{"podcast":{"title":"Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors","slug":"stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882","podcast_index_feed_id":7027882,"rss_url":"https://rss.libsyn.com/shows/131706/destinations/803158.xml","website_url":"http://storiesfromthefield.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/d/e/2/a/de2a85da199a6759d959afa2a1bf1c87/StoriesFromTheField.jpg","author":"Will White","episode_count":319,"summary":"Stories from the Field: Mental Health in the Outdoors is an authoritative and enlightening podcast that explores the vast landscape of mental health therapies in outdoor settings. Hosted by seasoned mental health professional Dr. Will White, the podcast offers deep insights into outdoor therapies like Adventure Therapy, Eco-Therapy, Wilderness Therapy, and Experiential Therapy, among others. Dr. White engages with a diverse range of guests, including leading researchers, practitioners, authors, executive directors, guide staff, mental health clinicians, and critics, helping to shed light on the nuances of these unique therapy practices. In addition to exploring the modern implications of these evolving therapeutic modalities, he delves into their rich history, providing a holistic perspective for listeners. With over 30 years of experience at the juncture of mental health and outdoor environments, Dr. White's expertise is unparalleled. As a co-founder of the pioneering Summit Achievement, an adventure therapy program based in Maine, he has been a guiding force in the field since the 1990s. His scholarly contributions include the book \"Stories from the Field: A History of Wildernes…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-14T20:19:22.737142+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882"},"episode":{"title":"302: Beyond Hell Camp: A New Documentary on Wilderness Therapy","slug":"302-beyond-hell-camp-a-new-documentary-on-wilderness-therapy","published_at":"2026-02-10T13:35:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882/302-beyond-hell-camp-a-new-documentary-on-wilderness-therapy","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882","url":"https://storiesfromthefield.libsyn.com/302-beyond-hell-camp-a-new-documentary-on-wilderness-therapy","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/storiesfromthefield/Forest-through-the-Trees--With-Mark-and-Vince.mp3?dest-id=803158","summary":"In a moment when wilderness therapy is often framed as either a miracle or a menace, what gets lost when we stop listening for the full human story? In this special episode of Stories from the Field Will is joined by filmmakers Vince Dixon and Mark Strauss, the directors of the upcoming film Forest Through the Trees: The Truth About Wilderness Therapy . Will is also serving as a one of the producers on the project. Together, they explore what drew Vince and Mark to wilderness therapy as a subject, how their assumptions have been challenged through a year of research and interviews, and why the field cannot be understood through a single narrative shaped by headlines or popular media alone. A clear theme emerges: wilderness therapy is not a single model or idea, but a diverse and evolving field that resists simple labels of \"good\" or \"bad.\" The conversation explores what it takes to tell a responsible story in a deeply polarized landscape. As directors, Vince and Mark outline their commitment to ethical, balanced storytelling—actively seeking out critical voices alongside positive outcomes, examining cost, access, safety, and history, and responding thoughtfully to the cultural impact of films like Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare. As a producer on the film, Will reflects on why this kind of nuanced storytelling matters right now: not to defend or condemn the field, but to expand understanding, foster empathy, and help listeners grasp why families turn to wilderness therapy when they feel out of options—while honoring the real complexity and controversy surrounding outdoor mental health care. To learn more about the documentary check out the website: https://www.wildernessdocumentary.com/ This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute ( wmai.org) , offering ad…","meta_description":"In a moment when wilderness therapy is often framed as either a miracle or a menace, what gets lost when we stop listening for the full human story? In th…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2891,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882/episodes/302-beyond-hell-camp-a-new-documentary-on-wilderness-therapy/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882/302-beyond-hell-camp-a-new-documentary-on-wilderness-therapy.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}