Bush Adventure Therapy or BAT is an evidence informed nature based health therapeutic intervention which sits within the emerging national Outdoor Healthcare sector. BAT utilises an experiential learning model where practitioners balance the level of risk, challenges, resources and support required for the client to experience the optimal conditions for learning and growth. 

Clients learn from real experiences in natural environments and practitioners focus on creating opportunities for reflection so that the learnings can be transferred into their everyday lives. Activities could include bush walking, bushcraft skills such as bush cooking and shelter building, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking or abseiling and a range of therapeutic interventions which are tailored to the client’s needs.

BAT utilises a strength-based approach and focuses on developing people’s strengths and building on their existing resilience. 

Able2 practitioners also work within a trauma informed practice framework which is founded on the five core principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment.

The benefits of Bush Adventure Therapy are

• Increased capacity for good decision making
• Greater ability to learn and overcome barriers in other parts of their lives
• More capacity to assess and safely manage risk
• Improved self-awareness, self-efficacy and optimism for the future
• Better ability to co-regulate and self-regulate
• Stronger self-confidence and an increased capacity for future successes
• More active engagement in other areas of life: such as school, family, TAFE.