{"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":"309: The First Therapist in Wilderness Therapy: Dr. Madolyn Liebing and the Clinical Origins of the Field","slug":"309-the-first-therapist-in-wilderness-therapy-dr-madolyn-liebing-and-the-clinical-origins-of-the-field","published_at":"2026-04-21T12:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882/309-the-first-therapist-in-wilderness-therapy-dr-madolyn-liebing-and-the-clinical-origins-of-the-field","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882","url":"https://storiesfromthefield.libsyn.com/309-the-first-therapist-in-wilderness-therapy-dr-madolyn-liebing-and-the-clinical-origins-of-the-field","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/storiesfromthefield/Maddy-Liebing-Re-Release-2026.mp3?dest-id=803158","summary":"How did wilderness therapy become outdoor behavioral healthcare—and who made that shift possible? In this re-released and historically significant episode Will sits down with Dr. Madolyn Liebing, widely considered the first licensed mental health professional to work in a primitive skills wilderness therapy program. As a co-founder of Aspen Achievement Academy in 1988, Dr. Liebing helped transform early outdoor programs from survival-based experiences into clinically grounded treatment—introducing psychological assessments, treatment planning, and family systems work into the wilderness. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Liebing shares her journey from high school counselor to trailblazing psychologist, her role in shaping Utah's first wilderness therapy licensing standards, and her perspective on how the field has evolved over decades. She reflects on the integration of trauma work, attachment theory, and family therapy in outdoor settings at Legacy Outdoor Adventures— and why the combination of clinical sophistication and immersive nature experiences remains so effective today. For anyone interested in the history, ethics, and future of wilderness therapy, this episode is essential listening. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute ( wmai.org) , offering adventure inspired retreats and coaching for men and facilitated by Will White.","meta_description":"How did wilderness therapy become outdoor behavioral healthcare—and who made that shift possible? In this re-released and historically significant episode…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4162,"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/309-the-first-therapist-in-wilderness-therapy-dr-madolyn-liebing-and-the-clinical-origins-of-the-field/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-7027882/309-the-first-therapist-in-wilderness-therapy-dr-madolyn-liebing-and-the-clinical-origins-of-the-field.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}