Taking the Long Way Around: A Mother's Journey into Wilderness Therapy and Beyond

In my last entry I offered a metaphor of my daughter and me walking towards one another from opposite ends of the Appalachian Trail. In this essay I'd like to invite you to walk a little way with me.  Many months since our daughter’s time at wilderness and years beyond the original issues that landed her there, my emotions continue to rise and fall much as the tide does.  I don’t have control over the these feelings and I can be knocked down by a big wave of guilt or shame or anger.  I’ve learned what to do when a big rush of emotion comes on--get somewhere safe and quiet and wait for the feelings to subside.  So far they always have. Sometimes the wave will come out of nowhere when I’m falling asleep or taking a walk.  Usually then, the inner dialogue starts up that I failed as a mother: What did I not do or say?  What could I have done differently? Why didn’t she feel she could tell me what was really going on with her?   ...

If you are here reading my blog, I am assuming you have a child in need.  If you only read one book a year this is the one to read. Pozatek can do more for you than I can. Pozatek starts by explaining what the young person in wilderness therapy will experience, then the purpose behind the strategy. Stripped down to the basic tasks that all humans must do to live—lighting fires, getting water, cooking, making shelters etc, the student will have to confront themself and the issues that brought them into this setting.  At the same time, they will be experiencing success: learning to survive in the most basic way. During this process, for all but the most stubborn and troubled, barriers and defenses will crumble. Once this happens, the young person will calm and open up to fresh ideas and possibilities. Having experienced hardship and success they will feel more encouraged to consider ways of being that are likely to work.   A critical point:  The maj...