Above : Cycle challenge on the forest trails
Breaking down barriers to inclusion
Those who join us are often marginalised socially and describe feelings of isolation , being left out and not feeling that they belong . There may be a loss of previous social networks as friends drift away with time , young people may have been dropped from sports teams or no longer seen as ‘ cool ’ to be with .
Facial scarring or physical disability can become a barrier to inclusion , or unusual behaviours may cause others to withdraw . Anxiety and depression may limit confidence and create difficulties in getting out and about socially .
Social connection is one of the five pillars in maintaining sound mental health , so this is a key component in our activities with Adventure Therapy .
We are all aware of the importance and purpose of fun and play in life , but especially during recovery from illness or injury we need the opportunity to play freely , without a set script often required in school or workplaces . This freedom brings creativity and an opening to create a new acceptance of ourselves or our situations .
Focusing on doing something we love allows our body and brain to relax . It resets our stress hormones and promotes our mental resilience . It is restorative .
When you see a child jumping with excitement you know you are activating the pathways within the brain to create eager anticipation , optimism and positive hope . These pathways in turn activate pathways that trigger engagement and purposeful activity , which in turn leads to achievement and a feel-good factor that completes the circle of wellbeing .
Someone who may be limited either in their physical mobility , or through difficulties with their mental health , may be experiencing too much passive activity . This means they are not currently building their skills or confidence to experience a variety of life events and making of new memories .
Deliberate effort and engagement in outdoor activity brings a wealth of opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to learn , develop and importantly , to effect lasting change .
Challenging unhelpful beliefs around disability
At Adventure Therapy we promote a ‘ can do ’ approach , adapting the activity to ensure everyone can participate in some way . We encourage all our participants to rise to the challenges they set for themselves .
We also challenge some unhelpful beliefs in society around disability through an inclusive approach to outdoor activity .
Through careful risk assessment and by knowing our participants well , we are able to introduce them to fire lighting , knife skills , going out in all weathers , tackling tricky terrain , and promoting a sense of independence and adventure that may have been denied them since injury or illness .
All our activities focus on developing the neural substrate supporting wellbeing and boosting recovery . Our brains are primed to respond to the experiences and environments around us . Given this opportunity we allow ourselves to experience it and enjoy it , remember it and generalise it , changing the circuitry within our frontal lobes and limbic systems .
This impacts on our brain chemistry , leading to the potential for lasting change . Effort based reward promotes efficacy and persistence toward further development .
We use outdoor activity to demonstrate to the young person how their injured brain can learn new skills ; the more new experiences we have , the more choices we have to manage our lives ahead .
Our activities are not just about putting on a happy face , they are about changing that face . We aim to have fun together in a safe setting and our knowledge of acquired brain injury and our professional neuro-experience allows parents to leave their young people with us in confidence .
Words PENNY WEEKES , Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist for young people with acquired brain injury and their families . For further information contact Amy Weekes , Project Coordinator amy . weekes @ adventuretherapy . org . uk . To explore more about the charity visit adventuretherapy . org . uk
22 OTnews January 2025