Natura is a program designed for a maximum of 12 youngsters between 15 -17 years old associated with ADHD symptomatology and/or possibly involved in a therapeutic process.
Where: Valencia (Spain)
The program consists of 8 sessions with outdoor activities, Adventure Education and Adventure Therapy. The aim of the activities presented in this program is to offer challenges for the participants that lead into a posterior group therapeutic process.
At the beginning of each activity we would facilitate an experiential learning through the activities like slackline, ropes. Half way of the program we offer an expedition experience where we propose adventure activities in nature like climbing, rafting and hiking.
In this environment, unknown for the participants, we would like to enhance teamwork, responsibility, self-care and personal autonomy.
After the expedition we would work on the topics that were important for the participants and we would continue developing the therapeutic goals within the group.
Where: Valencia (Spain)
The program consists of 8 sessions with outdoor activities, Adventure Education and Adventure Therapy. The aim of the activities presented in this program is to offer challenges for the participants that lead into a posterior group therapeutic process.
At the beginning of each activity we would facilitate an experiential learning through the activities like slackline, ropes. Half way of the program we offer an expedition experience where we propose adventure activities in nature like climbing, rafting and hiking.
In this environment, unknown for the participants, we would like to enhance teamwork, responsibility, self-care and personal autonomy.
After the expedition we would work on the topics that were important for the participants and we would continue developing the therapeutic goals within the group.
NATURA’s goals:
How to reach NATURA’s goals:
Through the experiential activities the main focus of the program is to develop the following skills and abilities:
Skills for the recognition of one's own thoughts, reactions, personal abilities and aspects to be improved.
Ability to promote assertive communication: adequate expression of feelings, thoughts and needs.
Processes for reasoned and conscious decision-making: evaluation of the possibilities and their consequences.
Training in the handling of emotions and feelings: Recognition of how they
influence their own behavior.
Training in relaxation and mindfulness for stress management.
Training in higher cognitive abilities (attention, memory, problem solving, etc.)
Skills for the recognition of one's own thoughts, reactions, personal abilities and aspects to be improved.
Ability to promote assertive communication: adequate expression of feelings, thoughts and needs.
Processes for reasoned and conscious decision-making: evaluation of the possibilities and their consequences.
Training in the handling of emotions and feelings: Recognition of how they
influence their own behavior.
Training in relaxation and mindfulness for stress management.
Training in higher cognitive abilities (attention, memory, problem solving, etc.)
Who is NATURA aimed for?
The program is especially recommended for youngsters with symptomatology or ADHD diagnosis. Experiential learning and adventure therapy have a relevant interest because through them we can work on how to increase people’s quality of life. We will focus on training of thinking habits, management of impulsive responses, estimulation of higher cognitive abilities and promotion of self-knowledge about the
symptomatology itself, among other examples.
symptomatology itself, among other examples.
NATURA theoretical and conceptual framework: the teenager
The theoretical concepts that underpin the goals of this program are based on the importance of the vital stage the adolescence represents in one’s life and on the promotion of positive vital development of people in their teens, with emphasis on integral health and empowerment through development of personal control and competence to act, as well as the improvement of interpersonal and social skills. (Zimmerman, 1990)
The goals of this program are based on the model of positive youth development (Benson, Mannes, Pittman and Ferber, 2004), focused on the promotion of emotional, social and psychological well-being during adolescence.
The goals of this program are based on the model of positive youth development (Benson, Mannes, Pittman and Ferber, 2004), focused on the promotion of emotional, social and psychological well-being during adolescence.
Methodology
Adventure Therapy is a therapeutic intervention implemented by mental health professionals that consists of facilitating significant experiences through overcoming challenges in a natural environment, to enhance the integral development of participants.
The activities chosen for this program will act as significant experiences, through which the therapeutic processing and the work on the emotions and thoughts that arise during the development of said activities are realized.
According to UNESCO (2002), experiential learning is an active, effective and natural methodology for producing new knowledge. This learning process leads, in an organic way, to a new vision and interpretation of things. Thus, the person evolves and develops on a personal level, consolidating a self-confidence on which new learning experiences can be developed. Experiential learning fosters autonomy, responsibility, inclusion and cooperation.
The activities chosen for this program will act as significant experiences, through which the therapeutic processing and the work on the emotions and thoughts that arise during the development of said activities are realized.
According to UNESCO (2002), experiential learning is an active, effective and natural methodology for producing new knowledge. This learning process leads, in an organic way, to a new vision and interpretation of things. Thus, the person evolves and develops on a personal level, consolidating a self-confidence on which new learning experiences can be developed. Experiential learning fosters autonomy, responsibility, inclusion and cooperation.
Activities
Assessment
The assessment that will be carried out will include both processes and results. The aim is to determine whether or not the objectives are met, whether the activities are useful and also if learning is achieved. The evaluation of results will be used to check whether the planned objectives have been achieved through different indicators.
Written by "Asociación Experientia"
About Asociación Experientia
Experientia is an organization that is implementing Adventure Therapy and Wilderness Therapy in Spain. Experientia designs therapeutic and personal development programs using outdoors and experiential learning. Experientia is part of the Adventure Therapy European Network and provides trainings to professionals aiming to spread this methodology in Spain and Europe.
www.asociacionexperientia.org
www.asociacionexperientia.org
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.