Adventure Therapy for Adolescents with Complex Trauma: A Scoping Review and Analysis.

This article examines how adventure therapy (AT), defined as therapeutic outdoor activities involving risk and social engagement, may serve as a healing intervention for adolescents experiencing complex trauma (CT), which refers to the cumulative harm caused by prolonged childhood adversity. A scoping review of seven relevant texts published since 2014 revealed that CT-informed AT commonly follows a tri-phasic approach—safety, processing, and integration—and emphasizes an ecological microsystem comprising nature, social group, adventure, individual mindfulness, and time. Reported benefits include improved attachment, skill mastery, schema flexibility, and stress management, while concerns were raised about coercive practices and inconsistent trauma definitions, highlighting the need for a human rights-based framework and further research to develop coherent CT-specific AT models. The findings suggest that when grounded in empowerment, relational safety, and ecological awareness, adventure experiences can offer restorative and dignified therapeutic opportunities for youth with CT.