WinGate Overview | A Wide Range of Issues
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Identity Issues
Anxiety
Depression
Substance Abuse
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Grief and Loss
Various Addictions
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that impacts the impulse control, focus & attention, energy levels, and/or other executive functions of many students we work with in the wilderness setting. The opportunity to evaluate the range of symptoms in an environment free from the typical stressors of the day makes the wilderness setting a powerful option for adolescents and young adults with the various forms of ADHD. When the routine of the day is simplified, and yet very clear tasks and expectations are in place, the development of management skills and coping strategies can occur with the on-going supervision and guidance from well-trained field staff and therapists. While the wilderness setting may not be an ideal replication for the typical “at home/at school” stressors, it does provide hands-on, experiential opportunities to practice many of the skills that can generalize to typical environments.
At WinGate, executive functioning is assessed on an on-going basis, facilitating continued accurate assessment and initial treatment. Executive functions include organization, time management, goal setting, planning & taking action, etc. Most individuals with ADHD experience some deficits in their executive functioning, which clearly contributes to their daily struggles. The experience of keeping track of gear; packing/unpacking; setting up/taking down camp; starting and completing projects; etc. contributes to the opportunities for accurate assessment and continued improvement in the wilderness setting.
Identity Issues
One of the complex tasks of adolescence is identity formation. While it begins at a much earlier age, the challenges and opportunities of those teenage and early adult years create elements of our identity that last throughout our lives. Many of the adolescents and young adults we work with are unsettled in the questions of who they really are, what they are about, what they value, their strengths, etc. This confusion or uncertainty may show up in innocent ways (new hair styles, clothing selection, music, etc.), or sometimes in more profound, perhaps scary, or even dangerous ways (mysterious friends, drop in school performance, odd behavior, directionless living, delving into substance abuse, and more). Within the right program, wilderness therapy can provide a supportive opportunity to get out of the fray of adolescence or young adulthood, and into the quiet – where profound self-exploration can occur. Coupled with the appropriate rigors of the wilderness, guided exercises in the therapeutic process of self-examination can illuminate strengths, values, and core beliefs, leading to a clearer sense of self. Wilderness therapy can be a powerful beginning to resolving identity issues.
Anxiety
As we go through life, it is fairly common to experience times of worry and mild anxiety. Life gets stressful; pressures often mount; the future becomes uncertain; we sometimes doubt our own abilities; things happen beyond our control. But for some, the levels of fear, worry, and anxiety can be debilitating. When worry becomes the dominant thought process of our lives, we need to seek help. Anxiety takes on a lot of different forms. Panic attacks, phobias, acute stress, even obsessions and compulsions fall into the category of anxiety disorders. Many young adults and adolescents that we work with are struggling with anxiety issues, and are finding the wilderness to be a powerful beginning to managing their anxiety effectively. Within the context of the wilderness, participants get away from many of the anxiety-producing events and circumstances of their lives, and begin to breathe—metaphorically and literally. As they develop a working alliance with the wilderness therapist and field staff, they participate in cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused approaches to their anxiety, and begin to feel an increased ability to manage their life situation. For some, this is a fairly rapid process, and for others, a long-term journey. But for each, the wilderness is a powerful beginning to understanding the nature of their anxiety, and the development of coping strategies that can carry them through to the next phase of their progress.
Depression
A very common and serious condition that affects a large number of teens and young adults is depression. Depression is a mood disorder that includes a profound sadness, changes in appetite, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, a sense of hopelessness, and/or other constraining beliefs and experiences that impact daily living. For some, particularly in children and adolescents, it may reveal itself as irritability or general defiance. The depth, duration, and pervasiveness of the symptoms often cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. Depression is serious, of course, because of the ramifications of neglecting responsibilities, but also because of the risk of self-harm, either intentional or unintentional. While the neuro-chemical aspects of depression can be partially treated with an array of medications, research indicates that cognitive-behavioral therapy is a proven method for treating depression. The wilderness provides a powerful environment for challenging cognitive distortions that lead to depressive symptoms, as well as an opportunity to develop more positive ways of thinking. These positive thought patterns assist adolescents and young adults in their journey to wellness, and the victories experienced in the wilderness solidify their beginning to long-term mental health.
