Fostering the Wellbeing of Students With Challenging Behaviour and/or Emotional Needs Through Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Outdoor Learning

Students exhibiting severe and challenging behaviours and/or emotional needs are referred to specialised behavioural schools in NSW for expert intervention and support. This project sought to enhance the wellbeing and skill development of students within such a school by administering an eight week intervention program comprising an innovative combination of both Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Outdoor Learning (OL) which is unique in this emerging field. This project was conducted and evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of educational professionals from Western Sydney University. This report showcases the results of the mixed-method study which included the administration of quantitative pre and post- surveys to nine students; and post interviews with students and teachers. The results of the students’ responses to the pre and post surveys indicated small but positive changes with regard to the students’: anxiety; impairment as a result of anxiety; depression; school self-concept; and development of psychological flexibility; and mindfulness capabilities.