Adventure Therapy

At BrightQuest, adventure therapy is a type of group or family psychotherapy that utilizes physical challenges, outdoor activities and wilderness experiences as metaphors for life’s day-to-day ups and downs. These outings have been designed to promote teamwork; encouraging group members to collaborate while building trust and communication skills.

During adventure therapy sessions, participants may encounter obstacles as they participate in a novel activity. These sessions are an opportunity for clients to tackle new challenges with the full support of their therapist and peer group. Participants learn skills and strategies for handling these new situations, which they can apply in future scenarios. This builds confidence and promotes self-efficacy.

For many clients, these excursions mark the beginning of a new hobby. Not only are these activities great opportunities to get outdoors, but studies indicate that hobbies foster creativity, improve mood, reduce loneliness, and more.

• Builds group (or family) cohesion
• Offers increased insight into recovery process
• Develops real-time distress tolerance skills
• Promotes resilience and proactive problem-solving
• Builds confidence and self-efficacy

Each week, participants engage in adventure initiatives at our San Diego facility that support their resilience, nurture their strengths and provide them with the opportunity to have successful experiences apart from their role as a “client” in a treatment setting. Participating in team building exercises and outdoor adventure groups promotes problem-solving, team building, and working through adversity.

Some weekly adventure therapy initiatives may include*:

• Indoor/Outdoor Rock Climbing
• Mindfulness Hikes
• Map & Compass/Shelter-building
• High/Low Ropes Courses
• Zip-lining
• Leave-No-Trace Principles
• Sea Kayaking
• Scavenger Hunt
• Exotic Animal Sanctuary
• Paddleboarding
• Mindfulness Photography
• Kite-flying
• Indoor Skydiving
• NOLS leadership roles and outdoor skills

* Some activities are not available at both locations and/or may not be available at the time of admission.

• 4 Group Sessions per month
• Individual/Family Sessions (per recommendation of clinical team)
• Coordination with BrightQuest Clinical Team