Adventure Group Psychotherapy: An Experiential Approach to Treatment explores what is necessary for an experiential therapy group to function effectively, and the practical skills needed to inspire success.

The authors describe how to use activities in a manner that produces the greatest opportunity for clients to reach their goals. Issues such as how to actively assess client functioning in the group, how to select the appropriate activity, how to shape an effective environment, and how to help clients process their experience are a few of the aspects examined to help clients move toward their goals. The practical skills the authors describe enable readers to immediately learn and apply their practice with groups.

This book will be an important tool in any group therapy class, in practice settings to train practitioners, and for any clinician trying to expand their group work capabilities.

About the Author

Tony G. Alvarez, LMSW, is owner of Alvarez Consulting and consults through Point b(e) Strategies. He taught adventure classes for many years at the University of Michigan School of Social Work.

Gary Stauffer, LMSW, spent over 35 years working with children, youth, and families in both mental health and school settings. He is currently retired, but still an active advocate for adventure therapy.

D. Maurie Lung, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, is the founder and CEO of Life Adventures Counseling and Consulting and associate professor at Prescott College overseeing the Adventure-Based Psychotherapy and Ecotherapy post-graduate programs.

Kim Sacksteder, MSW, LISW-S, is the co-owner of Adventure Therapist, LLC and Residential Clinical Supervisor of group therapy programs at The Buckeye Ranch.

Bobbi Beale, PsyD, is the CEO of Life Adventures for All, dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations with adventure therapy, and senior research associate, trainer, and consultant for the Center of Innovative Practices at Case Western Reserve University.

Anita R. Tucker, PhD, LICSW, is professor of Social Work at the University of New Hampshire where she coordinates the University of New Hampshire's Dual MSW/MS program with a focus on adventure therapy and is the associate director of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center.

Reviews

. . . This book is the outstanding text on the subject of adventure therapy. It is thorough in presenting the origins of this approach, how adventure therapy is offered through all the phases of group development, how to create assessments that guide adventure therapy implementation, how the environment is taken into consideration in adventure therapy and addressed and how the experience of such therapy is evaluated. The authors also offer a great case example of adventure group psychotherapy.

Charles Garvin, PhD, MSW, professor emeritus, School of Social Work, The University of Michigan, USA, and author of Social Just Practice in Groups: A Social Work Perspective and Foundations of Interpersonal Practice in Social Work: Promoting Competence in Generalist Practice (3rd ed).

Nowhere in the world can you find a richer confluence of cutting edge thinking regarding the facilitation of adventure group psychotherapy experiences than in this book. Focused on the "how to" of producing transformative change for clients, you will be clearly guided through effective processes that will help you with the most difficult of clients. Written by a collection of some of the leading minds and hearts in psychotherapy today, your therapeutic work will never be the same once you start to read this valuable source of professional development.

Michael Gass, PhD, LMFT, professor, College of Health & Human Services, University of New Hampshire, USA, and author of Adventure Therapy: Theory, Practice, and Research.

The field of mental health treatment has long known the power of group work. This book not only reinforces that knowledge but provides an experiential, adventure-based approach to group psychotherapy that holistically engages clients in trauma-informed, strengths-based activities to elicit change. The profession needs a book like this now more than ever to reconceive clinical interventions with groups.

Dr. Christine Lynn Norton, LCSW, CCTP, CET, professor of social work, Texas State University, USA, and founder, Foster Care Adventure Therapy Network.

. . . The comprehensive clarity brought by Tony Alvarez, Gary Stauffer, Maurie Lung, Kim Sacksteder, Bobbi Beale and Anita Tucker to Adventure Group Psychotherapy: An Experiential Approach to Treatment arises from many decades as leading experts in the field. They have developed a significant book that helps generate solidarity and collective intelligence for trainers, practitioners, supervisors and researchers. It will leave readers deeply enriched and undoubtedly advance the profession for many years to come.

Tonia Gray, PhD, senior researcher, Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University, Australia.

This inspiring and essential resource provides powerful tools and techniques for adventure therapy practitioners and students. Read this book and learn from the authors who are a diverse team of leaders who are also the best teachers, mentors, researchers, practitioners, and stewards of the growing field of adventure therapy.

Will White, LICSW, PhD, co-founder, Summit Achievement, and author of Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy.

"This book is the outstanding text on the subject of adventure therapy. It is thorough in presenting the origins of this approach, how adventure therapy is offered through all the phases of group development, how to create assessments that guide adventure therapy implementation, how the environment is taken into consideration in adventure therapy and addressed, and how the experience of such therapy is evaluated. The authors also offer a great case example of adventure group psychotherapy."

Charles Garvin, PhD, MSW, professor emeritus, School of Social Work, The University of Michigan, USA, and author of Sociallly Just Practice in Groups: A Social Work Perspective and Foundations of Interpersonal Practice in Social Work: Promoting Competence in Generalist Practice (3rd ed)

"Nowhere in the world can you find a richer confluence of cutting-edge thinking regarding the facilitation of adventure group psychotherapy experiences than in this book. Focused on the 'how to' of producing transformative change for clients, you will be clearly guided through effective processes that will help you with the most difficult of clients. Written by a collection of some of the leading minds and hearts in psychotherapy today, your therapeutic work will never be the same once you start to read this valuable source of professional development."

Michael Gass, PhD, LMFT, professor, College of Health and Human Services, University of New Hampshire, USA, and author of Adventure Therapy: Theory, Practice, and Research

"The field of mental health treatment has long known the power of group work. This book not only reinforces that knowledge but provides an experiential, adventure-based approach to group psychotherapy that holistically engages clients in trauma-informed, strengths-based activities to elicit change. The profession needs a book like this now more than ever to reconceive clinical interventions with groups."

Dr. Christine Lynn Norton, LCSW, CCTP, CET, professor of social work, Texas State University, USA, and founder, Foster Care Adventure Therapy Network

"The comprehensive clarity brought by Tony Alvarez, Gary Stauffer, Maurie Lung, Kim Sacksteder, Bobbi Beale and Anita Tucker to Adventure Group Psychotherapy: An Experiential Approach to Treatment arises from many decades as leading experts in the field. They have developed a significant book that helps generate solidarity and collective intelligence for trainers, practitioners, supervisors, and researchers. It will leave readers deeply enriched and undoubtedly advance the profession for many years to come."

Tonia Gray, PhD, senior researcher, Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University, Australia

"This inspiring and essential resource provides powerful tools and techniques for adventure therapy practitioners and students. Read this book and learn from the authors who are a diverse team of leaders who are also the best teachers, mentors, researchers, practitioners, and stewards of the growing field of adventure therapy."

Will White, LICSW, PhD, co-founder, Summit Achievement, and author of Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy

Book Information
ISBN 9780367336905
Author Tony G. Alvarez
Format Paperback
Page Count 228
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 435g