ABSTRACT
The most diagnosed mental disorders in children ages 3–17 years, from 2016–2019, were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (9.8%), anxiety (9.4%), behavioral problems (8.9%), and depression (4.4%) (CDC, 2023). Adventure therapy tends to be most effective when all three phases of facilitation (i.e., assessment, intervention, debriefing) are brought together. One of the most influential adventure therapy experiences, especially with substance abusers, is the Maze initiative. First developed in 1988 at the Eagleville Hospital in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, this therapeutic experience was initially created for adults with substance use issues. When done correctly, it typically resolves at least two key elements in the treatment of substance users. However, when used incorrectly, clients often feel “deceived, outraged, humiliated, and shamed for not getting the right answer” (Porter, 1989, p. 88).
