Why Recreational Therapy?
At Ozarks Teen Challenge, we’ve found youth recreational therapy to be a highly effective method for reducing anxiety levels.
Studies have shown that physical activity can have the same, if not better, effect on anxiety as anxiety medication. Exercise can help release endorphins, which are known to boost mood and reduce stress levels. It also helps to reduce muscle tension, which can lead to a feeling of relaxation. Exercise has other added benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health and overall physical fitness.
Our team is committed to helping incorporate exercise into your teen’s daily routine. The best part is that our recreational therapy program is designed to help teens have a blast while participating.
What We Do
Participants can expect to engage in a wide range of fun and challenging activities that are aimed at promoting physical fitness, emotional well-being, and overall mental health. Recreational therapy is an essential service as it provides a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety, promotes teamwork and communication, and helps to build self-esteem and confidence. Through recreational therapy, students at Ozarks Teen Challenge will have the opportunity to participate in sports, outdoor adventures, creative arts, and other activities that are designed to help them develop a sense of purpose, build healthy relationships, and gain the skills they need to maintain a life of sobriety and productive living.
What We Do
Participants can expect to engage in a wide range of fun and challenging activities that are aimed at promoting physical fitness, emotional well-being, and overall mental health. Recreational therapy is an essential service as it provides a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety, promotes teamwork and communication, and helps to build self-esteem and confidence.
Through recreational therapy activities for adolescents, students at Ozarks Teen Challenge will have the opportunity to participate in sports, outdoor adventures, creative arts, equine therapy, and other activities that are designed to help them develop a sense of purpose, build healthy relationships, and gain the skills they need to maintain a life of sobriety and productive living.
Sports
Teen boys have seemingly endless amounts of energy. The goal of our sports program is to help our teens channel this energy in a positive direction while learning team-building skills along the way. Our basketball court and multi-purpose fields provide the perfect environment for these activities.
Many troubled teens are not on physically healthy life paths, and by participating in sporting activities, they can be redirected on a path toward health and fitness and learn that it’s possible to have fun while being sober.
By experiencing the challenges of sports, your teen will also learn many life lessons along the way: handling failure, working with others, the value of hard work, and the self-esteem that accomplishing goals can bring.
Outdoor Adventure
Outdoor Adventure at Ozarks Teen Challenge allows students to experience the Ozarks’ landscape and beauty. We believe engaging in unique outdoor experiences is a great way to promote positive physical and mental health in a beneficial and enjoyable environment. Moreover, research indicates that youth camping experiences improve self-esteem, environmental awareness, peer relationships, and other measurable positive outcomes.
For these reasons, we incorporate planned therapy activities for teenagers such as experiences where students hike various trails in the region, learn how to fish, canoe the Ozarks’ rivers and lakes, and go mountain biking. These activities bring out the best in our students, including their resilience, resourcefulness, and ability to work as a team.
Physical Fitness
Participating in marathons, 5Ks, and engaging in the weight room can be an extremely fun and fulfilling experience as teen therapy activities.
Whether it’s the rush of adrenaline you feel after completing a long run or the satisfaction you get from hitting a personal best on a lift, there’s something incredibly rewarding about pushing yourself physically.
In addition to the sense of accomplishment, these activities also offer a great opportunity for relationship building. There’s a sense of camaraderie that comes with working towards a common goal.
Begin Your Journey
When teens aren’t meeting their full potential because of the distraction of drug use or another life-controlling issue, they can present lethargic and unmotivated behavior.
This can lead to a cycle of inactivity and poor health. However, at Ozarks Teen Challenge, our team is ready to step in and help provide the right motivation for a healthier tomorrow. Contact us today to begin the journey.
