Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors

Stories from the Field: Mental Health in the Outdoors is an authoritative and enlightening podcast that explores the vast landscape of mental health therapies in outdoor settings. Hosted by seasoned mental health professional Dr. Will White, the podcast offers deep insights into outdoor therapies like Adventure Therapy, Eco-Therapy, Wilderness Therapy, and Experiential Therapy, among others.Dr. White engages with a diverse range of guests, including leading researchers, practitioners, authors, executive directors, guide staff, mental health clinicians, and critics, helping to shed light on the nuances of these unique therapy practices. In addition to exploring the modern implications of these evolving therapeutic modalities, he delves into their rich history, providing a holistic perspective for listeners.With over 30 years of experience at the juncture of mental health and outdoor environments, Dr. White's expertise is unparalleled. As a co-founder of the pioneering Summit Achievement, an adventure therapy program based in Maine, he has been a guiding force in the field since the 1990s. His scholarly contributions include the book "Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy" and a chapter in "Adventure Therapy: Theories, Research, and Practice." His doctorate work, "Stories from the Elders: Chronicles and Narratives from the Early Years of Wilderness Therapy," traced the origins and evolution of this specialized field.To connect with Dr. White, visit storiesfromthefield.com. Listen to this immersive podcast to understand the power and potential of outdoor therapies in addressing mental health concerns.

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Recent Reviews

New Portugese

Stellar podcast on mental health in the outdoors

Every time I listen, I’m challenged and encouraged. I find my skills as a mental health provider improved, and I find a joy in my steps as I listen to what others are doing to help people get healthy in the outdoors.
kmahler15

A must listen for mental health professionals

The podcast I didn’t know I needed! Stories from the field is packed full of wisdom and personal anecdotes about how adventure therapy and challenging life events has the potential to elevate your life in unimaginable ways. Thank you Will as always for being such a strong advocate for this field, our work and the stories behind each and every one of us. Can’t wait to keep listening!
ashleybubba808

Will White is Awesome

As a mental health clinician working in residential treatment, I have always had a preconceived idea of what wilderness therapy looks like. I have learned so much from this podcast that has really helped with my perspective on this powerful treatment. Will White is awesome! He knows how to hold a dang good conversation!!!! And I am so so so fortunate to be working closely with him this year, continuing to learn from his experience and wisdom! 🖤
soooooooooooozzeee

Lacking context and perspective

This podcast promotes the people who profit off these programs. It is biased and lacks context and diverse opinions
Canyon$

Will White the 2020 Eagle Award Recipient!

Congratulations to @Will White the 2020 OBH Council Eagle Award recipient. A lifetime achievement award for contributions to the Outdoor Behavior Healthcare Field (Wilderness Therapy). I’d like to shine a light on just a couple of these accomplishments: 1)Founder @Summit Achievement one of the first and longest running members of the OBH council. This is no small feat. 2) Author of Stories from The field. This book provides the most complete history of wilderness therapy to date. It helps us to understand where the field should go because we now better understand where we have been. 3) Stories from the field podcast. Dedicated to #demystifyingwildernesstherapy In this podcast Will interviews various wilderness therapy researchers, program founders, writers, executive directors, guide staff, clinicians, critics and more. He educates the listener to the long history of the field and different trends related to this evolving treatment option. When I joined the OBH council 10 years ago Will was one of the most impassioned voices at that table. His leadership respected, his voice thoughtful and kind. I have since traveled, presented, and collaborated with Will, and his passion has never wavered. Thank you Will White for being an inspiration to me and so many others, and thank you for the years of dedication to demystifying #wildernesstherapy! And I look forward to more #rxoffthecouch
mjinvt

Thoughtful, insightful, and a good listen

It is a privilege to have known Will White for many years, and to consider him a mentor and teacher in the field of behavioral health. I so appreciate his willingness to embrace all stories, from different perspectives, and to actively seek out a variety of voices to share in this podcast. It is telling that he interviewed Kenneth Rosen, author of “Troubled,” in such a thoughtful and receptive way as Rosen’s book paints a less flattering picture of behavioral healthcare programs. Truly worth your time to listen to these amazing stories!! Thank you, Will!
Lee Gillis

What a gift to the field

So appreciative of Will White in his demystifying quest! He continues to be so inclusive of all aspects of the field including, but not limited to, field staff, owners, therapists, researchers, as well as former students/clients. What is most educational for many, including my students, is how those being interviewed entered the field of adventure/wilderness therapy. I especially like those interviewed who thought initially that they had discovered the field only to find out they were joining a host of individuals who shared the same passions. It’s a big tent! Thank you Will for the journey. I highly recommend this podcast for the novice and the experienced.
Audrey518

Listen and Learn

I am lucky enough to call Will White a friend, mentor and colleague. I learned very early on in getting to know Will (almost 20 years ago!) that the best thing for me to do when I’m in his presence is to just Listen and Learn. Will has always been a teacher to those in his presence in one form or another and this podcast is a culmination of his natural passion to learn and teach others. It is an amazing look into the wilderness therapy field. What a gift and legacy this project is to all of us involved currently and to those that carry wilderness therapy in to the future. Your interview with Jake was perfect! Thank you my friend!
Thom Pollard

You've come to the source

Will White's podcast represents the ultimate in one-stop shopping for insight into the expanding world of wilderness therapy. Not only has he paid his dues in the trenches for decades working in all aspects of the industry, he's mined for gold from everyone and anyone that has helped blaze new trails to make wilderness therapy more mainstream. Further, he's literally written the book on it. But, most importantly, Will White realizes that the industry has and must change in order to adapt to the ever evolving needs of the youth and people it serves. In his podcast he uses insight and curiosity to reveal the nuggets of wisdom in the field through enlightening interviews and insightful analysis. Look no further: this is the source.
TheWildnFearlessKremlin

Great podcast with valuable info but!

It is an incredibly inspiring podcast with great info and guests however it makes it a bit hard to listen to as the host seems to interrupt or talk over the guests often. Will continue tuning in though. Thank you.
J. Lilley

Grateful for this podcast!

It’s a joy to hear the stories and journeys of those interviewed. For anyone questioning the impact of or stereotyping wilderness therapy, these podcasts will expose how beneficial this type of treatment can be. Will is an amazing storyteller and I thoroughly enjoy listening to each episode!
Halcyon26

Insightful & Entertaining Interviews

With ‘Stories from the Field - Demystifying Wilderness Therapy’ Dr. Will White is creating, collecting, and sharing an incredibly valuable oral history of the experientially-based behavioral healthcare field. Each episode is a new interview with a new subject, and they all bring their own unique perspectives and histories, continually adding breadth and depth to the project. Will’s background as a clinician helps fuel great interviews and conversations with his guests. Additionally, his knowledge as a historian and practitioner allow for the occasional interjections and asides which provide much-needed translations and context for jargon, acronyms, or references that might not otherwise translate to the average listener. Entertaining, insightful, historically significant, and utterly human, ‘Stories From The Field’ is a rewarding digital journey through the narrative landscape of Wilderness Therapy, led by one of the field’s most experienced and respected guides.
hollycolotado

Amazing! Great information

Hopefully one day soon the programs will be more affordable for the average working families. After a grant we are still looking at 25K! Just not realistic for us.
mr.e.t.paul

Delightful insight!

I married into the field of Wilderness Therapy and this podcast has helped illuminate the depth and breadth of such an interesting field.
patmcav

Really interesting!

Great to hear all this history gathered in one place. Thanks Dr White!
ShaneDushack

Great Show!

This podcast is a great extension of the book. Will White has a long history and recovery understanding of the field and what it’s about. Very insightful . Thanks, Will!