PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

The primary technique used is the power of experience through meaningful activity. This approach has been proven to be more memorable and deeply transformative than traditional, non-interactive approaches to therapy and learning. Clients are encouraged to freely express their thoughts and feelings using a variety of active experiences, for example problem-solving "games," challenge courses, canoeing, or tree climbing. Clients will experience a non-judgmental atmosphere that emphasizes their strengths and abilities. This allows clients to fully engage in the individualized process of learning and change. No particular skills are required to participate, as all sessions are customized for the client.
 

APPROPRIATE CLIENTELE

Life Adventures Counseling & Consulting has provided services for small and large groups internationally. Whether you are a group of educators, a non-profit board of directors, or a team of executives, individual and group performance can be enhanced through knowledge and applied skills. Every program is designed for your learning goals and professional community.
 

SERVICES PROVIDED
 

Assessment or professional review of group and/or organizational needs and strengths. This comprehensive process may include written or telephone surveys of staff and clients, site visit observations, and a review of accreditation or contract agency standards. These reports have been used by organizations during strategic planning as well as guiding training departments.
 

A variety of half day or full day workshops for small or large groups focusing on community building, cultural competency, health and well being, program evaluation, and facilitation skills.
 

Adventure opportunities (examples include canoeing, challenge course, and tree climbing)  The primary technique used is the power of experience through meaningful activity. This approach has been proven to be more memorable and deeply transformative than traditional, non-interactive approaches to therapy and learning. You will experience a non-judgmental atmosphere that emphasizes your strengths and abilities. This allows you to fully engage in your individualized process of healing and change.
 

SAMPLE WORKSHOPS
 

Purposeful Performance Evaluation: Let go of the fears or tediousness of performance evaluation by implementing a feedback process that collects information from a wrap-around perspective, including supervisor, subordinates, peers, and clients. 360º Evaluation maximizes the feedback process by providing a more complete picture of how an employee is performing within his/her work environment. By focusing on strengths through opportunities to receive feedback on a regular basis, the individual is able to take a proactive approach to his/her own professional development.
 

Maximizing Our Team's Strengths: Through a playful and interactive experience, teams develop a better understanding of how to communicate with each other, assign tasks or roles based on individual strengths, and identify areas of growth. A personality, skill, and occupational preference assessment informs this workshop that integrates individual information with that of the team as a whole to maximize the opportunities for each person to contribute towards the team goals.
 

Creating Healthy Organizational Change: This workshop is a collaborative strategic planning session to utilize the information from the assessment to create a custom plan for systemic organizational integration. Using systemic thinking through a facilitated conversation about systems orientation, we will focus on the development of the integration model - Where are we? Where to we want to be? This approach is about the invitation and learner centered, while addressing the systemic process of change while also using experiential processes.
 

Facilitator Workshops: These workshops focus on a variety of specific techniques, for example: No Prop Activities, Matching Interventions with Clinical Goals/Objectives, Cultural Considerations, Using Metaphors with Adventure/Experiential Interventions (Activities), Using Adventure/Experiential Interventions  (Activities) with Individuals, Collaborating with Colleagues about Adventure/Experiential Practices, Supervising Employees Using Adventure/Experiential Activities, Adventure/Experiential Interventions/ Activities for Families and Groups.
 

RESEARCH

Current research in experiential education and psychology practice supports the effectiveness of adventure and experiential therapy. Life Adventures Counseling & Consulting feels strongly that we incorporate evidence-based practices into all of our programming. Please follow this link for more information about Current Research.
 

ADVENTURE THERAPY RESOURCES