Is Your Young Adult Stuck? The “Woods” Could Help!
When I get a call from a parent of a young adult who is anxious, depressed, and generally “stuck” … and they're worried about their ability to launch independently, I may recommend wilderness therapy. Young adults often react with "You want me to do what for three months?" “Don’t have my phone? No way!” For most, the idea of trading her phone for a backpack seemed more like punishment than treatment. Yet time after time, I’ve had clients share that it was their wilderness experience that saved their life and showed them who they really are.
Wilderness therapy programs can help young adults aged 18-25 discover inner strength, rebuild self-esteem, and develop a clearer sense of identity—all while learning to navigate both literal and metaphorical mountains.
Rebuilding Self-Esteem Through Real Accomplishments
In our achievement-obsessed culture, young adults often measure their worth through external validation—such as likes, grades, job titles, or parental approval. When these external measures fall short, their self-esteem plummets. Wilderness therapy flips this script entirely.
"There's something profound about making fire with your own hands when you've never done anything practical in your life," said a wilderness therapist at a program for young adults. "These young adults discover they're capable of far more than they ever imagined."
The accomplishments in wilderness therapy are immediate and tangible. Successfully navigating with a map and compass, learning to purify water, “busting” a fire without matches, erecting a shelter, or helping a struggling teammate up a challenging trail—these victories can't be faked or filtered. They're evidence of competence that builds genuine confidence from within. Unlike the fleeting boost from social media likes, these experiences create lasting changes in self-perception.
One of my recent clients chose to complete wilderness therapy after dropping out of college twice and struggling with debilitating anxiety and depression. "My dad is a professor, so not being able to stay in college meant that I was a failure," he reflected. "But when my group challenged some of the negative thinking about myself, my self-perception began to change.”
Mood Improvement Through Nature and Movement
Research consistently shows that time in nature reduces cortisol levels, decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improves overall psychological well-being. For those young adults who have spent years primarily indoors, often in front of screens, this biological reset can be profoundly transformative.
The physical demands of wilderness therapy also trigger natural mood-boosting mechanisms. Daily hiking, setting up camp, and engaging in survival skills provide sustained physical activity.
The absence of digital distractions allows young adults to reconnect with natural circadian rhythms. Without the artificial stimulation of phones and computers, participants often report improved sleep, increased energy, and a greater sense of mental clarity.
But perhaps most importantly, the wilderness environment naturally reduces the comparison trap that fuels so much young adult depression and anxiety. There's no Instagram to scroll through, no carefully curated highlight reels to measure yourself against—just you, your group, and the immediate challenges faced every day.
Discovering Authentic Self and Core Values
One of the most profound benefits of wilderness therapy is the opportunity for deep self-reflection without the usual distractions of modern life. When you remove social media, academic pressure, family dynamics, and peer influences, young adults often encounter themselves, perhaps for the first time.
"The wilderness strips away all the noise," explains wilderness therapist Jake Turner. "Young adults can finally hear their own thoughts and feelings without external influences drowning them out."
This clarity often leads to important discoveries about personal values and authentic identity. Many young adults have spent so much time trying to meet others' expectations that they've lost touch with their desires and beliefs.
Jorden, who completed wilderness therapy at 21, describes this process: "I realized I'd been living my parents' dream, not my own. In the wilderness, I had time to think about what actually mattered to me—not what I thought should matter, but what felt true in my gut."
The challenges of wilderness living also reveal character in ways that normal life rarely does. How do you respond when you're cold, tired, and your teammate is struggling? What emerges when you can't rely on your usual coping mechanisms? These revelations often surprise participants and provide valuable insights into their authentic selves.
The group therapy component, conducted around evening campfires or during rest breaks on the trail, takes on a unique quality in the wilderness setting. Without the usual social facades, conversations become more honest, authentic, and vulnerable. Young adults often form deeper connections than they've ever experienced.
Building Resilience Through Natural Consequences
Unlike traditional therapy settings, the wilderness provides immediate, natural feedback. Forget to hang your food properly? You might wake up to discover that a bear has ransacked your food supplies. Don't work together as a team? The group struggles to reach their destination.
These natural consequences teach resilience and problem-solving in ways that feel authentic rather than contrived. Young adults learn to adapt, persevere, and bounce back from setbacks—skills that transfer directly to life challenges.
"The wilderness doesn't care about your excuses," notes Jake. "But it also doesn't judge you. It just presents the next challenge and trusts you to figure it out."
Developing Healthy Relationships and Communication
Living in close quarters with peers during wilderness therapy provides intensive practice in healthy relationship skills. Young adults learn to communicate needs directly, resolve conflicts constructively, and support others through difficulties—all while managing their own challenges.
The interdependent nature of wilderness living makes these skills essential rather than optional. When your safety and comfort depend on effective teamwork, you quickly learn to communicate clearly and treat others with respect.
Many participants describe forming the closest friendships of their lives during wilderness therapy. They go through something intense together and see each other at their worst and best. There's a depth there that's hard to replicate in normal life.
Preparing for Life After Wilderness
Perhaps most importantly, wilderness therapy helps young adults develop internal resources they can access long after they return to conventional life. The confidence gained from surviving challenges, the clarity about personal values, and the mood-regulation skills learned in nature all transfer to everyday situations.
Many programs include transition planning to help participants integrate their wilderness insights into their home environments. This might involve continuing therapy, making educational or career changes aligned with newfound values, or developing ongoing practices that maintain the mental health gains achieved in the wilderness.
Is Wilderness Therapy Right for Your Young Adult?
Wilderness therapy isn't appropriate for everyone, but it can be transformative for young adults who:
Feel stuck or directionless in life
Struggle with anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem
Have difficulty with authentic relationships
Are overwhelmed by technology and social media
Need to develop independence and life skills
Want to clarify their values and goals
Have become dependent on maladaptive coping mechanisms, like substance use
If you're considering wilderness therapy for a young adult in your life, it's important to work with experienced professionals who can assess whether this intensive intervention is appropriate and help you find a quality program that meets specific needs. Email me at jennifer@teamcrossbridge.com.