Substance Abuse
At WinGate, we work with a lot of adolescents and young adults with a variety of issues. One of the more common challenges that seem to co-exist with many others is that of substance abuse. Ranging from mild exploration all the way to chemical dependency, issues relating to illicit substances are pervasive and destructive, and the wilderness can be a powerful beginning to recovery. One of the first benefits of being in the wilderness is the opportunity to arrest the behavior—remove the opportunity for substance abuse, and exploration of other coping strategies can begin with focus and power. Whether it’s alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, pain pills, or any other illicit substance that’s been part of the routine, wilderness therapy provides an opportunity to cleanse the body and begin anew. In the context of the cleansing process in a natural environment, there is a strong therapeutic objective to better understand the underlying reasons for substance abuse, the genetic predispositions, the actual effects on the body, and alternate methods of managing life in more effective ways. The wilderness experience often sets the stage for a long-term treatment plan, including 12-step methods, and other insight-oriented approaches to overcoming substance abuse and chemical dependency.
Many students that find their way to a wilderness program have had difficulty managing their behavior or living effectively within the boundaries and norms of society. They may struggle to follow rules, respect authority, respect the rights and emotions of others, and perhaps try to claim some semblance of control and independence by “doing their own thing” regardless of—or even in spite of—“the rules.” This behavior and general attitude may fall in the range diagnostically between disruptive behavior to conduct disorder, including oppositional defiant disorder. The reality is, that these are often misdiagnosed issues, and the appropriate wilderness setting can be extremely powerful in helping to sort out the diagnostic criteria for behavioral disorders. At WinGate, we intentionally have developed a program without a level system, without typical “hoops” to jump through, and without a common behavioral philosophy, in order to explore each student’s core issues within a system of choice and individual accountability. The wilderness can be tough enough. As we provide support, build relationships, and help students recognize that at times, they are their own worst enemy, many of the elements of “Oppositional Defiant Disorder” and other behavioral challenges are seen more clearly and accurately, leading to a more appropriate method of treatment. While there certainly is structure in the WinGate field, removing “walls to push against” often disrupts the typical patterns enough to really dive in to the core issues.
Grief and Loss
Often, adolescents and young adults that arrive at a wilderness therapy program have experienced tremendous losses of key relationships. The total disconnect or death of a parent, sibling, friend, or other significant person in one’s life can create a flood of confusing thoughts and feelings, many of which can lead to behavioral challenges as well. While there has been much written on “grieving cycles” and other processes of dealing with loss, the truth is that each individual moves through these challenges in their own way—sometimes very unique ways; other times in methods that seem common or even predictable. Time, space, caring support, and rituals are some elements that can help individuals work through their feelings of grief and loss, and assist in honoring the experience, as well as the past significant relationship(s). The wilderness, and the power of connecting with the natural surroundings, can provide an ideal environment to assist with issues of grief and loss. While strengthening the connections with remaining friends and family is crucial, so too is enhancing the power of individual growth and increased feelings of self-worth. These are coupled with opportunities to explore deeper meanings of life and relationships. The wilderness, along with the guidance, support, and daily victories, provides a setting where all these can occur simultaneously.
Various Addictions
Many adolescents and young adults have developed a pattern of compulsive behaviors that have hijacked some aspect of their effectiveness. Chemical dependency, or addiction to computer, pornography, gambling, etc., begins to enslave not only the individual, but often the entire family system. At WinGate, we take a systemic view of addictions, which leads to systemic treatment. Despite the need for the individual to step out of the environment where the compulsive behaviors are likely to occur, this is a family journey. We recognize that the shift of power from an individual struggling with addictive behavior to the family system is an important beginning to lasting improvement. Educational, experiential, and therapeutic interventions throughout the WinGate experience are designed to empower the system to support each other throughout the process. On the trail, students will be appropriately challenged physically, emotionally, and mentally. This provides an opportunity to reflect on coping strategies and personal management patterns, some of which may have been effective, and others that have been destructive. They will have the opportunity to explore questions of who they are, what they value at their core, and what their primary issues are that are perhaps masked by the compulsive behaviors. In addition, the family system can explore the patterns and beliefs that either constrain or facilitate growth. While there is a systemic approach to treating addiction, there are also important aspects of creating support systems and structures beyond the wilderness experience. WinGate can help the family get onto the path of wellness.
A chart including these issues and more can be found in Student Profiles.
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