3: Blog, Frog, Eggnog?

         When considering adventure therapy, one can view an approach to AT through the ABC~R triangle.  Basically, the approach meets clients where they are willing to expose themselves through their affect, behavior or cognition instead of fitting them into a existing program.  This in a sense is a co-created experience between the therapist and the client viewing the client through the lens of their environment. The success of this approach is partially how the adventure therapist or field staff connects with the client.  One approach that I appreciate is the fact that the AT primary focuses on increasing positive feelings, actions, and thoughts instead of trying to eliminate negative thoughts, feelings, and actions.

          Another approach to mental health treatment is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). EAP is licensed therapist and horse professionals working together with a client to achieve treatment goals.  This incorporates experiential learning, professionals in the health care field and is a co-created experience.  However, this approach is different in the sense that the relationship described in the ABC~R triangle is created between the therapist and client, and this type of therapy also involves a very important four legged friend. Seems cool, huh? Check this promotional video, for more information on EAGALA and what they are trying to achieve.   

           Art therapy is another approach that has similarities to AT.  I was very unfamiliar with art therapy and was fascinated that it was used as a treatment for almost 100 years asking patients to visualize and create the emotions or thoughts they could not put into words.  Art therapy shares the self-discovery part of the AT experience client dig into feelings and actions that they may have felt in the past.  This makes the experience experiential in nature, since it involves the clients discovering treatment for themselves.  The difference is that the relationship here is more discovered primarily by the individual and does not necessarily involve a mental health professional.  Art therapy also focuses more on putting the bad emotions out to the light and focusing on them in the form of the painting rather than just focusing on increasing positive feelings. 

           Sometimes therapy comes in a more natural sounding way, Ecotherapy.  Ecotherapy helps treat people through the great outdoors when we are able to harmonize with the earth.  Once clientele recognize the planetary well-being and personal well-being are not to be separated and in taking care of the earth we are taking care of ourselves they can successfully take part in the treatment. This may be a more literal translations of AT’s philosophy of focusing on the client view the world through the lens of their environment. Similar to AT, Ecotherapy focuses on the positive rather then negative thoughts, feelings or actions one experiences.  This also doesn’t necessarily involve professional staff, as Ecotherapists are there to facilitate sessions for clientele. 

These three differing types can be compared against AT to better understand the approach AT takes, and other therapy’s take.  Hope you learned something!

Citations:

Noah Rubinstein, (2012, August 10) . Ecotherapy / Nature Therapy. Retrieved from http://www.goodtherapy.org/ecotherapy-nature-therapy.html

EAGALA (2010) . What is EAP and EAL? Retrieved from http://www.eagala.org/Information/What_Is_EAP_EAL

International Art Therapy Organization (2009) . Art Therapy and Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.internationalarttherapy.org/mentalhealth.html

EAGALA. (2012, July 16) . EAGALA In Practice Video Part 1. Retrieved January, 2013, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drm_vK5deFs&list=PL7E2E181689D2B749&index=1

Gass, Michael A., Lee Gillis, and Keith C. Russell. (2012).  Adventure Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice. New York: Routledge.