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Wilderness Therapy Programs Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Confluence Behavioral Health LLC

Clinical Therapist

VT · On-site

$59K - $79K/yr

The program combines wilderness adventure therapy with a residential experience, farm programming, and comprehensive health and wellness services to guide young adults facing mental health challenges ...

Becket Family of Services

Clinician

Campton, NH

$54K - $71K/yr

The VPI Program, located in Campton New Hampshire, utilizes an outdoor education and wilderness therapy approach seeking to replace maladaptive behavioral patterns with lifelong pro-social skills.

Becket Family of Services

Clinician

Campton, NH · On-site

$54K - $71K/yr

The VPI Program, located in Campton New Hampshire, utilizes an outdoor education and wilderness therapy approach seeking to replace maladaptive behavioral patterns with lifelong pro-social skills.

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Wilderness Therapy Programs information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Wilderness Therapy Programs, and why are they important?

To thrive in Wilderness Therapy Programs, you need a background in psychology, counseling, or outdoor education, often supported by certifications like Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and experience in outdoor leadership. Familiarity with GPS navigation, risk management systems, and therapeutic assessment tools is commonly required. Strong communication, empathy, resilience, and teamwork are vital soft skills for supporting participants through challenging experiences. These competencies are essential to ensure client safety, foster personal growth, and effectively facilitate therapeutic interventions in remote wilderness environments.

What is the difference between Wilderness Therapy Programs vs Wilderness Therapists?

AspectWilderness Therapy ProgramsWilderness Therapists
CredentialsProgram directors often have backgrounds in psychology, counseling, or outdoor education; certifications varyLicensed mental health professionals with degrees in psychology, counseling, or social work; required licenses and certifications
Work EnvironmentOutdoor settings, wilderness expeditions, group activitiesClinical settings, outdoor therapy sessions, individual or group therapy in wilderness environments
Employer & Industry UsageRehab centers, youth treatment programs, outdoor education organizationsTherapists employed by treatment centers, clinics, or private practices specializing in wilderness therapy

Wilderness Therapy Programs oversee the entire therapeutic experience, including logistics and program structure, while Wilderness Therapists are licensed professionals providing direct mental health treatment within these programs. Both roles are essential but differ in responsibilities and credentials.

What are wilderness therapy programs?

Wilderness therapy programs are structured treatment programs that use outdoor expeditions and nature-based activities as therapeutic interventions for adolescents and young adults facing emotional, behavioral, or substance abuse challenges. These programs combine traditional therapy methods with experiential learning in a natural setting to promote personal growth, resilience, and healthy coping strategies. Trained therapists and outdoor guides lead participants through activities such as hiking, camping, and group counseling, helping them develop self-awareness and interpersonal skills. Wilderness therapy is often used as an alternative or complement to traditional mental health treatment. Outcomes can include improved self-esteem, better communication skills, and stronger emotional regulation.

What are some typical challenges faced by staff working in Wilderness Therapy Programs, and how are they supported in overcoming them?

Staff in Wilderness Therapy Programs often face challenges such as managing group dynamics in remote outdoor settings, maintaining safety during unpredictable weather, and supporting participants through emotional and behavioral crises. These roles require strong teamwork, flexibility, and resilience. Employers typically provide comprehensive training in risk management, crisis intervention, and wilderness first aid, as well as regular debriefings and access to mental health support to help staff cope with the emotional demands of the job. Collaboration with clinical therapists and outdoor guides is common, ensuring a supportive environment for both staff and participants.
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What states have the most Wilderness Therapy Programs jobs? States with the most job openings for Wilderness Therapy Programs jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Wilderness Therapy Programs jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Wilderness Therapy Programs jobs are:
Wilderness Therapy Programs jobs near you
Infographic showing various Wilderness Therapy Programs job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 31% Full Time, 55% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Director of Therapeutic Care and Formation (part time/remote)

Seeds Wilderness Therapy

Montrose, CO • On-site, Remote

Part-time

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Applicant Letter (job description below)
Cover letter with more information will be sent upon receipt of application or upon request by emailing heather.m@seedswildernessway.org.
Director of Therapeutic Care and Formation
Seeds Wilderness Way (formerly Seeds Wilderness Therapy)
The Invitation
Seeds Wilderness Way is seeking a spiritually mature and clinically experienced leader to guide transformation and restoration in the lives of teens, families, and ministry leaders. This is not a standard clinical role. We are looking for a partner who bridges professional therapeutic excellence with deep, Spirit-led ministry-someone who longs to advance the Kingdom of God rather than secular modalities.
Our ideal candidate is a Clinical Shepherd who brings high-level training under the submission of the Holy Spirit, shaping both the spiritual and clinical culture of Seeds.
About Seeds Wilderness Way
Seeds Wilderness Way uses wilderness expeditions and community-based discipleship to accelerate spiritual formation and healing. We seek to serve a diverse population-at-risk youth, parents, community leaders, youth pastors, missionaries, and families in crisis. While our flagship offering is a 40-day backcountry expedition for teens, our ministry extends far beyond that single program to include:
  • 40-Day Wilderness Expeditions for teens (Retreat-Restore-Revive model)
  • Parenting Workshops at diverse or home locations across the country
  • Parent and Family Intensives, a 4 day seminar for repair/prevention of deeper issues
  • Spiritual Development for Ministry Workers and Missionaries
  • 3 Year Aftercare Follow-Up Programs, helping build transformational relationships for long term restoration
  • Community-Based Discipleship & Church Partnerships

