What is Adventure Therapy?
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed to deal with life’s problems, you’re not alone. Seeking a professional’s help can feel daunting, especially for anyone unfamiliar with therapy and its many benefits.
While you can choose from numerous types of therapy available, Adventure Therapy offers a unique and refreshing approach. Put simply, Adventure Therapy uses the outdoors as a catalyst for healing and change. It happens in the most pristine landscapes, where you can truly disconnect from the noise and connect with your inner self.
At Indiahikes, Adventure Therapy treks are treks that provide opportunities to help people seeking social, emotional, developmental, or behavioural support and change while adventuring together.
What is Adventure Therapy?
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed to deal with life’s problems, you’re not alone. Seeking a professional’s help can feel daunting, especially for anyone unfamiliar with therapy and its many benefits.
While you can choose from numerous types of therapy available, Adventure Therapy offers a unique and refreshing approach. Put simply, Adventure Therapy uses the outdoors as a catalyst for healing and change. It happens in the most pristine landscapes, where you can truly disconnect from the noise and connect with your inner self.
At Indiahikes, Adventure Therapy treks are treks that provide opportunities to help people seeking social, emotional, developmental, or behavioural support and change while adventuring together.
Who can benefit from Adventure Therapy treks?
Adventure Therapy Treks are ideal for:
1. Individuals seeking therapeutic support – You may be new to therapy but are eager to try this approach to address issues you are facing. Or you may already be in therapy and would like to explore and engage with another medium.
2. Individuals seeking self-development – Perhaps you don't have active issues in mind but are seeking more avenues for self-development. If you have a reflective, contemplative approach to life - adventure therapy is also for you.
Adventure therapy treks at Indiahikes work wonderfully for those who wish to:
- Address patterns that might be holding them back - from low self-confidence and self-esteem to breaking free from harmful habits and thinking
- Seek healing from dealing with loss, trauma, or illness
- Overcome persistent anxiety, anger, stress, depression, or melancholy
- Bring about a significant transformation in their lives
What we expect from participants
To join this trek, you must be ready to:
- Make dedicated efforts to get physically fit for the adventure
- Embark on this journey alongside others on a similar quest to seek their own answers
- Be self-reflective and open to having authentic conversations (both 1 on 1 and group) while on the trek
- Be open to the process and to the therapist or coach facilitating the entire experience
Have more questions? Please write to izzat@indiahikes.com to address any doubts or concerns.
Read about Adventure Therapy at Indiahikes:
Lonely Planet - How India is Embracing Adventure Therapy Treks
Outlook Traveller - How People Are Using Adventure Activities And Treks As Therapy
Adventure Therapy Dates
6 days
.
Easy-Moderate
Dayara Bugyal Trek
6 Days
.
Easy-Moderate
KEDARKANTHA TREK
Dayara Bugyal Trek
Our Only Winter Trek with the Biggest Snow Expanse
6 days
Easy-Moderate
KEDARKANTHA TREK
One of the finest summit climbs in Winters
6 Days
Easy-Moderate
Participant Testimonials (published with permission)
Tulica
Chanderkhani Pass
Sahana
Dayara Bugyal
Payal
Dayara Bugyal
Murli
Dayara Bugyal
How Adventure Therapy treks are different from other Indiahikes treks
At Indiahikes we found that treks have a strong transformative effect on trekkers, and some were more deeply impacted. We saw many making changes in their lives, finding new purpose and renewed energy. But we also saw that in regular groups, not all people come with the intention of change or healing etc.
We decided to have special focused treks where people looking for change/ healing/ personal development could come together, and with the assistance of a trained counsellor or coach work on the issues/ blocks they were facing. This gave rise to Adventure Therapy treks at Indiahikes.
On an Adventure Therapy trek, everyone comes with the intention of working on their personal goals and needs. Here, trekkers gain:
- A new insight into the issues they are facing
- A renewed sense of energy and purpose
- Specific input on personal qualities and areas of development with the help of an accompanying therapist/ coach
- Greater somatic (mind-body interconnection) awareness
How Adventure Therapy treks are different from other Indiahikes treks
At Indiahikes we found that treks have a strong transformative effect on trekkers, and some were more deeply impacted. We saw many making changes in their lives, finding new purpose and renewed energy. But we also saw that in regular groups, not all people come with the intention of change or healing etc.
We decided to have special focused treks where people looking for change/ healing/ personal development could come together, and with the assistance of a trained counsellor or coach work on the issues/ blocks they were facing. This gave rise to Adventure Therapy treks at Indiahikes.
