| Research in the field of wilderness therapy has predominately focused on quantitative measures to demonstrate its efficacy in clinical treatment with adolescents. Although these significant statistical findings enhances the understanding of treatment outcomes, it fails to predict and describe how positive outcomes are achieved, and importantly how wilderness therapy programs are experienced from the adolescents' perspective. Often families and professionals pursue this therapeutic modality as an alternative mental health service for at risk youth who for one reason or another have not had successful outcomes with traditional counseling approaches. Those seeking wilderness therapy treatment for their youth should have a clear understanding of the theoretical principles and treatment approaches of wilderness therapy programs so that they can be better informed of treatment appropriateness and supportive to their adolescents healing experience.; This ethnographic, qualitative study describes the therapeutic process of a 21-day wilderness therapy program and the healing journey of seven adolescent girls. The results provide a comprehensive description of evolving phases of treatment, the girls responses to the treatment modality, behavior management practices, therapeutic goals, interventions and their outcomes, clinical staff's approaches to the client and therapeutic relationship, clinical observations of the client and client's family behaviors and experiences during the process, and clients' reported thematic agents of change and mechanics to program outcomes. In addition, the results describe the treatment model, the wilderness therapist's processing techniques, their approach to the client relationship and concerns of sustaining the wilderness therapist.; The researcher participated as an active participant observer during the pre-trip planning, the 21-day wilderness expedition, and post trip debriefing. Multiple data sources were utilized including a comprehensive review of literature, field-notes, and two structured interviews with participants and ongoing unstructured interviews with treatment staff. An analysis of the data resulted in a qualitative, clinical description of the therapeutic experience and a lens upon how seven girls made meaning of their therapeutic journey. |
