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Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the OutdoorsAuthor: Will White
Stories from the Field: Mental Health in the Outdoors is an authoritative and enlightening podcast that explores the vast landscape of mental health therapies in outdoor settings. Hosted by seasoned mental health professional Dr. Will White, the podcast offers deep insights into outdoor therapies like Adventure Therapy, Eco-Therapy, Wilderness Therapy, and Experiential Therapy, among others. Dr. White engages with a diverse range of guests, including leading researchers, practitioners, authors, executive directors, guide staff, mental health clinicians, and critics, helping to shed light on the nuances of these unique therapy practices. In addition to exploring the modern implications of these evolving therapeutic modalities, he delves into their rich history, providing a holistic perspective for listeners. With over 30 years of experience at the juncture of mental health and outdoor environments, Dr. White's expertise is unparalleled. As a co-founder of the pioneering Summit Achievement, an adventure therapy program based in Maine, he has been a guiding force in the field since the 1990s. His scholarly contributions include the book "Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy" and a chapter in "Adventure Therapy: Theories, Research, and Practice." His doctorate work, "Stories from the Elders: Chronicles and Narratives from the Early Years of Wilderness Therapy," traced the origins and evolution of this specialized field. To connect with Dr. White, visit storiesfromthefield.com. Listen to this immersive podcast to understand the power and potential of outdoor therapies in addressing mental health concerns. Language: en Genres: Education, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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328: Can You Save Someone Without Drowning Yourself? PTSD, Caregiving, and Wilderness Survival
Episode 328
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
What happens when caring for someone you love begins to pull you under too? In this episode of Stories from the Field, Will speaks with journalist and author Virginia Eubanks about her new memoir, A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving: Lessons on Love, Care, and Survival. After her partner, Jay, survived two violent attacks and developed severe PTSD, Virginia became a primary caregiver while trying to navigate a fragmented mental health and healthcare system. Years later, she was diagnosed with collateral PTSD herself. Searching for practical guidance, Virginia found some of the most useful lessons not in traditional caregiving advice, but in an unexpected place: a lifesaving manual. Virginia went on to become a certified lifeguard and study wilderness first aid, kayak self-rescue, navigation, bushwhacking, and winter survival. She shares how these experiences taught her that caregivers need more than self-care—they need competence, training, tools, and a team. Virginia and Will explore what wilderness survival can teach us about responding to crisis without becoming another victim, how she used progressively challenging experiences in the outdoors to rebuild her own tolerance for fear, and why she is skeptical of the simple idea that nature itself is inherently healing. At the heart of their conversation is a powerful question: How do we care deeply for another person without losing ourselves in the process? This podcast is supported by the White Mountain Adventure Institute (WMAI.org), where Dr. Will White helps individuals, leaders, and organizations navigate growth, change, and life transitions through coaching, consulting, and retreats. Check out Virginia Eubank's website at https://virginia-eubanks.com/ to buy books or see where she it speaking in the near future:
