Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors

Will White
  • 4.7 (105)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Stories from the Field: Mental Health in the Outdoors is an authoritative and enlightening podcast that explores the vast landscape of mental health therapies in outdoor settings. Hosted by seasoned mental health professional Dr. Will White, the podcast offers deep insights into outdoor therapies like Adventure Therapy, Eco-Therapy, Wilderness Therapy, and Experiential Therapy, among others. Dr. White engages with a diverse range of guests, including leading researchers, practitioners, authors, executive directors, guide staff, mental health clinicians, and critics, helping to shed light on the nuances of these unique therapy practices. In addition to exploring the modern implications of these evolving therapeutic modalities, he delves into their rich history, providing a holistic perspective for listeners. With over 30 years of experience at the juncture of mental health and outdoor environments, Dr. White's expertise is unparalleled. As a co-founder of the pioneering Summit Achievement, an adventure therapy program based in Maine, he has been a guiding force in the field since the 1990s. His scholarly contributions include the book "Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy" and a chapter in "Adventure Therapy: Theories, Research, and Practice." His doctorate work, "Stories from the Elders: Chronicles and Narratives from the Early Years of Wilderness Therapy," traced the origins and evolution of this specialized field. To connect with Dr. White, visit storiesfromthefield.com. Listen to this immersive podcast to understand the power and potential of outdoor therapies in addressing mental health concerns.

  1. MAR 4

    Outward Bound: The Wartime Origins of Wilderness Therapy

    Outward Bound is not about therapy. It began during World War II as a response to a fear that young sailors were not resilient enough to survive the sinking of their ships. Founded to build endurance, discipline, and leadership under extreme adversity, Outward Bound introduced the expeditionary model — challenge, crew, service, and solo — long before those elements became staples of wilderness therapy programs. In this episode of Stories from the Field, Will traces the history of Outward Bound from Kurt Hahn's philosophy and exile from Nazi Germany to the rise of Outward Bound USA and its lasting influence on modern wilderness therapy. Along the way, we explore early research with adjudicated youth, partnerships with mental health institutions, and the professionalization of outdoor leadership through figures like Paul Petzoldt and the founding of NOLS. If you want to understand the origins of wilderness therapy and outdoor behavioral healthcare, you must understand Outward Bound. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    31 min

  2. FEB 24

    The Rise and Fall of Therapeutic Camps: History, Hope and Hard Lessons.

    What happened to the hundreds of therapeutic camps that once shaped mental health treatment for young people in the outdoors? Long before the term "wilderness therapy" was coined, therapeutic camps were considered cutting-edge mental health treatment for young people. Backed by major hospitals, staffed by psychiatrists and social workers, and rooted in reform movements of the early 20th century, these camps believed nature, group living, and responsibility could reshape a young life. In this episode, Will traces the evolution of therapeutic camps—from Camp Ramapo and Camp Wediko's clinically sophisticated summer programs to the long-term wilderness model pioneered by the Dallas Salesmanship Club Camp. These programs laid the groundwork for modern outdoor behavioral healthcare long before Outward Bound or the primitive survival skills model ever existed. But over time, many therapeutic camps faded. Some evolved. Others closed quietly. And some collapsed under scandal and broken trust—most notably Anneewakee, one of the most controversial long-term therapeutic camps in American history. What can today's outdoor behavioral health programs learn from this rise and fall? This episode offers a deeply researched historical exploration of innovation, ethics, accountability, and the enduring DNA of therapeutic camps that still shapes wilderness therapy today. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    36 min

  3. FEB 10

    Beyond Hell Camp: A New Documentary on Wilderness Therapy

    In a moment when wilderness therapy is often framed as either a miracle or a menace, what gets lost when we stop listening for the full human story? In this special episode of Stories from the Field Will is joined by filmmakers Vince Dixon and Mark Strauss, the directors of the upcoming film Forest Through the Trees: The Truth About Wilderness Therapy. Will is also serving as a one of the producers on the project. Together, they explore what drew Vince and Mark to wilderness therapy as a subject, how their assumptions have been challenged through a year of research and interviews, and why the field cannot be understood through a single narrative shaped by headlines or popular media alone. A clear theme emerges: wilderness therapy is not a single model or idea, but a diverse and evolving field that resists simple labels of "good" or "bad." The conversation explores what it takes to tell a responsible story in a deeply polarized landscape. As directors, Vince and Mark outline their commitment to ethical, balanced storytelling—actively seeking out critical voices alongside positive outcomes, examining cost, access, safety, and history, and responding thoughtfully to the cultural impact of films like Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare. As a producer on the film, Will reflects on why this kind of nuanced storytelling matters right now: not to defend or condemn the field, but to expand understanding, foster empathy, and help listeners grasp why families turn to wilderness therapy when they feel out of options—while honoring the real complexity and controversy surrounding outdoor mental health care. To learn more about the documentary check out the website: https://www.wildernessdocumentary.com/ This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    48 min

  4. FEB 3

    Surviving Climate Anxiety: How to Cope, Heal, and Stay Grounded in a Changing World

    How do you live well, stay engaged, and protect your mental health when the future of the planet feels so uncertain? Listen to this episode of Stories from the Field where our host Will White is joined by Dr. Thomas Doherty—psychologist, ecopsychologist, and author of Surviving Climate Anxiety—for a grounded conversation about eco-anxiety as a normal, values-driven response to climate change rather than a disorder to eliminate. Thomas reframes climate anxiety as a signal of care and connection, and introduces practical ways to regulate the nervous system, make meaning, and stay psychologically resilient without denying reality. Designed for both individuals struggling with climate anxiety and mental health professionals who work with anxiety and grief, this episode explores how time outdoors can become genuinely healing, how to avoid becoming a "climate hostage," and how to move toward what Thomas calls ethical happiness—living with purpose, connection, and integrity in a rapidly changing world. Links to Dr. Thomas Doherty's book, practive page and podcast below: Surviving Climate Anxiety book: thomasdoherty.com Climate Change and Happiness podcast: https://climatechangeandhappiness.com/ Recent Book Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4UbgoO3I3M Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=92NarLYAAAAJ&view_op=list_works This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    49 min

