
Wilderness Therapy Programs Maryland
Wilderness therapy is a therapeutic intervention that involves getting troubled teens from Maryland into a wilderness environment and having them confront their problems. With no cell phone service, TV, or internet, the wilderness environment is very different than the one we are used to. It’s just you and the wilderness.
This is one of the reasons wilderness therapy programs are so effective. It is a way to get a person to focus on the present moment and whatever issues they may be dealing with. It also provides a person with a unique opportunity to get away from the pressures and stresses of society.
What is wilderness therapy?
Wilderness therapy is a type of intensive therapeutic treatment that has been proven to dramatically reduce mental illness, behavioral issues, and addictive behaviors. Many who try wilderness therapy programs find their lives have changed forever because of the improved perspective that they have gained through this type of treatment. Wilderness therapy programs in Maryland have similarities to what we see in typical treatment programs, however, the WinGate difference sets us apart from the rest.
Wilderness Programs for Troubled Youth Maryland

Of all the wilderness programs for troubled youth from Maryland, WinGate is one of the premier wilderness programs for troubled youth in the U.S.; and just like the name suggests, wilderness therapy is all about getting into nature. This is because just being in nature allows you to focus on your inner self. Your thoughts become clearer and you can focus on the activities you are doing and what you are learning about your surroundings.
Wilderness therapy is the process of putting teens through a type of outdoor experience that forces them to think about their actions, how they got there, and what they want to do in the future. Wilderness therapy programs offer a way for troubled teenagers to get away from their distractions and troubles in order to reflect on themselves, life, and the future. This type of therapy leads to higher chances of getting sober or graduating from high school, while they learn self-reliant skills like problem solving and building trust with their counselors.
Therapeutic Wilderness Program Maryland
As a therapeutic wilderness program for Maryland teens, we see drastically improved mental health and overall well-being for many adolescents that have struggled with severe issues. It helps troubled teenagers reconnect with themselves and their environment through physical challenges, creative expression, and group process.
Another benefit that our therapeutic wilderness program provides teenagers is reducing and removing the trauma and stress that is built up in their lives. Trauma in teens is such a huge factor in their mental health that many parents feel it is a very long road to recovery, but wilderness therapy programs, like WinGate, can get them back on track in a big way.
Who needs wilderness therapy?
Wilderness therapy programs like WinGate, offer an intervention for at-risk adolescents that utilizes the use of wilderness environments to facilitate growth and equip Maryland teens with skills necessary to overcome life's obstacles.
Wilderness therapy programs are successful in treating many challenges commonly found in teens from Maryland.
- ADD/ADHD
- Addiction
- Adoption issues
- Anger issues
- Anxiety (general/social)
- Behavior issues
- Body image issues
- Cutting and self-harm
- Depression
- Divorce conflict
- Eating disorders
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Substance abuse
- Suicide ideation
What happens after wilderness therapy?

Often, after spending time in the wilderness, teenagers in these wilderness therapy programs come out with a better understanding of themselves and their peers. This is a far cry from other treatment programs that place adolescents in suburban facilities.
After spending a week in the wilderness, the teens are surrounded by nature and a challenging, life-sustaining activity. The traditional treatment programs lack real connection and do not include a supportive community. If you or someone you know is struggling with issues of depression, or other mental health and/or behavioral challenges, consider getting more information on the power of wilderness therapy programs like WinGate Wilderness Therapy.
Should I send my kid to a wilderness therapy program?
WinGate is a quality program that focuses on teaching adolescents from Maryland how to work cooperatively and respectfully. What's more, wilderness therapy promotes the development of self-confidence and new personal skills.
There is no doubt that wilderness therapy programs offer a great space for troubled teenagers to work through their issues. There is no need for shame or guilt in parents who have made the decision to send their children into the woods. In the end, your child's mental health is vitally important now and for their future, it's worth investing in.
Best Wilderness Therapy Programs Maryland

WinGate, one of the best wilderness therapy programs for Maryland youth, helps to instill inner reflection in a safe, nurturing and supportive environment. Our technique relies on the very practical experience of one's surroundings with any student that participates in our program.
Over thirty years of combined experience has helped us further develop an "actual wilderness experience" model as an integral part of the way we approach treatment. Unlike our competitors, our proven model utilizes guided interaction with natural environments and situations, rather than solely focusing on classroom-based learning opportunities isolated from nature for extended periods of time.
Is Your Child a Candidate? Call for a FREE Confidential Screening (800) 560-1599.
Help for Parents of At-risk Youth in Maryland
Maryland Behavioral Health Administration: The vision of DHMH is lifelong health and wellness for all Marylanders. We work together to promote and improve the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management, and community engagement. Maryland’s health care delivery system consists of public and private hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, home health care services, hospices, providers, and health educators, among others. As a public health department, our goal is to improve the health status of every Maryland resident and to ensure access to quality health care.
WinGate Wilderness Therapy is the optimal choice for parents in Maryland who are wanting a leading outdoor wilderness program and wilderness camp program to provide guidance for their struggling child undergoing alcohol abuse, adoption/attachment disorders, or academic failure. Since it can be difficult to work with highly resistant teens and young men and women, most programs rely heavily upon punishments and other disciplinary tactics in order to manage a teen’s or young adult’s behavior. Here at WinGate, we recognize that the situation of one struggling child may not apply to all of our teenage students.
It’s our absolute respect for every teenage student (and family) that we work with that sets our leading wilderness camp program and outdoor wilderness program apart from the others. WinGate’s practitioners acknowledge and appreciate the everyday problems that teenagers and young men and women from Maryland are faced with every day. With decades of collective experience in the accredited wilderness treatment center industry, our therapists can quickly identify and help process addiction (gaming) issues, issues related to depression, and the causes for academic failure.
Our approach to Family treatment and Life-coaching has improved the lives of numerous struggling teenage students and families. We see that at-risk teenagers and young men and women can grow to be healthy adults with a desire to succeed! WinGate understands that in order for our struggling teenage students to experience real transformation, the entire family needs to be part of the guidance that our practitioners provide. Our intake counselors can be reached immediately at (800) 560-1599.