Individual Adventure Psychotherapy: An Experiential Approach to One-on-One Treatment

Individual Adventure Psychotherapy provides a clinical model for utilizing adventure therapy in individual therapy sessions, exploring key foundations, theories, and ethics of the practice approach.

Structured by summarizing the conceptual foundations for each chapter, followed by a greater emphasis on the practical application of adventure therapy by individual psychotherapists, this book helps readers increase their critical thinking and clinical skills to select, customize, and adapt activities in practice. Chapters focus on how to actively assess client functioning, select appropriate activities, shape an effective treatment environment, and help participants process and evaluate their experiences as they move toward their clinical goals. Also covered is how to attend to diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations as well as provide trauma-informed adventure therapy.

This text is critical for providing students and clinical practitioners with a strong foundation for ethical, intentional, and effective experiential practice.

Gary Stauffer, LMSW, spent over 40 years working with children, youth, and families in both mental health and school settings. He is co-author of three previous books on adventure therapy.

D. Maurie Lung, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, CCAT, has provided adventure/nature-based counseling, teaching, training, and consulting internationally for over 30 years, focusing on experiential practices for healing and restoration of dignity.

Tony G. Alvarez, LMSW, has spent 50 years providing social work services to youth and families while sharing his passion for experiential and adventure practices through teaching, publishing, and consulting.

Kim Sacksteder, MSW, CCAT, has practiced adventure therapy for 26 years and teaches, trains, and consults through Prescott College and Adventure Therapist, LLC. Kim volunteers with AEE’s TAPG and Accreditation Program.

Anita R. Tucker, PhD, LICSW, CCAT, has spent 20 years at the University of New Hampshire engaging in teaching and research focused on supporting the implementation of adventure therapy nationwide.

Bobbi Beale, PsyD, has used adventure therapy for over 30 years due to its natural alignment with trauma-informed care and anti-oppressive practices to bring awareness and change to providers.