Aspen's Wilderness Therapy Programs Backed by Independent Research
Aspen Education Group participates in independent research studies to ensure that we provide the highest levels of quality care and treatment and utilize the most cutting-edge, evidence-based therapeutic practices and clinical models within each of our programs.
Recent outcome studies indicate that placement in an Aspen Education Group residential or outdoor program is an effective choice that provides both immediate and lasting benefits for youth and families. Although SUWS of the Carolinas didn’t participate in these particular outcome studies, other Aspen Education Group wilderness therapy programs with similar standards and best practices did.
After attending an Aspen Outdoor Behavioral Health program, outcome data show that:
- Mental health issues including stress, depression and anxiety are significantly improved.
- Substance abuse and dependence is significantly reduced, with results lasting through the 12-month follow-up.
- Social conflict and aggressive behaviors decrease.
These results suggest that Aspen Education Group’s wilderness therapy programs are teaching important emotion regulation skills, as well as providing a climate for adolescents to rehearse newly acquired strategies to manage negative emotions such as worry, sadness, and anger. Overall findings provide considerable support for the use of wilderness therapy programs in treating resistant adolescents.
Aspen Education Group Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Program Shown Effective for Treating Teens
Based on an independent study conducted by the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Cooperative at the University of Minnesota*
Parents looking for help for their struggling orunderachieving children now have independent verification that effective therapeutic treatment for substance abuse, depression, anxiety and stress can be achieved in a wilderness environment – with promising results that extend beyond the child’s graduation from the program.
A recent study measured treatment and outcome variables at admission, discharge and six months postdischarge from 872 male and female teens, ages 13-17, who were diagnosed with substance use and/or mental health issues. Several outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) programs participated in this study, with Aspen Education Group’s program, Aspen Achievement Academy, providing the most participants.
The following are highlights of this study.
Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs Significantly Improve A Teens Problems
When teens were surveyed upon admission to the program:
- 75.2% were abusing drugs or alcohol
- 21.4% had a mental health diagnosis including depression, anxiety and stress
- 50% were admitted with both a substance use and a mental health diagnosis
Why This May Be Important To You: When parents make the decision to send their child to an Aspen Education Group OBH program, they expect that the program will help improve their child’s problems. The results of this study indicate that for almost 90% of teens who attend an OBH program, their problems are better as a result of the program.
Teens Would Recommend Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare To Friends In Trouble
2 out of 3 teens would recommend the program to friends in trouble.
Why This May Be Important To You: Teens are often more honest with their friends than
their own family. When teens in this study indicated they would recommend the programs to their friends who are in trouble, this revelation helps to put the results in a social perspective: it is not just quantitative data collection, but a practical experience that teens want to share with their friends.
Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment Results In Significant Reduction In Mental Health Issues
Both male and female teens were experiencing depression, anxiety and stress at admission. OBH
treatment helped reduce these symptoms, especially in those with more extreme levels, with a continued reduction from discharge through the six-month follow-up.
Why This May Be Important To You: Upon discharge, all teens had less stress, less depression and less anxiety.
Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment Significantly Reduces Substance Abuse
When teens arrived at the program, they were demonstrating medium to high frequency alcohol and drug use. Use was significantly reduced for both teens receiving outpatient aftercare (e.g. living at home with visits to a local therapist) and those receiving inpatient aftercare (e.g. Aspen Education Group residential treatment programs).
Why This May Be Important To You: The drug and alcohol use by teens admitted to the OBH programs reflects similar usage of teens admitted to residential drug and alcohol treatment centers. In other words, OBH programs are an effective alternative to other types of programs.
Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs Prepare Teens For The Future
The majority of teens in the study exhibited extreme resistance to treatment and change upon admission to the program. At discharge, and at the six-month follow-up, the majority of teens indicated an increased awareness of their issues, and an active interest in wanting to change.
Why This May Be Important To You: Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare programs are not just about fixing the current issues, they also provide the foundation to prepare teens for the future.
What this study means for families considering Aspen Education Group’s Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs
Placing your child in any treatment program is a difficult decision. Aspen Education Group knows that any study, no matter how positive the results indicate, will not make the emotional process of placing your child in a program any easier. However, the data from this study indicates that most all adolescents who attend an OBH program, benefit from that program. Aspen Education Group’s outdoor behavioral healthcare programs help create better lives for teens, parents and the whole family. We see the results everyday. They are real.