A therapeutic adventure-based intervention for alcoholics/addicts and their families
(Book - Regular Print)

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 48-03.

Adviser: Carol Parker

Thesis (M.A.)--Prescott College, 2009.

Adventure therapy has been shown to improve self-esteem, enable healthy communication and increase levels of trust amongst its participants. The author postulates that when adventure-based intervention is used with families of alcoholic/addicts, its effects are analogous. In this thesis project, an adventure-based intervention is created for families participating in a "Four-Day Intensive Family Week" facilitated by the author at a chemical dependency treatment center. A one-day rock climbing intervention with families allows for observation of metaphoric parallels between climbing, belaying and support and the attributes identified in healthy family functioning. With facilitated process, this intervention allows families to begin to identify and practice new, healthy patterns of interaction as a result of insightful observations during and after the intervention.