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"I hope you tell kids that this really does work and I am an example."

Catherine Freer Research Studies


  1. Wall, Steven, Ph.D. 1993. The Effects of a Wilderness Survival School on Adolescent Depression Scores. Ph.D. dissertation.

  2. Parrish, Sue, M.S. 1994. Summary of Follow-up Study for CFWTE. Internal study conducted by Freer, structured interviews by telephone.

  3. Doherty, Thomas, Ph.D. 1995. Using Primitive Skills to Enhance a Therapeutic Wilderness Experience. Independent study thesis.

  4. Rongner, Kris, L.M.S.W.1996. Follow up to Parrish study, using revised questionnaire; structured interviews by telephone.

  5. Taylor, Mark, 1999. Wilderness Therapy: An Experiential Study. Analysis of a Freer trek.

  6. Cupples, Jackie, M.S. 2000. Internal pilot study by Freer, using a questionnaire for two month and 12 month follow-up on family and community issues.

  7. Heywood, Maria, M.S. 2001. The Effect of Wilderness Therapy on the Self-concept of Adolescents. M.S. dissertation.

  8. Clark, Jeff, Ph.D. 2002 dissertation. Published with M.Marmol, Robert Cooley and Kathleen Gathercoal. The effects of wilderness therapy on the clinical concerns (on Axes I,II and IV) of troubled adolescents. Journal of Experiential Education, 2004.

  9. Gerston, Chris, M.S. 2004. Wilderness Therapy: an Intervention Towards Elevating Readiness to Change. M.S. Dissertation.

  10. Grossman, Cindy, Ph.D. 2004. To Have Tomorrow: A Case Study in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare. Doctoral dissertation, based on qualitative analysis of a Freer trek.

  11. Nortrom, Amy, M.A. 2004. The efficacy of wilderness therapy in the treatment of adolescent depression. M.A. dissertation.

  12. Vissell, Rami, Ph.D. 2005. Effects of Wilderness Therapy on Youth at Risk's Concept of Self and Other. Doctoral dissertation.

  13. Harper, Nevin, Ph.D., Keith Russell, Rob Cooley and Jackie Cupples. 2007. An Exploratory Case Study of Adolescent Wilderness Therapy, Family Functioning and the Maintenance of Change. Child and Youth Care Forum, (36: 11l-129.)

  14. Harper, Nevin, Ph.D. Dissertation, 2007. A study of family change following wilderness therapy at Freer and another OBHIC program.

  15. Ganapol, David, M.S. 2008. The Transformative Effects of a Three-week Adventure Therapy Program with Adolescents: an Exploration of Trauma and Resiliency. M.S. dissertation.

Freer Research in Cooperation with OBHRC

  1. Russell, Keith, Ph.D. (1999.) Theoretical Basis and Reported Outcomes of Wilderness Therapy. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation.)

  2. Russell, Keith, Ph.D. 2001. Assessment of Treatment Outcomes in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare. (Four participating OBHRC programs.) Child and Youth Care Forum, 2003.

  3. Russell, Keith, Ph.D. 2002. Longitudinal Assessment of Treatment Outcomes in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare. (Nine participating OBHRC programs.)

  4. Russell, Keith, Ph.D. 2004. Two Years Later: A Qualitative Assessment of Youth Well-Being and the Role of Aftercare in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment. (Eight participating OBHRC programs.) Child and Youth Care Forum, 2005.

  5. Russell, Keith, Ph.D. 2006. Examining Substance Abuse Frequency and Depressive Symptom Outcome in a Sample of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Participants. (Five participating OBHRC programs.)
    • Stages of change. URICA scale of readiness to change.
    • Therapeutic alliance between adolescents and field staff. GTAS scale.
    • Measures of depression, anxiety and stress using the DASS.
    • Substance use frequency and related personal, social and family issues, using the PEI (Personal Experience Inventory.)
  6. Harper, Nevin, and Keith Russell. Family Involvement and Outcome in Adolescent Wilderness Treatment. Journal of Child and Family Welfare.

Other Sources Referred To

Rohde, Paul, Ph.D., Peter M. Lewinsohn, Ph.D., et al. Natural Course of Alcohol Use Disorders from Adolescence to Young Adulthood. 2001. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40:1.

Rohde, Paul, Peter M. Lewinsohn et al. Psychosocial Functioning of Adults Who Experienced Substance Use Disorders as Adolescents. 2007. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 21, No. 2, 155-164.

Russell, Keith, Ph.D. 2007. Adolescent Substance-use Treatment: Service Deliver, Research on Effectiveness, and Emerging Treatment Alternatives. Journal of Groups in Addiction and Recovery, Vol. 2 (2-4).

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