MySUMMIT Adventure Based Therapeutic Solutions offers adventure based activities to support children, young people and families with their behavioural, psychological, and psychosocial development. Our approach can appeal to those hesitant and less responsive to traditional interventions. Our programs are underpinned by trauma-informed and evidence-based practices. They are provided in individual and small group settings that focus on increasing participants’ mental and physical health and overall wellbeing. Our intensive support is delivered by experienced and accredited professionals who encompass our four core values of Integrity, Respect, Empower and Safety.
Why adventure based therapy?
Adventure therapy offers a prevention, early intervention, and treatment modality for people with behavioural, psychological, and psychosocial issues. It can appeal to youth-at-risk who are often less responsive to traditional psychotherapeutic interventions.
Young people with mental health issues and concerns can often be reluctant to ask for help. Help can often come in the form of long waiting lists, and clinical assistance that can make it difficult for some young people to engage. Bowen D.J., Neill J.T., Crisp S.J.R. (2016) 'Wilderness adventure therapy effects on the mental health of youth participants. 'Evaluation and Program Planning, 58, pp. 49-59
“For children and young people with mental health issues, adventure can be an essential avenue for treatment in part due to the benefits of physical activity on their mood. Bringing exercise into their routine has been shown to create better treatment outcomes and improve physical health.
Children and young people struggling with anxiety and depression show particularly good treatment outcomes when incorporating adventure activities that trigger flow theory concepts. Mountain biking and hiking meet many of the requirements to regularly trigger a mental “flow” state where students learn to eliminate the thought cycle between sensory input and action. They read and react to the terrain in front of them without worrying about possible outcomes. This is nearly the opposite of anxiety.
The benefits of adventure therapy are far-reaching. It gives participants the opportunity to experience positive and negative natural consequences of their decisions, and it increases engagement in the treatment process. According to researchers at the University of California at Berkeley, engaging with nature alone reduces anxiety and depression, improves cognitive function, and increases creativity. Dr. Gisoo Zarrabi (May 31, 2022). Adventure Therapy. Harbor Psychiatry and Mental Health. Other supporting research has shown that mere exposure to the outdoors can improve mental health and significantly reduce many anxiety and depression symptoms.
Adventure therapy may be used as a form of brief intervention or embedded in a broader case management approach.
Other benefits include self efficacy, self esteem, resilience, mastery, enhanced problem solving, reduction in the symptoms of ADD / ADHD, improved clarity.
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Acknowledgement of country
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and communities of the lands on which we operate. They are the traditional custodians of the mountains, rivers, forests and oceans we adventure in and by. We pay our respects to Elders past present and emerging, we honour and celebrate the stories, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who live and work on this land.