Picking a Program

I want to take this post very seriously. To that end, let me put together some disclaimers.

1. This information is not all-inclusive. Do your own research! Putting your family members under the care of other people is something you should always take seriously! Your family situation is unique and you should gather as much information as possible.
2. I have not personally undergone this process. My brother, not my children, and not myself, participated in Wilderness Programs. My children are still very young and addictions are not currently in their picture. Talk to people who have done this with their family and get their perspectives. It’s important to gather as much information as possible (notice a theme?).
3. I haven’t looked at every single Wilderness Program. There are far too many, and many of them too small to even find. I have done my research, but that is not exhaustive. Gather as much information as possible!
4. There are bad programs. I’m not going to sugar coat it. Bad people do bad things. There are bad wilderness programs out there, just as there are bad people in every industry. Do not put your family member under the care of bad people! Gather as much information as possible.

In order to pick a wilderness program, you really should understand what a wilderness program is. In short, it’s camping. Participants often don’t have access to air conditioning of any kind. Not all programs include actual buildings, and many have long periods without access to a tent, instead opting for sleeping in hammocks, sleeping bags, and other apparatuses–often called “bivvies” or “bivouac” which is really just a fancy term for “improvised shelter”. As with any camp, you expect a number of planned activities, some survival related, some social, some more spiritual (e.g. meditation). For that reason, you can expect a number of tools involved, like axes, knives, and potentially even guns (not every program includes these). You should make sure you know what life will look like for your family member.

Most wilderness programs are highly supervised. Even in the bad wilderness programs, you can hear stories about the staff members directly involved throughout the process. This is part of the reason it’s so expensive actually. In many cases, staff are highly trained either in wilderness survival or in therapy–usually staff includes at least one professional therapist. Your family member will be under their direct care, and often told “you’re not allowed to leave”. Pay attention to how they will communicate and why. These people are acting as caregivers as well as in the role of drill sergeants. You should make sure you trust the people involved.

Everything in wilderness programs is about nature. It’s so easy to think of nature as a wonderful happy place with sunshine and rainbows. But nature is also about thunderstorms, windstorms, and unbearable heat. Nature also includes wild animals, less supervision, and long journeys to hospital care. Nature is absolutely good for us, but there are risks involved. Even a simple walk down a well-trodden path can result in a twisted ankle, infected scrape, or run-in with a bear. These programs have risks. And if my warning isn’t enough, take a look at the contract they have you sign. You should be aware of the dangers of living in nature.

Let me be clear. I love wilderness therapy. I think it is the absolute best solution for some people. I might even go so far as to say it’s the best solution for most people. But nothing is one-size-fits-all. No program is right for every person. Beyond that, no single wilderness program is right for every single person looking for wilderness therapy. There are absolutely some no-go wilderness programs for many people. But then, they might be absolutely perfect for someone who’s really on the edge. It’s got to be your choice as to what’s best for your family.

Let’s have a serious moment here. I’m going to be absolutely frank with how evil the world can be. There have been multiple deaths at multiple programs this year alone. It’s absolutely awful to me that something that is so good for so many people has evil out there too. That’s the way of things though. There is always evil out there looking to profit off of the reputation good people have built. Look out for evil. Do your research! And love your family well.

God Bless.