Second Nature Wilderness is a therapy program geared towards teens and young adults. In the following article, Second Nature Utah reviews how wilderness therapy promotes healing in various aspects.

It is no secret that society could use a slowdown. According to the National Library of Medicine, more and more people are feeling overwhelmed and burnt out from an increasingly stressful lifestyle. Teenagers and young adults are especially susceptible to feelings of depression and stress; however, there is a new solution that could change the field.

Second Nature Wilderness Family Therapy reports that the services and the benefits are promising. Below, Second Nature Utah reviews wilderness therapy and healing, and some of the most exciting breakthroughs in this new field.

Second Nature on What is Wilderness Therapy

Wilderness therapy is an “acute intervention” where people let go of the pressures of everyday society and immerse themselves in nature. There is no agenda, and no need for assignments and due dates; instead, participants are encouraged to just “be” in the wilderness.

Second Nature Wilderness therapy is especially beneficial for adolescents because they feel the most pressure to succeed in school and in social settings. Teenagers, especially those that have experienced trauma, often find peace of mind and a like-minded community with wilderness therapy

There are several components to wilderness therapy which all come together to create an unparalleled, one-of-a-kind experience.

Forest Bathing

Forest bathing first originated in Japan and was called shinrin-yoku, or “taking in the forest atmosphere.” It involves going into the wilderness (not necessarily a forest) and taking in the scents, sights, and sounds of the surrounding area. It is about intentionally slowing down and using all the human senses to fully immerse in nature.

Second Nature Utah reviews that there was a previous study that focused on forest bathing and its effects on the nervous system. The findings were positive and proved its effectiveness on teenagers and their nervous system.

Fight, Flight, or Freeze

According to WebMD, the human nervous system involves a series of nerves that carry important messages between the human body and the brain. It controls things like the heart beating, breathing, and emotions.

Stress adversely affects the nervous system. When it feels like its host is in danger, the fight, flight, or freeze response is activated. Second Nature Utah reviews that this mode was highly effective when humans had to deal with nomadic life, where animals or other natural disasters could strike at any moment.

However, due to the stressors of daily life, many people’s bodies are in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze despite no real threat. This is dangerous for the nervous system because then it is always working in high alert mode.

With something like forest bathing, studies found that the teenagers had decreases in blood pressure and significant reductions in stress hormones such as cortisol. Even spending just two hours in nature had healing results.

Emphasis on Connections

Second Nature Wilderness Family Therapy also allows adolescents to make meaningful connections, not only with nature but with other people.

Connections with Nature

When teen participants are involved in Second Nature Wilderness Therapy, they are being mindful of what nature has to offer them. Instead of rushing through a hike or constantly worrying about their next assignment or deadline, they can appreciate what they are seeing, hearing, and smelling in a beautiful setting.

This newfound appreciation not only cultivates a more loving relationship with nature but also encourages them to seek out more opportunities to interact with nature.

Connections with People

Second Nature Utah reviews that people, especially adolescents, that have an overly active nervous system will not be willing or able to focus on making connections with others because they will feel too distracted and stressed out. By calming their nervous system with wilderness therapy, they can then feel open to meeting and connecting with others.

Second Nature Wilderness therapy programs will have specific nature-related tasks and projects that participants can work on with certified therapy professionals. For example, teens can participate in various activities like sporting events, crafting, and meal preparations.

Second Nature has a specialized private school that includes group therapy and basic school curriculum set against the backdrop of wilderness. They also emphasize reconnections within the family dynamic, hosting events and sessions that both teens and their families can attend.

There are myriad wilderness therapy programs, but the general consensus is that they are an excellent way to help teenagers heal from stress and trauma. As life becomes more difficult with climate change and stressful news, it is more important than ever to reconnect with soothing nature.