The use of an out-of-doors setting, with a group of adolescents, utilizing adventure education activities and group therapy, over a number of days, or in a number of sessions, overcomes most of the limitations encountered in a traditional therapeutic setting. This “wilderness therapy” experience is at the same time more intense than most outpatient settings and less restrictive than inpatient settings. It separates participants from environments that foster and maintain dysfunctional behavior. It is action oriented, provides immediacy of feedback, and enhances taking responsibility for oneself.

Problems brought to the program by adolescents (depression, isolation, aggression, lack of motivation, etc.) usually become apparent in the process of engaging in activities of the program and are processed as they occur. In this way, when problems occur, they are confronted and resolved in an attempt to enhance daily living on the trail-a more palatable alternative to traditional counseling, which often becomes aversive because both the therapist and therapy become associated with the constant dredging up of problems.