The Journey Wilderness is designed by Madolyn M. Liebing, Ph.D., Psychologist and current Clinical Director who was the first Psychologist to provide individual therapy and psychological evaluations to wilderness participants in the field (Gass, 2012). Dr. Liebing instituted the practice of administering a full psychological evaluation to every client as a part of the program as well as using mental health professionals in the wilderness therapy program she co-founded 23 years ago. The Journey Wilderness continues that tradition by including in the cost of the program a full psychological evaluation for every teen along with two individual therapy sessions per week. Additionally, because we use the most up-to-date electronic equipment, parents can participate in face-to-face family therapy sessions with their teen in the wilderness using real time video teleconferencing. Parents also receive a weekly session with the therapist via teleconferencing. The average length of the program is 50 days and we serve both male and female clients ages 13 to 17 or 18 to 25 (in separate programs). The Journey Wilderness is a hybrid program combining traditional wilderness skills with adventure activities. The Journey is owner operated by seven dedicated wilderness treatment professionals who have provided 78 combined years of outdoor education and therapy.

Michael A. Gass, Adventure Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, 2012, p. 41