South Carolina Adventure Therapy for Addiction
The BriteLife South Carolina campus is highly conducive to adventure therapy. Located on the shores of Hilton Head Island, our natural setting is perfect for so many outdoor activities. Adventure therapy supports healing and improvement of a person's physical, social, and emotional health using a variety of indoor / outdoor activities. At the same time, activity therapy is integrated with cognitive behavioral therapy. Most times, activity therapy is designed for a group, which injects a “team” mentality to the activity. Similarly, the group processes the activity and discusses their feelings about it with each other. Employing outdoor activities stimulates change through trust and problem- solving. A follow-up discussion occurs where the therapist helps the client relate the experience to their recovery goals.
What Is Adventure Therapy?
Adventure therapy (also called activity therapy) is a behavioral health technique which began in the 1960s. The therapy combines nature, community, and adventurous exercises for therapy. The purpose of this therapy is to improve a individual’s physical, social, spiritual, and mental health through the exhilarating power of evidence-based therapy, fun activities, and adventure trips. Activity therapy aids addiction clients as they navigate their behavioral issues, addiction, or other behavioral health issues. In this environment, the adventure therapist seeks to actively encourage clients with different tools. For instance, some therapists promote healing by teaching clients how to establish trust with a horse and other non-mounted activities in equine therapy.
Activity Therapy Offers Tangible Benefits
Activity therapy is good for soul! The outdoor activities are a spirited therapy tactic for anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and addiction. It also fosters teamwork and gets clients learning to work together. In most activities, the therapist will provide some upfront direction and it will be discussed as a group. Activity therapy is also advantageous for a variety of behavioral health problems.
adventure therapy activities in hilton head, South Carolina
- Kayaking and canoeing
- Rock climbing
- Paddle boarding
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Nature trips
- Low-ropes course
How Does Activity Therapy Help with Recovery?
Adventure therapy assists in developing mindfulness and awareness during outdoor activities. Mindfulness is typically lost during protracted addiction cycles. Also, one of the most beneficial principles of this therapy is for clients to connect their own life encounters with a specific outdoor activity. Here, clients can gain a new sense of self-confidence and improve collaboration skills. To illustrate, as clients learn how to rock climb, they can learn their need for interdependence or assert their needs for independence.
Clients who participate in activities have boosted self-esteem, which is typically poor during active addiction. Research has shown positive effects for treating anxieties and low self-respect through adventure therapy. Clients learn the significance of durability and experience while trying to grasp adventure activities.
Pros of Adventure Therapy for Substance Use Disorder
- Promotes accountability.
- Teaches teamwork and.
- Develops communication abilities.
- Advances self-awareness.
- Promotes resilience.
- Encourages discovery.
- Reduces depression symptoms.
- Enhances self-esteem.
- Teaches coping skills.