  5. JAN 27

    Wilderness Therapy Is Growing?! What 300 Episodes Reveal

    Wilderness therapy isn't dying. It's growing. In this milestone 300th episode of Stories from the Field, host Dr. Will White sits down with guest host Jake Weld to reflect on nearly a decade of conversations exploring wilderness therapy, outdoor behavioral healthcare, and the evolving relationship between mental health and the outdoors. Drawing from hundreds of interviews, download data, and personal experience, Will examines why episodes centered on controversy, trauma, and program closures continue to draw the most attention—and what those patterns reveal about public perception of the field. But this episode isn't an obituary. It's a reassessment. Will argues that while traditional long-term wilderness programs for adolescents have narrowed, outdoor mental health is quietly expanding through outpatient care, coaching, retreats, community-based models, and new hybrid approaches. Episode 300 offers a rare long-view perspective on how definitions, power, and practice have shifted—and why reports of wilderness therapy's demise may be missing the bigger story. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    46 min

  6. JAN 20

    The Most Controversial Wilderness Program? Part 2: Scouting, Faith, and the Roots of the Field

    What do Outward Bound and many wilderness therapy programs have in common? Their shared roots trace back to a movement that believed the outdoors wasn't just a place to learn skills, but a place to shape moral character, spiritual values, and a young person's sense of purpose. In Part 2 of this series, Stories from the Field host Will White continues his historical exploration of the influence of the Boy Scouts of America on the early development of many wilderness therapy programs. Drawing on research from his doctoral dissertation, his book, and hundreds of podcast interviews, Will traces how Scouting's emphasis on outdoor living, moral formation, spiritual belief, and structured authority shaped the cultural assumptions that later informed outdoor education and wilderness therapy models. The episode also acknowledges the tensions, exclusions, and harms that emerged over time, offering listeners deeper context for where the field came from—and why it has continued to evolve. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    28 min

  7. JAN 13

    298: Accidental Roots of Wilderness Therapy: A 1901 Insane Asylum Experiment

    How did an early twentieth-century psychiatric institution help shape what would later become wilderness therapy? In this episode, our host Dr. Will White continues Season 26's exploration of a history of wilderness therapy by examining a little-known moment from 1901 at the New York Hospital for the Insane on Ward's Island. During a tuberculosis outbreak, hospital administrators moved psychiatric patients into tents on the hospital grounds as a public-health measure—an intervention never intended to be therapeutic. What followed surprised staff: patients living outdoors showed notable psychological and physical improvement. Drawing on historical research and overlooked accounts of early "tent therapy," this episode explores why those gains were difficult to sustain once patients returned indoors, and how institutional priorities such as efficiency, scale, and growth often overtook treatment needs. This story raises enduring questions about the environment, systems of care, and the challenge of maintaining change—questions that continue to shape wilderness therapy, outdoor mental health treatment, and institutional models of care today. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    22 min

  8. JAN 7

    Where Did Wilderness Therapy Begin?

    Where did wilderness therapy actually begin—and why is it so hard to define? In the opening episode of Season 26 of Stories from the Field, host Dr. Will White launches a season-long exploration of a history of wilderness therapy. Drawing from decades of experience, doctoral research, and nearly 300 podcast conversations, Will reflects on why the field resists a single origin story or definition. From Boy Scouts to Outward Bound to Brigham Young University and therapeutic camping to psychology, education, and cultural movements, this episode explains why wilderness therapy's roots are complex—and why that complexity matters. The episode then traces the early foundations of wilderness therapy in the United States back to the organized camping movement of the 1800s, with an in-depth look at Camp Chocorua, a radical experiment in responsibility, work, and community. Long before wilderness therapy existed as a formal mental health practice, these early camps used outdoor living to shape character and resilience. This season-opening episode sets the historical groundwork for the conversations ahead and invites listeners to approach the field's past—and its future—with curiosity and care. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.

    28 min
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4.7
out of 5
105 Ratings

About

Stories from the Field: Mental Health in the Outdoors is an authoritative and enlightening podcast that explores the vast landscape of mental health therapies in outdoor settings. Hosted by seasoned mental health professional Dr. Will White, the podcast offers deep insights into outdoor therapies like Adventure Therapy, Eco-Therapy, Wilderness Therapy, and Experiential Therapy, among others. Dr. White engages with a diverse range of guests, including leading researchers, practitioners, authors, executive directors, guide staff, mental health clinicians, and critics, helping to shed light on the nuances of these unique therapy practices. In addition to exploring the modern implications of these evolving therapeutic modalities, he delves into their rich history, providing a holistic perspective for listeners. With over 30 years of experience at the juncture of mental health and outdoor environments, Dr. White's expertise is unparalleled. As a co-founder of the pioneering Summit Achievement, an adventure therapy program based in Maine, he has been a guiding force in the field since the 1990s. His scholarly contributions include the book "Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy" and a chapter in "Adventure Therapy: Theories, Research, and Practice." His doctorate work, "Stories from the Elders: Chronicles and Narratives from the Early Years of Wilderness Therapy," traced the origins and evolution of this specialized field. To connect with Dr. White, visit storiesfromthefield.com. Listen to this immersive podcast to understand the power and potential of outdoor therapies in addressing mental health concerns.

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