178: Why I am leaving Wilderness Therapy

In this special episode, Will White, one of the co-founders of Summit Achievement, a hybrid wilderness therapy program in Maine, and host of the Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy podcast, reveals why, in some ways, he is leaving wilderness therapy. Will hands the hosting duties to long-time friend Patrick McAvoy, the admissions director at New Visions in Wisconsin. Patrick interviews Will about his recent decision to step away from wilderness therapy and his thoughts on the field. Will shares a history of Summit Achievement, how the program evolved over the years, why Summit does not take young people by transport, and other unique aspects of the program. Will reveals why he is stepping away after 26 years as a co-owner and employee of Summit Achievement and what he is doing at his new behavioral healthcare consulting practice, WMAI.org. Will also addresses some of the controversies in the wilderness field, how the death the tragic death of a Summit co-founder in 2015 changed him, and what he sees as the future of wilderness therapy.  We thank the underwriters of Season 14, Brightstone Transitions, Point School, and Wisdom Ranch. Season 14 focuses on young adult programs and young adults sharing their stories, as well as this special episode.