IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Research supports the efficacy of wilderness and residential interventions. Out of home therapeutic placements should be reserved for youth who haven't responded to less comprehensive interventions.
Fifty-one programs combined six years of outcome data ...
Academic Success and Family Functioning Significantly Improved for Youth after Residential Treatment

A database of over 1,000 youth attending therapeutic programs tracked both academic performance and family functioning before, during, and one year after residential treatment. Significant improvement in both domains were maintained well beyond treatment.
Study Explores Youth Perception of Change Process While in Residential Treatment

A study explored how 27 youth in residential treatment perceive their change process. The five major themes revealed were:
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Healthier relationships
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Better family functioning
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Stronger sense of self
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Improved emotional balance
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Insightful, future-oriented thinking
ADDITIONAL STUDIES
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The Value of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare for Adolescent Substance Users with Comorbid Conditions
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Pushing Beyond Outcome: What Else Changes in Wilderness Therapy
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Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare: Its Impact on Family Functioning
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The Impact of Wilderness Therapy: Utilizing an Integrated Care Approach
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Four Years Along: Emerging Traits of Programs in the NATSAP Practice Research Network (PRN)