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.
- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 45 minutes
- Episodes
- 282
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Episode 62: Samuel Adams, Lead Field Guide at Aspiro Adventures
Samuel Adams, Lead Field Guide at Aspiro Adventures. Sam grew up in the Adirondacks region of New York with a family who embraced the outdoors. In high school, he became a father and struggled to ha…
Episode 61: Norman Elizondo, Family Wellness Counselor at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy
Norman Elizondo is the Family Wellness Counselor at Open Sky. Norman's journey into the wilderness field began when his dying mother encouraged him to leave his finance career and "do something that …
Episode 60: Doug Dobkowski, Team Leader at Summit Achievement
Doug Dobkowski is a Team Leader at Summit Achievement. Doug grew up in New Jersey and went on to get a teaching degree in college. Doug worked as a middle school teacher for eight years in Newark. H…
Episode 59: Zhenda Glover, Field Guide at Evoke Cascades
Zhenda Glover is a field guide at Evoke Cascades located in Oregon. She was born and raised in Bulgaria and had never heard the two words "wilderness' and "therapy" put together until she moved to O…
Episode 58: Rachel Rollins, Therapist at Juniper Canyon
Rachel Rollins is a therapist at Juniper Canyon Recovery Center in Utah. She first learned about wilderness therapy when she was enrolled in a program as a teen which is where she first learned to "l…
Episode 57: L. Jay Mitchell, Co-founder of SUWS, Founder of Alldredge Academy and Greenbrier Academy
L. Jay Mitchell is one of the elders in the field of wilderness therapy as he co-founded the School of Urban and Wilderness Survival (SUWS) in Idaho and Alldredge Academy in West Virginia. SUWS was t…
Episode 56: John Conway, Director of Business Development- Edge Learning and Wellness Community
John Conway was the chair of the Outdoor Behavioral Council during a time of rapid growth. He grew up in Illinois and wanted to work in wilderness therapy but thought he would have to move away from…
Episode 55: Emily (Jonesie) Jones, Senior Field Guide at Open Sky Wilderness
Emily (Jonesie) Jones spent every summer of her childhood living at a summer camp that her parents worked at. After college, she worked at a farm and traveled all over, including South America. Jone…
Episode 54: Meaghan Farrell, Field Guide at Elements Traverse
Meaghan Farrell is a field guide at Elements Traverse in Utah. Meaghan shares her journey into the wilderness therapy field and how she worked all over the country in different outdoor education prog…
Episode 53: Phil Bryan, Clinical Assistant at Evoke Entrada
Phil Bryan is a clinical assistant at Evoke Entrada. Phil shares his story of working as a field guide for almost 20 years in various programs, including Aspen Achievement Academy, Summit Achievemen…
Episode 52: Jory Hanselman, Director of BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy
Jory Hanselman is the director of BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy, located in Colorado. BaMidbar is the first Jewish wilderness therapy program in the United States. Jory shares her inspiring journey fr…
Episode 51: Chris Luchesi, Field Guide at Legacy Outdoor Adventures
Chris Luchesi is a field guide at Legacy Outdoor Adventures. Chris grew up outside of Boston but had not even heard of wilderness therapy until he was in his 30's. Chris was on a career track worki…
Episode 50: Guy Dumas, Founder of Guy Dumas Coaching
Guy Dumas is a coach of graduates of wilderness programs (guydumas.com). Guy joined the wilderness therapy field in 1996 direct from the Army where he was a graduate of West Point and the Army’s Ran…
Episode 49: Dr. Christine Norton, Associate Professor of Social Work at Texas State University
Dr. Christine Norton is a leading researcher, practitioner, and teacher in the field of wilderness therapy. She is an associate professor of social work at Texas State University, a researcher at th…
Episode 48: Shannon Palentchar, Director of Admissions at Summit Achievement
Shannon Palentchar is the Director of Admission of Summit Achievement in Maine. Shannon grew up in North Carolina and went on an Outward Bound course right after high school and it changed the direc…
Episode 47: Emily Fernandes, Co-founder and Executive Director at Open Sky Wilderness
Emily Fernandes is co-founder and executive director at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy. Emily grew up in Vermont and went to college in Maine. Emily started working in the field in 1995 at The Wildernes…
Episode 46: Hilary Moses, Co-owner of Solutions Parenting Support
Hilary Moses, Co-Owner of Solutions Parenting Support, has worked in the wilderness field since 2001. She has been a field guide and a therapist at SUWS of Idaho as well as therapist and clinical dir…
Episode 45: Joanna Lilley, Founder of Lilley Consulting
Joanna Lilley is the founder of Lilley Consulting, which is a therapeutic consulting practice that specializes in helping young adults (ages 17 plus) and their families. Joanna's journey into the fie…
Episode 44: Karen Scrafford, Co-founder of Elements Wilderness Therapy
Karen Scrafford is co-founder and program director of Elements Wilderness Therapy located in Utah. Her journey into the field began when she went to school at Indiana University. After graduation, …
Episode 43: Dr. Justine O'Donnell, O'Donnell Psychological Testing
Dr. Justine O'Donnell is a psychologist who specializes in performing neuropsychological evaluations for young people while they are enrolled in wilderness therapy programs. Justine started her jour…