81. Anxious Teens & the Outdoors: How Adventure Therapy Builds Confidence
Description
In this week's episode Zack talks with Nichol Ernst, LCSW, CEO/Clinical Director and co-owner of Summit Achievement, to unpack how the outdoors and adventure therapy help anxious teens. Nichol explains Summit’s integrated treatment model—weekly rhythms of accredited academics, individualized therapy, and guided outdoor experiences—that turns nature into a practical lab for exposure, executive functioning, and confidence-building. They explore why time outside reduces avoidance, increases presence, and helps reframe fear—especially for school anxiety/school refusal, OCD/ERP carryover, and neurodivergent (ASD) teens who benefit from sensory input and structured challenge.
The conversation highlights parent coaching and family-system change, perceived vs. actual risk in the outdoors, and how real-world wins on trail translate to the classroom and home. Nichol also addresses the history and evolution of “wilderness therapy,” best practices, and why today’s outdoor behavioral healthcare is data-informed, licensed, and collaborative. Hope and next steps for families round out the episode.
Zack Hack- In this week’s anxiety hack Zack shares a quote about how time in the outdoors can address anxiety.
Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.
United States
