The Compatibility of Adventure Therapy and Occupational Therapy

So how does using adventure as a therapy fit with occupational therapy?




Occupational therapy is concerned with three areas of occupation; self-care, leisure and productivity.
The New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapists explain these occupation categories through Townsend's 1997 definition as "Everything people do to occupy themselves including, looking after themselves (self-care), enjoying life (leisure) and contribution to the social and economic fabric of their community (productivity)."


Mann (2007) proposes that adventure activities can fit into all three of these categories:

SELF-CARE: Using adventure as a means to keep physically active and healthy, engaging in social interactions, using it as stress relief, exploring ones identity and using interactions with nature to increase wellness

LEISURE: A number of NZers engage in adventurous activities for recreation, which can be participated in for enjoyment and social interactions.

PRODUCTIVITY: There is potential for adventure pursuits to be developed into a career and can be used as a means for community groups to strengthen community bonds, develop the communities young people or for an individual it can provide a community service.

Jansen (1999) states that there is a strong correlation between both occupational therapy and adventure therapy. As both involve the means in which to engage and work with people with a range of dysfunctions, with both having professional goals to improve participation and quality of life. Effecting change in the person, their thoughts and behaviours is the focus of adventure therapy and is also inclusive of one of the areas that occupational therapists target. Both occupational therapy and adventure therapy have activity as the core of there practice with an emphasis on learning through the process of doing.

As with all activities used in occupational therapy to create and facilitate change in people, adventure activities can be analysed,  synthesised, graded and adapted to enhance outcomes.

"The point of difference we bring to any activity as an occupational therapist is that conscious process of recognising the therapeutic value in participation and occupation." (Mann, 2007, p.8)

Jansen, S. (1999). New ground to venture? Adventure therapy as a potential therapeutic medium within occupational therapy. Dunedin: Otago Polytechnic.
Mann, I. (2007). Is adventure therapy, occupational therapy? A therapist's perspective. OT Insight, 28(2):8-10.