Therapy Camp for Depression

Depression is a serious problem worldwide. The causes of depression are many, including chemical imbalances, low self-esteem, a poor childhood or a traumatic experience. Treatments for depression include anti-depressant medicines and psychological therapy. Therapy camps are opening up around the world to treat depression in a new way.

The Camps

• The camps consist of a base camp with buildings for sleeping, eating and recreation. These base camps are the central hub around which therapy camps revolve. Starting at base camp, you spend a few days talking to a psychiatrist, having a physical exam and learning a few basic survival skills.
  After learning your basic survival skills and spending a few days in relative comfort, you will be sent out into the wilderness with your group. Your group will consist of other depressed people (often teens), survival experts and psychiatrists. You will work together with these people to get to the root of your depression in a natural and wild environment.

What Will I Do There?

• While in the wilderness, you will take care of your most basic needs in a raw and natural manner. Physical activities such as chopping wood, going through a rope course and other physical tests are designed to help you learn about your own physical limitations and help you get more physically active. This physical activity is designed to help you momentarily forget your mental problems as you focus on the physical problem in front of you.
  Physical activity will also boost your adrenaline, which can help minimize your feelings of depression. The survival experts and psychiatrists will encourage you to push yourself beyond your limits. Successfully performing activities you believed you couldn't perform may also help boost self-esteem, which may have been lowered by depression.
  Therapy camps also feature group or personalized therapy sessions. These sessions will force you to delve deep into your issues and depression in a new and uncomfortable place. The safety net of being in a familiar place will be removed. It may be harder to reveal personal things in an uncomfortable place. However, what you do reveal may be deeper feelings. Therapy sessions will generally take place once a week, or more if necessary. You get a few days every couple of weeks to relax and enjoy yourself at base camp. Then it's back into the wilderness again.