Therapy in the open air: introducing wilderness therapy to adolescent mental health services in Scandinavia

Despite the rich traditions of outdoor life in the Scandinavian countries, structured nature-based therapeutic interventions remain underexplored in adolescent mental health services. We suggest that wilderness therapy is an age-appropriate and effective group treatment that may hold particular appeal for at-risk youth who are less responsive to conventional forms of treatment. Although more widespread in other parts of the world, wilderness therapy may also be a viable treatment modality for the Scandinavian region. Our overall aim of this state-of-knowledge article is to provide an overview of wilderness therapy with regard to conceptualization, practice and research, and to discuss current challenges. Based on the available knowledge, we suggest that the addition of this nature-based group treatment could increase the diversity of treatment options in adolescent mental health services in Scandinavia and recommend rigorous intervention studies exploring what works, for whom, and in what circumstances.