https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1567-1870
![Sample our Education journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5932/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Education.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Despite the utilization of adventure therapy techniques in behavioral health disorder prevention programming, little is known about how providers become trained in adventure-based prevention practice. Additionally, limited literature examines how adventure therapy providers are trained. This exploratory qualitative study provides a starting point for understanding the education and lived experiences that prepared providers of adventure-based prevention for professional practice. A purposive sample of 23 clinicians and administrators participated in semi-structured interviews with the first author. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis with first-cycle coding, second-cycle coding, and in-vivo coding. Strategies to ensure the trustworthiness of the data were utilized including researcher reflexivity, memoing, intercoder reliability, triangulation, in-vivo coding, and member checking. Primary themes were providers’ lived experiences leading to adventure-based work, education & training, and mentorship. Discussion of new findings about preparation and education for adventure-based prevention are offered. Implications are described for practice, policy, research, and education.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Daniel L. Cavanaugh
Daniel L. Cavanaugh, Ph.D., LCSW is the director of the BSW program at WSU Tri-Cities. He is a clinical social worker with practice experience in community mental health, schools, prevention programming, and adventure therapy settings. Daniel grew up in Flint, Michigan, and moved to the Northwest to study psychology at Portland State University. He then returned to Michigan where he completed his MSW and PhD at Michigan State University. Daniel’s research interests are related to mental illness prevention, outdoor and adventure therapies, LGBTQ+ equity, and community-based mental health services. Daniel is co-host of the Adventure Therapy Collective Podcast
Will W. Dobud
Will W. Dobud, Ph.D. is a social work lecturer with Charles Sturt University. In 2012, Will founded True North Expeditions, Inc. a non-profit program providing adventure therapy services for adolescents in Australia. Will’s ongoing research focuses on improving participant experiences of care and exploring how to deliver more effective outdoor therapy services. Will is the co-editor of Outdoor Therapies: An Introduction to Practice, Possibilities, and Critical Perspectives. Will is also the co-author of Solution-Focused Practice in Outdoor Therapy: Co-Adventuring for Change. In 2024, Will co-founded the Outdoor Therapy Centre for Research and Practice, a community of practice for researchers and practitioners.
Joanne Riebschleger
Joanne Riebschleger, Ph.D., LMSW is retired from Michigan State University’s School of Social Work in East Lansing, Michigan where she was the Director of the Ph.D. program. She was also an Associate Professor. She has expertise in child and family mental health, as well as working with people living in rural communities.
Christopher Russo
Chris Russo, LICSW is a Michigan native who currently works as a mental health therapist in Seattle, Washington. He has worked extensively across many arenas in the field of mental health – within public schools, universities, clinical offices, and out in nature. Throughout his career, Chris has continued to build on his passion for exploring creative and intentional use of nearby-nature to increase access to adventure and experiential-based programming. Chris teaches for the University of Washington School of Social Work and does research related to adventure therapy and LGBTQ equity. He teaches coursework related to ecopsychology and social work practice.