Overcoming Obstacles: Exploring the Use of Adventure Based Counseling in Youth Grief Camps

ABSTRACT

Bereavement can be confusing and complex for children and adolescents. Supporting youth in their grief may require interventions from helping professionals. Grief camps provide a supported environment designed to address the developmental needs of grieving children and adolescents. Adventure Based Counseling (ABC) provides structure and guidance for ropes course experiences and a theoretical basis for camps. This article explores how ABC on the ropes course addresses the unique needs of children and adolescents within the context of grief camps. An example plan provides guidance to camps hoping to incorporate the ABC framework into programming.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• Adventure Based Counseling
• children
• creativity in counseling
• grief
• grief camps

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda C. DeDiego

Amanda C. DeDiego is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Laura S. Wheat

Laura S. Wheat is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Teresa B. Fletcher

Teresa B. Fletcher is a Professor at the Sport and Health Psychology Program at Adler University, Chicago, Illinois.