Wilderness Therapy

Is Your Addiction Treatment Covered by Insurance? Check Your Benefits
Describe What You or Your Loved One Is Struggling With Right Now
24/7 Confidential Free Helpline Is Available. Speak With Someone Today

WHAT TO EXPECT

fsr-therapy-adventure

What Is Wilderness Therapy?

Wilderness therapy is a therapeutic intervention that utilizes nature as a backdrop, and adventure and exploration as a tool for growth and self-discovery. Wilderness programs exist in different forms, and there are other programs out there that use this model. First Steps Recovery focuses on framing addiction treatment through the lens of who the addict is outside of their addiction, and there is no better place to examine this than in a majestic setting like the Sierra Nevada mountains.

We believe that our wilderness therapy treatment is one more way we can give our clients the very best in addiction treatment that focuses not just on treating the addiction but on treating the whole person. This approach helps us create a program that is unique and effective.

What Are the Components of a Wilderness Therapy?

In conjunction with the many other treatment modalities that our program offers, we also feature an outdoor therapy program. This works together with other aspects of our treatment plans, such as wellness and recreation. Our facility is set in an environment that offers us unique opportunities to create programs that allow our clients to experience the abundant gifts nature has to offer.

How Does Wilderness Therapy Help Treat Addiction?

Wilderness therapy is another example of a treatment strategy that doesn’t just focus on the addiction but on the whole person. There is more to addiction than just using drugs. There is a host of other issues and challenges that the addicted person must address in order to recover. Unaddressed issues and a lack of basic skills can lead to relapse later on. One way to help clients deal with these challenges is to confront them head-on in a unique environment that allows them to build their strengths and skills.

Clients often enter treatment with some common issues: Low self-esteem, learned helplessness, poor communication skills, difficulty taking responsibility, anger, anxiety, depression, and a lack of leadership skills. It is important that these issues are addressed so that the client can move on in life and experience success. Activities that can build these skills are an important part of addiction treatment.

What Makes A Wilderness Treatment Center Unique?

People make the most dramatic changes when they are out of their element, when they are uncomfortable, and when they are put in a situation where they have no choice but to problem solve, cooperate and make decisions. This is where wilderness therapy comes in.

Groups led by experienced counselors go out to explore the beautiful, rugged, and at the same time serene grounds of the Sierra Nevada mountains, an area of unrivaled beauty and scenic wonder. Either by boating on the lake, or sitting down underneath the cover of gigantic pine trees, our clients have the opportunity to explore who they were, who they are, and where they want to go.

There is something about getting outside in beautiful surroundings that help heal the mind and spirit and helps build a real sense of community. People learn to trust and depend on each other, perhaps for the very first time.
Counselors are on hand to help when things come up, and they often do. This is a good thing, and conflict resolution, assertiveness, patience and impulse control are all a part of the experience and skills practiced.

Wilderness therapy is a valuable addition to our list of therapies offered at First Steps. Used in conjunction with individual therapy, group counseling, art therapy, music therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and more, we are able to provide our clients with a treatment program that helps heal and transform. Recovery is a process, and it is not just about abstinence.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, First Steps can help. Our program can help you overcome your addiction and reclaim your life. Call 1-844-BIG-STEP.

Meet Our Team
Meet Our Team

From our certified therapists and nurses to our emotional support animal "Cooper", our entire team is dedicated to the health and success of our clients throughout our program and beyond.

Help Is Available. Speak With Someone Today.

Our admission team is available to help 24/7.

Have questions about our experiential therapies? Let’s talk.

OUR THERAPIES

Variety of Holistic Experiential Therapies We Offer

We offer a variety of holistic therapies to our clients, both experiential and evidence-based. These therapies help our clients to get in touch with their minds and bodies while undergoing treatment, promoting a sense of peace and wellness.
Art Therapy

Art therapy programs allow clients to use their creativity and imagination to make create art that expresses what they truly feel in a healthy and productive way.

Learn More
Equine Therapy

Equine therapy works with clients that have behavior issues, autism, and developmental disabilities and works with vets suffering from PTSD.

Learn More
Wilderness Therapy

Wilderness therapy is a therapeutic intervention that utilizes nature as a backdrop, and adventure and exploration as a tool for growth and self-discovery.

Learn More
Music Therapy

Music therapy in a drug treatment setting utilizes music and various forms of musical expression in order for clients to self‐reflect as well as to assess where they are at right now and where they want to be in their recovery.

Learn More
Yoga Therapy

Yoga utilizes physical postures and controlled breathing that help lengthen and strengthen the spine, increase flexibility, and help calm the mind.

Learn More
Recreation Therapy

Recreation recovery is a new way of living life. Living clean and sober opens people up to whole new ways of having fun and enjoying life.

Learn More
Physical Therapy

Physical wellness plays a huge part in the success of recovery. Maintaining a healthy weight, and getting the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, and proteins are all essential to repairing the damage done by drugs and alcohol.

Learn More
Mindfulness Therapy

Mindfulness therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on learning to notice thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without automatic responses.

Learn More

OUR PROGRAMS

Offering Innovation & Excellence in Addiction Treatment, Fresno County

Discover how we approach addiction treatment and detox at First Steps Recovery.

Medical Detox

Our detoxification program features 24-hour monitoring and professional guidance from licensed detox technicians.
Learn More

Residential Treatment Care (RTC)

A highly individualized treatment experience designed for lasting sobriety using evidence-based and holistic treatment options.
Learn More

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Our PHP allows you to continue your addiction treatment program without residing at the inpatient facility.
Learn More

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Our IOP offers individuals the ability to receive the high-quality, personalized level care of our rehab, but the flexibility to continue their daily lives.
Learn More

Alumni

Individuals in the alumni program are invited to stay connected for meetings, events, and resources that are intended specifically for First Steps graduates.
Learn More

ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS

First Choice for Drug & Alcohol Detox in Fresno County

Learn why people choose to start their recovery at First Steps Recovery in Clovis, Fresno County.

Outstanding

5/5
My experience with First Steps and their entire team has not only helped me to gain sobriety but maintain it now for knots 18 months. The 24 or so days I spent there was the best thing that happened. My kids have their mom, the parents have their daughter but most importantly I have myself back!!

Dayatra L.

Amazing Experience

5/5
Amazing people. Super supportive and always there when you need them. My counselor, Amanda, makes it fun but also takes you to uncomfortable places in the best way. I recommend First Steps to anyone struggling with addiction.

Melissa B.

Above and Beyond

5/5
I attended First Steps outpatient program and was very happy with the help I received. I felt the staff genuinely cared about the health and well being of the people there. They went above and beyond to help me meet my goals and keep them.

Bruce G.

Have questions about how our alumni program works? Let's talk.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Are You Covered for Addiction Treatment?

First Steps Recovery is an in-network provider with most insurances! Regardless of where you live, our skilled and compassionate drug treatment counselors in Fresno can help you and your family get the help you need to get on the road to recovery.
fsr-anthem-logo-neutral
fsr-aetna-logo-neutral
fsr-bcbs-logo-neutral
fsr-kaiser-logo-neutral
fsr-cigna-logo-neutral
fsr-healthnet-logo-neutral
fsr-tricare-logo-neutral
sfr-halcyon-logo-neutral
fsr-triwest-logo-neutral