The novelty and challenge of the wilderness, often cited as the basis for growth, can also precipitate emotional crises. Leaders should help the participant restore equilibrium through empathic listening and emotional support. If that fails, a model is presented for inhibiting the escalation of aggression or violence. Defusing and debriefing after…

Too much excitement leads to anxiety, resulting in the impetus to reduce stimuli. Adventure experience leaders, in their enthusiasm for challenge and self-discovery through adventure, may ignore those clients who exist in a state of anxiety. This warning is particularly salient in regards to captive populations, such as a school group in a…