Adolescents who are required to live away from their families of origin face many challenges that can affect mood and mental health. Milieu therapists (mental health associates) working with adolescents in a residential treatment center may be expected to provide group activities that promote mental health. It is important for new group leaders to…

This paper presents the findings of a recent preliminary study into the effects of a wilderness therapy program on the resilience of male youth at-risk. The study focused on participants who completed a wilderness therapy program at Typo Station. The residential program involved a five-week stay at the Typo Station property in north east Victoria,…

Three models of intentional therapeutic communities for troubled youth are described: psychiatric communities, communities with a spiritual orientation, and collectives inspired by A. Makarenko. Applications of the Makarenko model with adolescents having problems of substance abuse and serious social maladjustment in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark…

Nancy's recent psychotic episode left her an anxious, fearful person. Participating in an adventure therapy program enabled her to connect with peers, regain social skills and physical stamina, adjust to a full-day activity, regain her confidence, reconstruct purpose and meaning in life, and follow through on plans to complete university and get a…

Gould Farm, the oldest therapeutic community in the United States, uses the rural farming lifestyle and a multigenerational community to serve adults with psychiatric disabilities. The Timber Framers Guild helped raise a barn there as one of its community service projects. The barn will be used to enhance the farm's food processing and vocational…

Describes Project Adventure's Legacy program, a 12-bed, 10-month residential program for juvenile sex-offenders in Georgia. Most offenders started as victims, so the program must address their early sexual trauma. Adventure-based counseling, with its emphasis on the total mind-body experience, is especially suited for this. Sidebars present the…

The Sexual Abuse Counselling Service is a unit within the Department of Families, Youth, and Community Care in Queensland, Australia, that operates a counseling program for adolescent sexual offenders. Clients are expected to participate in individual and group counseling sessions, and family counseling sessions where appropriate. The group…

Described is a milieu intervention scheme for treatment of disturbed deaf children (6 to 18 years old) in a residential school for the deaf. It is noted that the program sought to develop respect and awareness of the self and social group within the security of a specifically adapted environment and to support reintegration into the social,…

Daily participant observations of social development over two years at Family House, a residential treatment program, were coded into a narrative and analyzed using a phenomenological perspective allowing "native categories" of significance to emerge and guide the analysis. The strengths and limitations of this novel research strategy…

In 1995, Project Adventure began a 12-bed, 10-month residential program called Legacy, which uses adventure-based counseling and treatment with juvenile sex offenders in Georgia. Clients must pass through a four-level system for successful completion of the program. Passing to a higher level is contingent on following the behavioral norms in the…

The Windana Society is a drug and alcohol agency in Victoria (Australia) that operates, among other things, a residential drug rehabilitation program in a rural setting. The program utilizes a holistic approach that addresses health and physical fitness; education; vocational and re-integration support; and psychological, emotional, spiritual, and…

The Fresh Start Program was an experiment in providing a comprehensive educational and therapeutic program for sexually abused and exploited adolescents. The program was based on the theory and practice of experiential, outdoor-challenge adventure education. The experiment involved 16 youth in a living and learning environment in the north woods…

Describes a private, therapeutic, boarding school in Montana. Clinically trained therapists and educators combine a rigorous academic curriculum, outdoor and adventure education activities, and a five-phase emotional growth curriculum to help emotionally troubled adolescents aged 14-18 deal with their problems and maintain their educational level.…

Described is a milieu intervention scheme for treatment of disturbed deaf children (6-18 years old) in a residential school for the deaf. It is noted that the program sought to develop respect and awareness of the self and social group within the security of a specially adapted environment and to support reintegration into the social, academic,…

Project Adventure has seven programs for at-risk and adjudicated youth in Georgia, all using adventure counseling to help youth confront and manage their behaviors. Some programs are day programs for suspended students that involve family counseling and work. Others are residential programs for drug addicts, sexual offenders, and other adjudicated…