The ideal candidate will seek to advance the Kingdom of God, utilizing secular therapy models to increase understanding and treatment under the Lordship of Christ. Many of our clientele are coming in with previous diagnoses, complex traumas, and/or mental health disorders. Therefore, we honor clinical understanding, but we prioritize Kingdom approaches-prayer, scripture, spiritual disciplines, and identity formation in Jesus-over the standard "assess-diagnose-treat" model.
The Role
You will serve as a key restoration leader shaping both the spiritual and clinical DNA of Seeds. The role is primarily remote, with strategic travel to Colorado for field engagement, leadership meetings, and relational connection with staff and students.
You will operate at the intersection of:
  • Spiritual authority
  • Clinical oversight
  • Organizational leadership
  • Regulatory compliance

You will report directly to the Executive Director and work closely with the Field Director, primary therapists, and pastoral staff.
The Ideal Candidate: Spiritual DNA
  • Deep intimacy with Jesus and a life led by the Holy Spirit.
  • Believes experiential learning in the wilderness is a more powerful teacher than traditional talk therapy.
  • Alignment with the principles of Soul Care (Reimer), Breakthrough (Warner), and/or Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You (Wilder).
  • Recognizes the relational roles that biological family, adoptive family (legal or spiritual adoption), the Church, and the community play in transformation.
  • Ability to hear from God and lead with spiritual authority.
  • Adheres to Elder standards as described in 1 Timothy and Titus and as understood in the Life Model stages of maturity.

Key Responsibilities
-Spiritual & Strategic Leadership
  • Lead subordinates with spiritual authority, prayer, discernment, and a Kingdom mindset.
  • Shape the spiritual and clinical culture of the organization.
  • Participate in leadership strategy sessions, planning, and decision-making.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the board's leadership and the organization's other leaders, engaging with them in a posture of mutual relational submission.

-Admissions & Client Vetting
  • Oversee the admissions pipeline, evaluating clinical fit and making acceptance or referral decisions.

-Program Development & Field Engagement
  • Develop and implement curriculum for students, parents, and ministry leaders. This may also include contribution to the staff manual and training materials.
  • Support and/or supervise on site therapists. On site therapists will in turn disciple and shepherd students in the field and/or mom and dad at home.
  • Lead or contribute to clinical meetings, in-service trainings, webinars, and situational teaching engagements.
  • Support communication with parents through partnership with the parent coordinator.
  • Be onsite in Colorado for strategic trips to facilitate ministry or leadership engagements. This may include a mid-course parent week, training, or graduation ceremony. Additional conferences or key strategic events can be discussed

-Oversight & Compliance: Spiritual & Clinical
  • Review and approve all treatment plans, ensuring discipleship objectives, SMART goals and state licensing requirements are met.
  • Ensure Seeds adheres to evidence-based therapeutic practices while integrating Christ-centered ministry.
  • Maintain documentation compliance with Colorado DHS childcare facility regulations.
  • Monitor progress using tools such as YOQ and other outcome measures.
  • Oversee the professional development of the staff, both from a spiritual shepherding and clinical perspective.

Professional Qualifications
  • Master's-level training (LMFT, LPC, LCSW, or equivalent seminary counseling degree).
  • Licensed or license-eligible in Colorado (required).
  • Ability to supervise LPC or LMFT is preferred.
  • 3-5 years of clinical experience preferred.
  • Experience with trauma, addiction, identity work, and complex family systems.
  • Meets and maintains biblical elder standards.
  • Loves the wilderness and understands its transformative power.

Work Expectations
  • Minimum of 10 hours/week for part-time;
  • Weekly video meetings, including:
    • 1:1 with the Executive Director
    • Level 10 leadership meetings
    • Weekly clinical meetings (with additional supervision hours potentially to follow).
  • Flexibility for webinars, trainings, and occasional travel.
  • Keep up with emails, phone calls, and/or other professional correspondence (i.e. admissions updates).
  • Primarily remote with strategic trips to Colorado for relational and programmatic impact.

Why Join Seeds Wilderness Way?
  • Impact: Move beyond symptom management into true identity restoration in Jesus.
  • Community: Join a team that values prayer, discipleship, and the presence of God as the primary change agent.
  • Calling: Step into a role that blends clinical excellence with Spirit-led ministry.
  • Flexibility: Work remotely while staying deeply connected to wilderness transformation.

How to Apply
Please submit your
1.) Resume/CV
2.) A short cover letter outlining:
  • Your spiritual journey
  • Your experience with wilderness and/or how Creation has lead you to the Creator
  • Your clinical /spiritual formation experience

3.) A 3-5 page paper on your philosophy of ministry, and why you think wilderness retreat might enhance this.

Apply