Mar 19, 2024
In this episode Zack interviews his colleague and friend, J’Amy Chamberlain, a certified recreational therapist at Mountain Valley Treatment Center. They explore the influential role of recreational therapy in treating anxiety and fostering well-being among youth. J’Amy explains how recreational therapy utilizes fun, connection, and real-life experiences to complement traditional exposure therapy, helping kids to face and overcome their fears. Through activities like rock climbing, swimming, and even video gaming, recreational therapy at Mountain Valley encourages kids to reengage with passions and activities they've shied away from due to anxiety, thus broadening their worlds and enhancing their treatment experience.
The conversation also delves into the specific challenges and successes of implementing recreational therapy, highlighting personal stories of residents who've overcome their fears and reconnected with their passions through carefully designed exposure work and community integration activities. J’Amy and Zach discuss the significance of creating a balanced and holistic treatment approach, that includes rigorous therapeutic work as well as opportunities for leisure, play, and personal growth. By offering a range of clubs and activities that cater to the diverse interests of residents, Mountain Valley fosters a sense of agency, autonomy, and joy in their lives, counteracting the stress of treatment and helping them to rediscover the pleasures of engaging, moving, and exploring in a supportive environment.
Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack shares how water can help you fear less.
Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.