Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors

319: What Is a Therapeutic Boarding School? 92 Years of Helping Teens and Families at Grove School

What is a therapeutic boarding school, and how can it help teenagers facing anxiety, depression, trauma, school refusal, and other mental health challenges? In this episode Will sits down with Peter Chorney, Executive Director of Grove School [https://www.groveschool.org/], one of the nation's oldest therapeutic boarding schools. Peter shares how Grove School has spent more than 92 years evolving its approach to residential treatment, combining academics, clinical care, family involvement, creative arts, and outdoor experiences to help teenagers build resilience, confidence, and hope. Peter also reflects on growing up on the Grove School [https://www.groveschool.org/] campus, following in the footsteps of his father Richard Chorney, and leading a therapeutic boarding school through a rapidly changing mental health landscape. Together, Will and Peter discuss why family engagement is essential to successful treatment, how today's adolescents are arriving with greater levels of trauma and isolation than ever before, and why connection, community, and time in nature continue to play a vital role in helping teens and families heal. Whether you're a parent exploring residential treatment, a mental health professional, or simply interested in the evolution of therapeutic schools, this episode offers an inside look at one of the field's longest-standing and most respected programs. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org) [https://www.wmai.org/], offering adventure inspired retreats and coaching facilitated by Will White.

318: What Is Forest Therapy? Regan Stacey Explains

Can spending time with trees become a pathway to healing? In this episode Will sits down with Regan Stacey, founder of the Forest Therapy School, [https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1Nr9wCCjn2hgqi6TCAlfsAYF14Hn9axKKGw8yvOouwGQ/edit] to explore the growing practice of forest therapy and why so many people are turning to nature as part of their mental health and wellness journey. Regan shares the deeply personal story of how a life-changing cancer diagnosis, the loss of her brother, and profound experiences in the forest inspired her to dedicate her life to helping others reconnect with the natural world. Together they discuss what forest therapy actually is, how it differs from hiking or traditional psychotherapy, the research behind the health benefits of spending time among trees, and why slowing down may be one of the most powerful practices available in today's fast-paced world. Regan also explains how the Forest Therapy School [https://www.theforesttherapyschool.com/about] trains guides around the world and shares moving stories of transformation that illustrate how mindfulness, nature connection, and intentional presence can help people rediscover resilience, belonging, and hope. Whether you're a mental health professional, outdoor practitioner, or simply someone seeking a deeper relationship with nature, this conversation offers an inspiring look at one of the fastest-growing approaches in outdoor wellbeing. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org) [https://www.wmai.org/], offering adventure inspired retreats and coaching facilitated by Will White.

317: What Happens When Young Adults Meet the Dalai Lama? Ryan McGinty on Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Red Mountain Sedona

Can meeting the Dalai Lama influence a young person's mental health and well-being? In this episode, Will White sits down with Ryan McGinty, Executive Director of Red Mountain Sedona, [https://redmountainsedona.com/] to discuss an extraordinary journey that took young adults, families, and staff from Arizona to Dharamsala, India, where they met His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Ryan shares how the idea for the trip emerged through meditation, the challenges of organizing international travel during a time of global uncertainty, and why mindfulness, compassion, and non-attachment became essential lessons long before the group ever boarded a plane. The conversation also explores how mindfulness meditation is integrated into young adult treatment, why inner peace may be one of the most overlooked components of mental health, and how Ryan's own recovery journey led him into behavioral healthcare. Together, Will and Ryan discuss leadership, experiential learning, the healing power of community, and what happens when ancient contemplative practices meet modern mental health treatment. Whether you're a clinician, parent, educator, or simply interested in mindfulness, meditation, and the future of young adult behavioral health, this episode offers an inspiring look at healing through presence, compassion, and human connection. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org) [https://www.wmai.org/], offering adventure inspired retreats and coaching facilitated by Will White.

316: Autism Outdoors: How Nature Helps Autistic Children and Families Thrive

What happens when a therapist who has spent years working with autistic individuals suddenly becomes the parent of an autistic child? In this episode Will talks with Damon Bryan, co-founder of Autism Outdoors Utah, [https://www.utahautismoutdoors.com/] about how his son's autism diagnosis transformed both his personal life and his clinical perspective. Damon shares his journey from outdoor and residential mental health programs to creating a nonprofit that helps autistic individuals and their families experience the outdoors through hiking, rafting, paddleboarding, family retreats, and community events. Together, Will and Damon explore what it means to provide autism-affirming care, why traditional mental health services often overlook the importance of community and family connection, and how time in nature can support emotional regulation, confidence, and belonging. Whether you're a parent raising an autistic child, a mental health professional, educator, occupational therapist, or someone interested in outdoor therapy and neurodiversity, this conversation offers practical insights and an inspiring vision for how nature can become a powerful partner in supporting autistic individuals and the families who love them. Check out Autism Outdoors Utah Website. [https://www.utahautismoutdoors.com/] This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org) [https://www.wmai.org/], offering adventure inspired retreats and coaching facilitated by Will White.

315: 10 Years of Change: How Confluence Behavioral Health Evolved

How does a program built around relationships, adventure, and the outdoors evolve over ten years while staying true to its mission? In this episode, Will sits down with Foster Post, co-founder of Confluence Behavioral Health, [https://www.confluencevt.com/] as the Vermont-based program celebrates its 10th anniversary. Foster shares his journey into outdoor mental health treatment and reflects on the lessons learned from building a small, owner-operated program during a time of unprecedented change. From its early years featuring multi-day wilderness expeditions to its current model serving young adults through residential treatment, adventure-based programming, and community engagement, Confluence has continually adapted while staying true to its core belief in the healing power of relationships and the outdoors. Foster and Will also explore the changing needs of young adults, including rising anxiety, social isolation, self-doubt, and the impact of technology on mental health. Together, they discuss how outdoor behavioral healthcare is evolving, why community and experiential learning remain essential for growth, and what the future may hold for nature-based treatment programs. This conversation offers valuable insights for parents, clinicians, educational consultants, and anyone interested in young adult mental health, outdoor therapy, and the future of behavioral healthcare. This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org) [https://www.wmai.org/], offering adventure inspired retreats and coaching facilitated by Will White.