{"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":"320: Can Experiential Therapy Help Neurodiverse Young Adults?","slug":"320-can-experiential-therapy-help-neurodiverse-young-adults","published_at":"2026-07-14T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882/320-can-experiential-therapy-help-neurodiverse-young-adults","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-from-the-field-mental-health-and-the-outdoors-7027882","url":"https://storiesfromthefield.libsyn.com/320-can-experiential-therapy-help-neurodiverse-young-adults","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/storiesfromthefield/Intrepid-David-Chandler.mp3?dest-id=803158","summary":"What happens when a neurodiverse young adult isn't ready for college or independent living—but has outgrown living at home? In this episode, Will sits down with David Chandler, Program Director at Intrepid Young Adults in Asheville, North Carolina, to explore how experiential therapy helps young adults with autism, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, anxiety, and other forms of neurodiversity develop the skills needed for adulthood. David explains how individualized coaching, community living, employment, and real-world experiences help young adults build confidence, purpose, relationships, and greater independence. David also shares his journey from psychiatric care to wilderness therapy at SUWS of the Carolinas before helping launch Intrepid Young Adults. Together, Will and David discuss why so many young adults struggle to transition into adulthood, the impact of COVID, technology, AI, and changing family dynamics, and why experiential learning remains a powerful approach to mental health treatment. Whether you're a parent, therapist, educational consultant, or professional working with neurodiverse young adults, this episode offers practical insights into helping young people move beyond \"failure to launch\" and toward meaningful, independent lives. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute ( wmai.org) , offering adventure inspired retreats and coaching facilitated by Will White.","meta_description":"What happens when a neurodiverse young adult isn't ready for college or independent living—but has outgrown living at home? In this episode, Will sits dow…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2834,"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/320-can-experiential-therapy-help-neurodiverse-young-adults/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-7027882/320-can-experiential-therapy-help-neurodiverse-young-adults.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}