What is this thing we call ‘BAT’? It’s Bush Adventure Therapy!

Bush Adventure Therapy (BAT) is an experiential and holistic approach to therapy that uses outdoor adventure activities, combined with traditional therapeutic techniques, as a means of promoting personal growth, social development, and psychological well-being. It is based on the evidence which demonstrates that experiences in nature and adventurous outdoor activities can help individuals overcome personal barriers, develop new skills, and gain a greater sense of self-awareness and self-esteem.

The key concepts of BAT include:

• Connection with Nature: The belief that connecting with nature has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.
• Challenge, adventure and risk-taking: The use of adventurous activities to provide safe opportunities for risk taking and learning, which promote personal growth and development.
• Group dynamics: Participating in BAT programs often involves working with others in a group setting. This social support can help individuals feel connected, build healthy relationships, and gain a sense of belonging.
• Experiential learning and reflection: BAT programs use experiential learning techniques to help individuals gain new insights and develop new skills. By reflecting on their experiences, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and learn to apply this understanding to their daily lives.
• Trauma Informed Care: The recognition of the impact of trauma on individuals and the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for healing.

What might I do in Bush Adventure Therapy?

There are many different adventure experiences that may be used in Bush Adventure Therapy (BAT), depending on the goals of the therapy, the preferences and abilities of the participants, and the environment in which the therapy takes place. Some of these could include:

• Bushwalking: Walking through beautiful natural environments, while facing challenging terrain and environments, can provide opportunities for developing planning and problem-solving skills, developing mental and physical endurance, and building resilience and self-confidence.
• Canoeing and kayaking: Paddling along waterways, can provide opportunities for developing communication skills, building self-reliance skills and they are often powerful reflective environments.
• Rock climbing and abseiling: Climbing or descending rock faces can provide opportunities to develop trust in self and others, build and learn regulation skills, and to grow self-confidence and risk management skills.
• Camping and bush survival skills: Spending time living outdoors creates opportunities to develop resilience, discover strengths and build adaptability skills.

 

Bush Adventure Therapy (BAT) is an innovative and engaging way to experience therapy. At Able2 we use a strengths-based approach. The outdoor adventure activities provide participants with an opportunity to identify existing strengths, values and abilities, and then they can use these, and newly discovered resources and strengths, to overcome challenges and achieve goals in other areas of their lives.

 

Overall, Bush Adventure Therapy can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-discovery.

It can be particularly beneficial for those who may struggle with traditional forms of therapy, or who are looking for a more experiential approach to their capacity building, healing and growth.

At Able2 Bush Adventure Therapy programs can be designed for individuals or groups, and we customise sessions to meet the needs of different participants, so that they can get the most benefit from their therapeutic adventure experiences.

 

If you require any further information about Able2’s Bush Adventure Therapy program, please reach out to us through our Bush Adventure Therapy page on our website or call us on 4760 4642.