The Interpreted Rock

By Beth Potier UNH Media Relations 603-862-1566 beth.potier@unh.edu Twitter: @unhnews @unhscience Adolescents participating in wilderness and adventure therapy programs are at significantly less risk of injury than those playing football and are three times less likely to visit the emergency room for an injury than if they were at home, a new study by University of New Hampshire researchers finds. These findings, based on an analysis of risk management data from 12 programs providing outdoor behavioral healthcare in 2011, were reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. “After ‘does this program work?’, the question most asked by people considering adventure therapy is ‘will my child be safe?’” says Michael Gass, professor of outdoor education in the kinesiology department at UNH, who wrote the article with lead author Stephen Javorski, a UNH doctoral student. “While no one can guarantee the unconditional safety of any chi...

By Stephen C. Schultz I recently returned from a workshop in Tucson Arizona where the goal of the workshop was to connect various therapeutic schools, treatment centers and young adult transition services with educational consultants, clinicians and educators. There is obviously a societal concern when hundreds of professionals voluntarily come together to share resources and expertise on a very destructive influence on families and relationships in general. Over the last twenty-five years, I have been privy to some very traumatic and emotionally painful family scenarios. I’m an addictions counselor by training, but now work in the administration of an organization that provides therapeutic help to families of troubled teens. I see and experience first hand the sad and often poignant consequences of broken homes, substance abuse, instant gratification, and a society only concerned about “self”. Although I have never struggled with a personal addiction, I have suffered ...