Recognition that actions have natural consequences
Willingness to accept help from others when needed
More optimistic outlook on life
More positive attitude
Appreciation and respect for the needs of others
Increased ability to face one’s fears rather than avoiding or numbing them
Improvement in fine motor skills and coordination
Greater willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone
Increased ability to identify unhealthy patterns of behavior
Stronger awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses

Adventure based counseling can be fun, exciting, and challenging. It’s a great way to learn and practice new behaviors, improve your interpersonal skills, face your fears, overcome personal obstacles and challenges, and heal painful emotions. If you’re interested in adventure based counseling for yourself or a loved one, or if traditional therapy hasn’t really worked, contact the program. They can help you determine if it’s a good fit for your needs and goals

Who can Benefit

Adventure based counseling can be a very effective treatment for many different mental health disorders, challenging life issues, and other conditions and problems with which people struggle. Studies have shown it to be beneficial in the treatment of:

Adolescents with substance abuse issues
Behavioral problems in adolescents
Juvenile offenders
Conduct disorders in teens
Anger management issues
Eating disorders
Recovery from trauma
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety disorders
Individuals with developmental disorders
Adolescents with emotional problems
Grief and loss issues
Depression
Adults with substance abuse problems
Relationship problems
Issues with codependency

ABC can also benefit families in conflict, individuals struggling with low self-esteem or lack of self-confidence, and those who struggle with taking initiative.

Types of ABC

Upstate New York is a vast and beautiful area for your child to explore. From the Adirondack Mountains to Lake Champlain to Cumberland Bay to the AuSable River … there is no shortage of adventure activities to challenge our clients that build skills and confidence. There are several different types of approaches and activities that are utilized in adventure therapy. These include:

Cooperative activities or games
Wilderness excursions (e.g. camping, backpacking, hiking in the mountains and other remote areas)
Problem solving initiatives
Trust activities
Outdoor activities (e.g. kayaking, rock climbing and rappelling, horseback riding)
Ropes courses (high and low)

Each of these activities is designed to be therapeutic in nature. They may focus on fostering communication and cooperation, building trust in self and others, or developing and improving problem-solving skills.