Building Girls' Self-Esteem Through Wilderness Therapy

Something happens to girls between late childhood and early adolescence. Research shows that girls' self-esteem generally peaks around 9 years of age and then falls as they enter adolescence.

Low self-esteem impacts every area of a young girl's life. "Girls can't make healthy choices for themselves without a strong sense of self-worth," says Kirsten Bolt, CMFTI, a therapist at Aspen Achievement Academy, a therapeutic wilderness program for teens in Utah.

Adolescence is a time when teenage girls must differentiate what they want for themselves from what their friends and parents want. Unfortunately, it is also a time when girls begin to feel pressured to look and act a certain way based on society's idealized standards. They are more likely to suffer from depression and eating disorders than boys, largely as a result of low self-esteem.

The Causes of Low Self-Esteem
 
"We live in a society that values females for superficial reasons," notes Bolt. "Girls aren't encouraged to be leaders, there aren't many great role models out there for girls, and the overall message is that girls aren't as capable as boys."

As a result, some girls aren't empowered to stand up for themselves and, instead, fall prey to victimization in their relationships with both men and women. Girls with low self-esteem are at greater risk for emotional and sexual abuse, being pressured to have sex before they're ready, drug and alcohol use, dropping out of school and other destructive behaviors.

"Adolescents are trying to establish their identity, which makes them particularly susceptible to poor choices and negative influences," says Larry Bray, the program director at Aspen Achievement Academy. "When you hold yourself in high regard, you are better able to choose between right and wrong, healthy and not healthy, without worrying about what others think."

"If girls don't have the tools to express themselves, they're more likely to turn to other people to fill their needs," adds Bolt. "And if they think they're going to fail, they stop trying, setting the stage for a lifetime of relying on others both financially and emotionally."

Meaningful Challenge

The saying goes, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." At Aspen Achievement Academy, teens figure out what they stand for, what their families mean to them and what they want in life. Teenage girls develop a strong sense of self-reliance by overcoming the challenges of living in the wilderness, as they face - and overcome - the same physical, emotional and psychological challenges as boys.

"For many teens, this is the first time they've been away from home, in an unfamiliar environment, so they don't yet have the skills to keep themselves safe and comfortable," says Bray. "It can be intimidating, but after a few days, they begin learning new skills and prove to themselves they can do it." 

Aspen Achievement Academy addresses self-esteem on many levels. Living in the wilderness, on its own, shows teenage girls that they can do what initially seems impossible: make fire using a bow drill, hike carrying a backpack, build a shelter, live outdoors in inclement weather, cook meals over a fire and carry everything they need on their backs.

"Because girls don't think they can live in the wilderness, the experience is particularly rewarding for them," says Bolt. "After a couple days in the wilderness, girls realize, ‘I can do this - and I can do it without the support of a boyfriend or being rescued by my parents.'"

Genuine Accomplishment

The Aspen Achievement Academy wilderness program is designed to build healthy self-esteem based on meaningful challenge and genuine accomplishment. Each student progresses through a level system as they earn more privileges and responsibilities, assume leadership roles, and build on small successes.

"Self-esteem comes from accomplishment and acknowledgement of that accomplishment by oneself and their community," says Bray. "While students receive a lot of support and guidance, they achieve their goals themselves, which produces a genuine sense of accomplishment."

Teens experience a lot of growth from making fire with a bow drill set. It's a difficult skill to develop and students have to work diligently to be able to do it, but once they do, they feel the gratification of enabling the entire group to share a hot meal and stay warm.

Even something as simple as being held responsible for their own equipment and self-care is an esteem builder for many teens. Those who always had their parents rescue them or who were never held accountable for themselves or their actions discover that it feels good to be independent.

Earning Respect, Giving Respect

Wilderness therapy also provides confidence-building lessons in respect and interpersonal relationships. In the field, girls learn how to assert themselves without being passive or aggressive, and learn to respect each other without teasing, bullying, manipulating or engaging in other negative peer interactions. The students also discuss power and control in their relationships with friends and boyfriends, and learn how to set healthy boundaries.

"Living and working together as a group is significant because the girls receive constant feedback about their actions and interactions - they can't hide from themselves out here," explains Bolt. "The group structure replicates the family system so that teens can apply what they learn in the wilderness at home."

The students at Aspen Achievement Academy work as a tight-knit team. Those who have been at camp the longest serve as mentors to newer students, and within a few weeks, the newer students become mentors themselves. Assuming this kind of leadership role helps build a sense of pride and accomplishment in teen girls.

"Each girl relies on the other members of her group to carry their share of the workload, and knows others are likewise relying on her. Earning the respect and admiration of others can be a real confidence booster," says Bray.

A Marked Transformation

At the end of the Aspen Achievement Academy wilderness program for teens, each student's parents join them in the wilderness, putting teens in the role of caretaker. This experience helps solidify the growth they've experienced and gives the teens and their parents an opportunity to feel proud of their accomplishments.

Most girls are out of their comfort zone in the outdoors, which makes wilderness therapy highly impactful for troubled teen girls. When teens first arrive at Aspen Achievement Academy, there's a fear of the unknown - they struggle to make eye contact or have a conversation.

"But by the time they leave," says Bray, "it's almost universal how tall they stand, the glow in their eyes and their ability to smile, cry and laugh with you."