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What is Adventure Therapy?
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed to deal with life’s problems, you’re not alone. Seeking a professional’s help can feel daunting, especially for anyone unfamiliar with therapy and its many benefits.
While you can choose from numerous types of therapy available, Adventure Therapy offers a unique and refreshing approach.
Put simply, Adventure Therapy uses the outdoors as a catalyst for healing and change. It happens in the most pristine landscapes, where you can truly disconnect from the noise and connect with your inner self.
At Indiahikes, Adventure Therapy treks provide opportunities to help people seeking social, emotional, developmental, or behavioural support and change while adventuring together.
What is Adventure Therapy?
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed to deal with life’s problems, you’re not alone. Seeking a professional’s help can feel daunting, especially for anyone unfamiliar with therapy and its many benefits.
While you can choose from numerous types of therapy available, Adventure Therapy offers a unique and refreshing approach.
Put simply, Adventure Therapy uses the outdoors as a catalyst for healing and change. It happens in the most pristine landscapes, where you can truly disconnect from the noise and connect with your inner self.
At Indiahikes, Adventure Therapy treks provide opportunities to help people seeking social, emotional, developmental, or behavioural support and change while adventuring together.
Testimonials (Published with participants' consent)
Sahana
Dayara Bugyal
Payal
Dayara Bugyal
Prasad
Dayara Bugyal
Tulica
Chandrakhani Pass
How Adventure Therapy treks are different from other Indiahikes treks
At Indiahikes we found that treks have a strong transformative effect on trekkers, and some were more deeply impacted. We saw many making changes in their lives, finding new purpose and renewed energy. But we also saw that in regular groups, not all people come with the intention of change or healing.
We decided to have focused treks where people looking for change/ healing/ personal development could come together, and with the assistance of a trained counsellor or coach work on the issues/blocks they were facing. This gave rise to Adventure Therapy treks at Indiahikes.
On an Adventure Therapy trek, everyone comes with the intention of working on their personal goals and needs. Here, trekkers gain:
- A new insight into the issues they are facing
- A renewed sense of energy and purpose
- Specific input on personal qualities and areas of development with the help of an accompanying therapist/ coach
- Greater somatic (mind-body interconnection) awareness
In The News: Adventure Therapy At Indiahikes
National Geographic - Adventure Therapy at Indiahikes Features In Nat Geo's 2024 "Best Of The World List, Wellness Experiences"
Lonely Planet - How India is Embracing Adventure Therapy Treks
Outlook Traveller - How People Are Using Adventure Activities And Treks As Therapy
Whom is it meant for?
These treks are meant for those going through personal difficulty in their lives.
Adventure Therapy treks can benefit people who wish to:
- build self-confidence and esteem
- break free from harmful habits and thinking
- seek solace and healing as result of dealing with loss, trauma, or illness
- overcome persistent anxiety, anger, stress, depression, or melancholy
- bring significant transformation in their lives
Adventure Therapy Treks are ideal for:
1. Individuals seeking therapeutic support –
- You may be new to therapy but are eager to try this approach to address issues you are facing. Or
- You may already be in therapy and would like to explore and engage with another medium.
2. Individuals seeking self-development –
- Perhaps you don't have active issues in mind but are seeking more avenues for self-development.
- If you have a reflective, contemplative approach to life - adventure therapy is also for you.
Adventure Therapy Dates
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Photo Gallery
How we design Adventure Therapy treks
The Therapist's Role
- A compassionate, non-judgmental ear
Therapists provide a safe space for you to express your thoughts, fears, and challenges without fear of judgment. - Guiding the journey
Therapists help participants recognise, understand, and address the spectrum of emotions and experiences on the trek. - Contextualising the trek
Therapists help participants draw connections between the trek's takeaways and their individual goals.
Nature and adventure as a canvas for healing
- Changes in perspective and growing awareness emerge with facilitator guidance. This is enhanced by the beauty of the surroundings, as well as the challenge and adventure of the trek.
A balance of individual and group sessions
- The facilitator seamlessly blends focused individual sessions with impactful group work. The combination sets the stage for deeper awareness and change.
Post-trek follow up
- Participants can engage in an optional follow-up call with the therapist 45 days after the trek. This post-trek session allows for reflection, the reinforcement of newfound insights, and continued support on the path to personal development.
Meet our facilitators
Izzat Yaganagi is the Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes. Her work includes designing experiential learning programs, training, and mentoring those who facilitate these specialised programs on treks. She comes with extensive experience in education, and counselling for individuals, educational institutions, and corporations.
Being a certified counsellor, mediator, and avid trekker, Izzat designed and led the first 4 Adventure Therapy treks at Indiahikes.
An alumnus of Parivarthan, she has over 15 years of experience as a counsellor. She is also trained in mediation from the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation. From 2008 to 2017, she was the co-founder of 'Nurturing Nature' which provided coaching, training, and counselling services. She's also worked as an in-house counsellor at BMSSA and conducted workshops for educational institutions and companies in Bangalore and China.
Vivek Saxena is an executive coach and counsellor with over 15 years of experience in this field. Vivek works with clients towards personal as well as business goals and in developing the leadership qualities that can support that.
Vivek is a trekker and a strong believer in the power of the outdoors in supporting developmental work. He believes that Indiahikes' Adventure Therapy Treks provide a unique opportunity to combine his passion and expertise in the service of those seeking and working on therapeutic and developmental goals.
Vivek, an IIT and IIM alumni, received his coaching certification from New Ventures West, San Francisco, where he later co-led the coach-certification classes as a faculty member for New Ventures West. His counselling certification is from Parivarthan, Bangalore.
His coaching work includes work with Citibank, Airtel, Fidelity Investments, Maersk, CK Birla and the Rane Group.
FAQs
Yes, you do. You need to make dedicated efforts to get physically fit for the adventure.
Participants must be self-reflective and open to having authentic conversations while on the trek. Adventure Therapy works best when you are open to the process and to the therapist or coach facilitating the entire experience.
Adventure therapy groups have fewer members than our regular groups. The group size here is 21 trekkers.
You embark on this journey alongside others on a similar quest to seek their own answers. Participation in group sessions is completely voluntary. You may choose to just listen or not be a part of the group session as well.
We provide general medicines. Also, our trek leaders are equipped and trained to handle any kind of medical emergency on the trek. However, if you have any specific medication, please bring it along with you.
We serve simple, nutritious vegetarian food at our summer camps. You can expect roti, subzi, dal and rice at every meal, along with some surprise desserts!
All our meals are prepared freshly at every campsite by our kitchen teams. We go to great lengths to ensure that the food is healthy, sustainable and fresh. So avoid packaged snacks, as they are banned on our treks.
We do have options of Jain food / vegan food upon request.
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