Title: Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Outcomes for Young Adults

Those experiencing significant psychosocial problems in adolescence and young adulthood are at higher risk for psychological disorder (Pottick, Bilder, Vander Stoep, Warner, & Alvarez, 2008). Compared to peers, these individuals struggle to complete school, fit with social roles, and acquire occupational skills necessary for adulthood (Pottick et al., 2008). Providing effective treatment intervention during this time is essential. Scholars have noted the need for “aggressive efforts to design developmentally appropriate, effective services and to increase their availability to young adults with mental disorders ” (Pottick et al., 2008, p. 387). Otherwise known as wilderness therapy, outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH), is a form of adventure-based counseling utilizing traditional counseling techniques in natural outdoor settings. Wilderness therapy programs help build success-oriented identities for clients by increasing self-concept, internal locus of control, self-confidence and improved interpersonal and social skills (Hill, 2007; Russell, Gillis, & Lewis, 2008). Little empirical evidence currently exists documenting long-term post-discharge effects of OBH for young adult clients. This in part due to OBH initially servin