AIRED: March 7, 2016– 11 am PST
TITLE: “Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy”
Director of Outpatient Services,
Hazelden Betty Ford, West Los Angeles
Stories from the Field is a comprehensive chronicle of the history of the wilderness therapy field and narratives from present day wilderness therapy organizations. It is a story of experiences about people, places, and things, many of which are interconnected, that have happened to shape the evolution of wilderness therapy from the 1800’s to today. All profits from the book go to research.
The first half of the book chronicles the evolution of the field and is authored by Dr. Will White. The second half are narrative chapters, contributed by different authors, about currently operating wilderness therapy programs or organizations. Contributors include: Steve Glass (Project D.A.R.E.- Wendigo Lake), Bev Oldham (Enviros), Matt Claybaugh (Marimed), Ezekiel Sanchez (Anasazi), Sean Hoyer and John Conway (Omni Youth Services-Journey), Kumen Jones (RedCliff Ascent), Gil Hallows (Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council, Legacy Outdoor Adventures), Lorri Hanna and Doug Sabo (Soltreks), Devan Glissmeyer and Cheryl Kehl (Second Nature), Mike Gass, Anita Tucker, Maggie Karoff (Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Cooperative), Rebecca Vines (SUWS of the Carolinas), Rick Meeves (Outback Therapeutic Expeditions), Rob Meltzer (Wilderness Therapy Symposium), Suzanne McKinney (Pacific Quest), Mod Barefoot (True North Wilderness Program), Aaron Fernandes (Open Sky Wilderness Therapy), Jess Shade (Aspiro Adventures), Drew Hornbeck and Steve Sawyer (New Visions), Shayne Gallagher (Wingate), Brian Johnson (Trails Carolina), Beth Fogel (Expedition Therapy), Lynnette Spencer (Adventure Works), Madolyn Liebing (The Journey and The Achievement Foundation) and Rick Heizer (Evoke Therapy Programs)
ABOUT DR. WILL WHITE
Will White is a nationally recognized researcher and speaker on the history of adventure and wilderness therapy. He received his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver and his Doctorate degree in Leadership from Franklin Pierce University. His dissertation is the first in-depth chronicle of the history of wilderness and adventure therapy. He contributed a history chapter to the book Adventure Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice.
He has presented at numerous conferences including the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, the Wilderness Therapy Symposium, and Association for Experiential Education Conference. Will has been invited to present at Universities on the subject of the history of wilderness and adventure therapy including University of New Hampshire, Unity College, and Plymouth State College. He has also been invited to consult to several organizations including Patagonia, Rippleffect, Outward Bound, and Gould Academy.
Will has served as the Chair of the Therapeutic Adventure Professionals Group of the Association of Experiential Education, Secretary for the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs and is currently representing Summit on the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council.
As co-founder of Summit Achievement, Will has helped to establish Summit Achievement as the premier adventure therapy program in the Northeast. In his nineteen years at Summit Will has served as a Primary Therapist, Clinical Director, Clinical Supervisor, and, is currently serving, as CEO at Summit Achievement. He is a passionate advocate for the use of adventure therapy as a catalyst for change.
ABOUT OUR CO-HOST DR. MATT POLACHECK
Matthew Polacheck is the director of outpatient services at the Betty Ford Center in West Los Angeles, California. A nationally recognized expert on mental health and substance use disorders, Dr. Polacheck served most recently as the director of mental health at the Center for Discovery. Dr. Polacheck is also a certified trauma therapist and substance abuse counselor.