On an Adventure Therapy trek, everyone comes with the intention of working on their personal goals and needs. Here, trekkers gain:
- A new insight into the issues they are facing
- A renewed sense of energy and purpose
- Specific input on personal qualities and areas of development with the help of an accompanying therapist/ coach
- Greater somatic (mind-body interconnection) awareness
How we design Adventure Therapy treks
Focused and purposeful
Adventure therapy treks are designed to help participants overcome personal difficulties and embrace positive change.
The Therapist's Role
A compassionate, non-judgmental ear
Therapists provide a safe space for you to express your thoughts, fears, and challenges without fear of judgment.
Guiding the journey
Therapists help participants recognise, understand, and address the spectrum of emotions and experiences on the trek.
Contextualising the trek
Therapists help participants draw connections between the trek's takeaways and their individual goals.
Nature and adventure as a canvas for healing
Changes in perspective and growing awareness that emerge with the facilitator's guidance are enhanced by the beauty of the surroundings, as well as the challenge and adventure of the trek.
A balance of individual and group sessions
The facilitator seamlessly blends focused individual sessions with impactful group work. The combination of both sets the stage for deeper awareness and change.
Post-trek follow up
Participants can engage in an optional follow-up call with the therapist 45 days after the trek. This post-trek session allows for reflection, the reinforcement of newfound insights, and continued support on the path to personal development.
How we design Adventure Therapy treks
Focused and purposeful
Adventure therapy treks are designed to help participants overcome personal difficulties and embrace positive change.
The Therapist's Role
A compassionate, non-judgmental ear
Therapists provide a safe space for you to express your thoughts, fears, and challenges without fear of judgment.
Guiding the journey
Therapists help participants recognise, understand, and address the spectrum of emotions and experiences on the trek.
Contextualising the trek
Therapists help participants draw connections between the trek's takeaways and their individual goals.
Nature and adventure as a canvas for healing
Changes in perspective and growing awareness that emerge with the facilitator's guidance are enhanced by the beauty of the surroundings, as well as the challenge and adventure of the trek.
A balance of individual and group sessions
The facilitator seamlessly blends focused individual sessions with impactful group work. The combination of both sets the stage for deeper awareness and change.
Post-trek follow up
Participants can engage in an optional follow-up call with the therapist 45 days after the trek. This post-trek session allows for reflection, the reinforcement of newfound insights, and continued support on the path to personal development.
Meet some of our facilitators
Izzat Yaganagi is the Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes. Her work includes designing experiential learning programs, training, and mentoring those who facilitate these specialised programs on treks. She comes with extensive experience in education, and counselling for individuals, educational institutions, and corporations.
Being a certified counsellor, mediator, and avid trekker, Izzat designed and led the first 4 Adventure Therapy treks at Indiahikes.
An alumnus of Parivarthan, she has over 15 years of experience as a counsellor. She is also trained in mediation from the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation. From 2008 to 2017, she was the co-founder of 'Nurturing Nature' which provided coaching, training, and counselling services. She's also worked as an in-house counsellor at BMSSA and conducted workshops for educational institutions and companies in Bangalore and China.
Vivek Saxena is an executive coach and counsellor with over 15 years of experience in this field. Vivek works with clients towards personal as well as business goals and in developing the leadership qualities that can support that.
Vivek is a trekker and a strong believer in the power of the outdoors in supporting developmental work. He believes that Indiahikes' Adventure Therapy Treks provide a unique opportunity to combine his passion and expertise in the service of those seeking and working on therapeutic and developmental goals.
Vivek received his coaching certification from New Ventures West, San Francisco, where he later co-led the coach-certification classes as a faculty member for New Ventures West. His counselling certification is from Parivarthan, Bangalore.
His coaching work includes work with Citibank, Airtel, Fidelity Investments, Maersk, CK Birla and the Rane Group.
We care about your safety
Trekkers’ safety comes above all else at Indiahikes. We are India's largest and safest trekking organisation, with a track record of guiding over 20,000 trekkers annually.
Indiahikes has pioneered modern safety systems in Indian trekking, introducing radios, microspikes, pulse oximeters, and oxygen supplies.
Our trek leaders are trained in mountaineering and have undergone the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course and Basic Life Support (BLS) training.
We care about your safety
Trekkers’ safety comes above all else at Indiahikes. We are India's largest and safest trekking organisation, with a track record of guiding over 20,000 trekkers annually.
Indiahikes has pioneered modern safety systems in Indian trekking, introducing radios, microspikes, pulse oximeters, and oxygen supplies.
Our trek leaders are trained in mountaineering and have undergone the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course and Basic Life Support (BLS) training.
Adventure Therapy Treks In Pictures
Sign up for our much loved Weekly Mailer
We have terrific trekking tips, trek updates and trek talks to look forward to