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Many parents are doubtful that wilderness therapy can make a difference in the life of their troubled teen. In reality, there's no single thing that can help a troubled teen get back on track. It's really a combination of several elements, and all depending on how the teen responds to different kinds of interventions.

What makes wilderness therapy effective?
One of the reason why wilderness therapy can be effective in helping troubled teens is that it takes the teens away from the potentially harmful environment that they are moving into. Temporarily taking them out of their usual environment and putting them in one that is supportive to their recovery and positive change is a necessary thing to do. Whether your teen is depressed, struggling with self-esteem issues, sexually acting out, or experiencing any other challenges, taking them to a wilderness therapy camp also means you're taking them to a safer place for them.

Wilderness therapy harnesses the power of nature to be part of a program that delivers sound therapeutic principles in order to help a struggling teen. Living for a time in the wilderness can be a therapeutic experience by itself because nature is great, it gives people a renewed sense of being alive and at the same time, teaches the value of life and why making responsible decisions is important. Nature is relentless and cannot be argued or bargained with. Aside from learning personal responsibility, one also experiences a renewed sense of self-respect with every completed task and with each day one is able to look out after one's self.

The healthy daily routines in wilderness therapy also helps troubled teens regain back a sense of well being. They eat healthy food, sleep early and wake up early. They get a lot of clean and wholesome physical exercise. The inevitable result is that teens feel better and healthier, which is something they will more likely want to continue pursuing in the future.

Wilderness therapy camps also provides a safe environment where therapy can be delivered on a daily basis. Unlike staying at home while going to therapy or counseling a few times a week, being in a wilderness therapy camp removes your teen from distractions and outside influences that are not supportive of his/her recovery. there's also the added benefit of living with people who are facing the same challenges and being encouraged by positive role models.

Wilderness therapy can be very helpful to your troubled teen, provided that you find out about the quality of the therapy that they provide, and whether this fits the needs of your child. It's good to keep in mind that other wilderness camps are merely therapeutic but do not include psychotherapy as part of the program. In order for wilderness therapy to be truly effective, it needs to be individualized, consistent and constant, and followed through with great aftercare support as well as support by the family.

When a teen goes home from wilderness therapy, the transition from a safe environment to his/her old environment can be difficult. Without an efficient aftercare program, any progress attained through wilderness therapy can easily be undone by an unsuccessful transition back to the community.