Trails Carolina is set to host a groundbreaking webinar titled "10 Years of Clinical Research: What Have We Learned About the Effectiveness of Wilderness Therapy?" The webinar, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 13th, at 2 p.m. EST, promises valuable insights into the impact of wilderness therapy interventions backed by a decade of comprehensive research. Wilderness therapy/outdoor behavioral healthcare has been a therapeutic approach for decades. Despite its longevity, the lack of extensive research into therapeutic outcomes has left the industry under scrutiny. The webinar addresses this gap by presenting findings from Trails Carolina's 10-year clinical outcome study, including data from over 1200 families. Trails Carolina has prioritized evidence-based programming and decision-making, making a significant investment in the quality of its services. In collaboration with an independent research organization, Trails initiated the clinical outcome study in 2014, employing the most comprehensive research assessment tools used in wilderness therapy research to date. The 60-minute webinar will be hosted by the study's principal investigator, Dr. Sarah "Salli" Lewis, Ph.D., who serves as the Director of the Research Division for CReATE. Dr. Lewis is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience in the development, transport, and dissemination of evidence-based treatments, particularly related to traumatic stress and its associated disorders. The webinar will delve into the research design, results, and implications for the industry. Preliminary findings indicate that 98.9% of youth report sustained and significant improvements in challenging behavior and mental health symptoms one year post-graduation from Trails Carolina. The study also highlights notable enhancements in family communication, traumatic stress, and overall quality of life indices. Webinar Details:

• Title: 10 Years of Clinical Research: What Have We Learned About the Effectiveness of Wilderness Therapy?
• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 13th, 2023
• Time: 2 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. CST / Noon MST / 11 a.m. PST

Presenter Information:

• Speaker: Dr. Sarah "Salli" Lewis, Ph.D.
• Position: Director of Research Division, CReATE
• For more information and to register for the webinar, please contact Julia Andrick at jandrick@trailscarolina.com.
• Click here to view the recording of this webinar. 

  About Trails Carolina Working with students ages 10-17, Trails Carolina was founded in 2008 and is licensed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and accredited by the Association for Experiential Education, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and COGNIA for academic excellence. For more information, visit https://trailscarolina.com.