Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Kimberlee Bonura

Abstract

Adventure therapy as a therapeutic model for the treatment of mental health has been a growing area of psychology for more than 50 years. This quantitative study was conducted to explore the theoretical orientation beliefs to clarify the theoretical framework of this therapeutic approach using Coleman’s theoretical evaluation self-test (TEST) to gather data on self-identified adventure therapy practitioners’ theoretical beliefs. Data were collected from 150 participants recruited through their membership or affiliation with adventure therapy professional organizations or social media groups. Data were analyzed using a paired t-test to determine if adventure therapy professionals have higher scores on the cognitive, ecosystems, and humanistic domains of the TEST than the domains of psychodynamic, family, biological, and pragmatic as suggested in previous research. Data were analyzed using chi-square goodness-of-fit test to determine if theoretical orientation beliefs differ depending on degree emphasis and depending on licensure among adventure therapy professionals. Analysis confirmed that adventure therapy professionals had higher scores on the cognitive, ecosystems, and humanistic domains of the TEST. However, the chi-square results indicated no difference in theoretical orientation beliefs among adventure therapy professionals regardless of degree emphasis or licensure. The findings of this research have potential implications for positive social change by being the first to identify the theoretical orientation beliefs among adventure therapy professionals, that can influence the practices and development of this field, which could lead to greater uniformity in treatment with this modality and improved patient outcomes.

Download

Share

 
COinS