Experiential Therapy: Hiking for Improved Mental Health and Wellness

What is Experiential Therapy?

Experiential, or recreational, therapy is best defined as a contrast to talk therapy. While both are very helpful for the healing process, experiential therapy is activity-based, while talk therapy is discussion based. 

There are many forms of experiential therapy. Due to the healing power of nature and physical activity, outdoor activities are a common form of recreational therapy.

Benefits of Hiking in Experiential Therapy

Hiking as a form of outdoor experiential therapy provides a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that spending time in natural surroundings can reduce depressive symptoms, improve mental well-being, promote an active lifestyle, and boost overall wellness.

Physical Benefits of Hiking

Hiking is a low-impact activity with few barriers to entry. Even a beginner-level trail can healthily challenge the heart and lungs and improve health. 

Hiking is a full-body exercise that engages every large muscle group. As a result, hiking can build bone density and strengthen the core and back muscles. 

Mental Benefits of Hiking

Outdoor activities like hiking can lower stress levels and reduce anxiety symptoms. Natural elements like trees and greenery deactivate the body’s stress response. Hiking can also reduce the intensity of negative emotions such as fear and anger.

Hiking is often a social activity. Bonding with others is a natural mood booster and can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. 

How does experiential therapy differ from traditional talk therapy?

As mentioned before, recreational therapy uses activities and self-expression to help people process emotions. While some experiential activities, such as role plays, directly touch upon the issue at hand, most activities do not address any particular situation. 

Instead, the activity challenges the participant to rely on life skills such as problem-solving or communication. Experiential therapies like hiking can also encourage clients to remain focused on the present moment, which is an essential coping strategy for conditions such as anxiety and PTSD.

What types of problems can experiential therapy address?

Experiential therapy is suitable for many types of mental health conditions, including trauma and depressive disorders. There is also evidence that recreational therapy is an effective complementary treatment for addiction disorders, eating disorders, and compulsive behaviors. 

Additionally, physical exercise helps with detox symptoms by supporting the lymphatic system and boosting organ function. 

Is experiential therapy effective?

Yes. Studies have found that experiential therapy is just as effective as talk therapy for reducing depressive symptoms, boosting self-esteem, and improving coping skills. 

How often should you hike as a form of experiential therapy?

While people can gain life-changing insight on a single hike, the most enduring changes come from engaging with the outdoors more frequently. Spending at least 150 minutes a week engaged in physical activity produces the highest level of mental health benefits for most people.

How to Get the Most Out of Hiking

Hiking therapy can be combined with forms of mindfulness and meditation practice to increase well-being. For example, participants can practice walking meditations during their hike, where they focus on physical sensations rather than their thoughts. Sitting and observing the sights and sounds of nature is also a great way to practice mindfulness.

Hiking can also serve as a bonding experience. Participants can build relationships by talking and taking care of each other during the hike. Hiking in a group helps build trust and social connections, which are an essential part of mental and emotional well-being. Experiential therapies like hiking can also facilitate group therapy and family addiction education sessions. 

Why Experiential Therapy is Right For You?

Recreational therapy is an evidence-based treatment for people dually diagnosed with addiction disorders and mental health conditions.  SolutionPoint offers experiential therapy near Rancho Mirage as part of its addiction treatment services.