SUWS of the Carolinas
Old Fort, NC

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Approach Program Launches
Treatment Outcome Study

The Approach program at SUWS of the Carolinas provides wilderness-based treatment for youth with neurodevelopmental disorders, social skill deficits, and associated challenges. In June 2015, Approach, in collaboration with the Center for Research, Assessment, and Treatment Efficacy (CReATE; www.createnc.com), and the University of Arkansas, will launch the very first treatment outcome study of this social skill-specific wilderness program.

While previous studies have shown therapeutic progress for youth participating in wilderness therapy programs, this will be the first study to document improvement in specific skills. The Approach study will focus on youth's acquisition of conversational, cooperative play, perspective-taking, self-regulation, friendship management, and conflict resolution skills. These skills are often challenges for students on the autism spectrum. In addition to standardized instruments, measures will include behavioral observations conducted in the field by trained behavior analysts. Data will be collected through 2016.

This study is actually the second that has been completed at SUWS in collaboration with CReATE. Concluded in 2009, this study demonstrated that adolescent participants in wilderness therapy programs experienced significant reductions in psychopathology during treatment, and maintained these therapeutic gains for a full year. It especially highlighted a significant reduction of symptomology in the participants reporting substance abuse and dependence. This study was published in 2012. Entitled, Examining changes in substance use and conduct problems among treatment-seeking adolescents; it can be found in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

SUWS of the Carolinas is a clinically focused treatment program providing expert care in a wilderness setting. Its five niche programs serve boys and girls, ages 10 to 17, with emotional, behavioral and social development challenges.