Adventure Therapy Program

Already tried traditional counseling options in an outpatient setting? Or just looking for an alternative counseling experience? Our Adventure Therapy Program might be your next step.

The Adventure Therapy Program is a structured counseling process that uses experiential elements and intentional coordination of treatment to provide a unique counseling experience. The process lends itself to increasing client engagement and provides additional family support, allowing everyone to work together towards healing.

This structure of the program is outlined below. We ask clients and families to make a 4 month commitment to allow the process to take place.

Individual Counseling Sessions

50 minute counseling sessions take place weekly. These can take place in the office or outdoors, but include experiential interventions as a modality of treatment.

Parent Support and Education Meetings

30 minute phone calls occur every other week between the parent(s) and counselor. Parents also have access to additional support and education materials.

Adventure Therapy Experiences

Individual participates in an initial group campfire therapy session, 2 Adventure Therapy Trips (3 days, 2 nights) that occur on a decided weekend, and a rock climbing therapy experience.

Client and Family Ceremony

At the end of 4 months, the client and family participate in a client-lead ceremony that commemorates the work toward healing that has been accomplished by the all individuals within the family.

How do I get started?

Contact collin@innertrekguides.com or call 513-201-5858 regarding any questions you have. The program can be started at any time outside of the months of November through February.

What is an Adventure Therapy Trip?

  • Adventure therapy trips include camping at a basecamp location or backpacking on trail moving from campsite to campsite. They are led by our lead therapist and another guide. They are typically facilitated in a small group setting of 3 to 5 participants along with guides.

  • Participants will be learning camping skills, engaging in exploration and fun activities, participating in therapeutic discussions and experiential activities, and maintaining camp and practicing self care. All these are activities are completed and viewed through a therapeutic lens, allowing the therapist and participant to engage in the helpful and detrimental patterns that show up within the milieu of the day to day activities.

  • The therapist uses the Experiential Learning Model (David Kolb, 1984) to facilitate new learning and adaptation toward healthier responses, patterns and beliefs that the participant can take forward and translate into other contexts of life.

  • Adventure Therapy Trips take place somewhere within approximately 2 hours of the Cincinnati area. Participants are provided necessary outdoor and camping equipment, a packing list for personal items, and healthy food options for the trip.

Why this versus other therapy options?

  • The adventure therapy program gives an increased level of structure, helping the client and family have a better idea of what the process looks like.

  • Engaging multiple aspects of learning through experiences gives a person more opportunities to make learning connections, remember things they're learning, and apply it to a variety of situations in life.

  • This type of engagement through experiential processes also allows for additional opportunities for the client and therapist to connect. Therapy research indicates that better outcomes in therapy can be predicted by higher levels of client engagement, which is highly affected by the relationship with the therapist.

  • This can be a great way to start therapy and build a strong relationship with a counselor and then continue therapy after the program is done.

What is the cost?

A monthly payment of $1000 is made for a minimum of 4 months to cover the costs of all that's included below:

  • Weekly Therapy Sessions with Therapist

  • 2x per month Parent Phone Calls with Therapist

  • Initial Campfire Session

  • 2 Adventure Therapy Weekend Trips (Facilitated by the therapist and lead guide)

  • Group Rock Climbing Therapy Session (option for additional therapy sessions including rock climbing)

  • Ceremony Session (family participates) to recognize growth and therapeutic process

(4 months of these services are valued at over $5,500!)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: WHAT IF I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE THERAPY PACKAGE OR SOME KIND OF THERAPY AFTER 4 MONTHS?

A: No Problem. You're welcome to continue utilizing the Adventure Therapy Package or move to maintaining some combination of individual counseling sessions and other therapy offerings.

  • Q: WHAT IF I LIVE TOO FAR AWAY TO COMPLETE WEEKLY THERAPY SESSIONS?

A: You have the option to complete weekly therapy sessions in person, via Telehealth, or some a combination of the two. Telehealth sessions are conducted via a secure video conference platform through our client management system. However, we do ask that the Adventure Therapy Experiences, Campfire, and Group Rock Climbing session be attended in person.

  • Q: WHAT AGE DO I NEED TO BE TO PARTICIPATE?

A: The adventure therapy program serves adolescents between the ages of 14 to 17 and also serves young adults at the age of 18 and above.

  • Q: WHAT SAFETY MEASURE ARE TAKEN WHILE CAMPING OR ROCK CLIMBING?

A: Between the therapist and guide present on the trip, someone will maintain a Wilderness First Responder certification and all Inner Trek employees maintain a First Aid and CPR certification. Inner Trek has established safety planning and response protocols. Inner Trek also has response protocols regarding contacting parents or emergency contacts in the event of an emergency. Current trip locations are not outside of access to medical emergency services if they are needed. Participants will sign liability waivers and agree to operate within all safety rules and instructions that are held by Inner Trek and by third party rock climbing gym.

  • Q: I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE THERAPY OPPORTUNITIES BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO FIT THE COST OF THE PACKAGE INTO MY BUDGET. WHAT CAN I DO?

A: Based on some initial information, our therapist may be able to give a recommendation whether the factors that are prompting therapy can still be addressed utilizing a reduced number of services than the Adventure Therapy Package provides. Give us a call and we may be able to help come up with a combination of services at price point that works for you.

  • Q: I lIKE CAMPING BUT I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS. DO I HAVE TO DO THE ROCK CLIMBING PART?

A: There are lots of ways to participate in rock climbing at your own comfort level, so we encourage you to still attend. And hey, you might just surprise yourself with what you accomplish!

Contact us to get started or with questions.

collin@innertrekguides.com or 513-201-5858

We strongly believe in the power of shared experience in the midst of supportive relationship. Let us help you experience the kind of revitalization and renewal that can come from engaging in the components of our Adventure Therapy Program.