"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today."

- Malcolm X

Clinical Rock Climbing Training

May 14, 21, 28. June 4, 11.
Tuesday Evening: 5:00pm - 8:00pm MST
Intensive: June 15-17 - 2024!

Cohort 3 is now enrolling!

Built on a decade of experience and passion, this training will prepare and inspire you to make rock climbing a central tool in your therapy kit! This comprehensive course covers theory, program design, logistics, trauma-informed care and more. The hybrid delivery model will give you weekly online instruction and an in-person climbing intensive in beautiful Golden Colorado. If you've dreamed of using climbing in therapy, this is for you. From adaptive programs to youth programs to treatment for specific mental health concerns, you'll learn everything you need to feel confident as a climbing instructor and therapist!

Course Requirements: Able to climb 5.7 on top rope, belay certified by an established climbing gym, guide company or professional organization.

Total Hours: 36 hours towards C-CAT certification. We are seeking approval for professional continuing education credits, and have secured this approval in the past. Please check in for updates.

Cost: $1400

*Payment plans are available, the cost stays the same.

Being able to pay in full all at once is a privilege and should not be rewarded with a discount.

Course Objectives:

Develop climbing interventions relevant to the specific needs of various clinical populations.
Design a comprehensive rock climbing program using industry standards and psychotherapy best practices.
Assess physical and psychological risk factors in various climbing scenarios.
Assess autonomic nervous system processes related to mental health issues during climbing interventions.
Facilitate rock climbing with groups, families, couples and individuals.
Apply trauma informed best practices to rock climbing therapy situations.
Implement basic self rescue skills.
Utilize both indoor and outdoor climbing venues.
Create treatment plans and assess for progress using adventure therapy language and deliberate practice techniques.

This Course Is For:

Masters-Level Counseling/Social Work Students
Licensed Professional Counselors
Licensed Social Workers
Pre-Licensed Mental Health Professionals
Recreation Therapists are welcome as well!

Topics Covered:

Facilitation
Technical Skills
Mental Health Treatment Applications
Intervention Development
Comprehensive Program Design
Group and Family Facilitation
Individual Facilitation
Somatic, Behavioral and Cognitive Perspectives
Climbing as an Assessment Tool
Current Adventure Therapy and Climbing Therapy Research

What Participants Said

"This course allowed me to focus on the perspective of being a client and experiencing climbing through more of a sensory lens. This was vey helpful, especially with my background with teens to start thinking about interventions that are less focused on challenge by choice and more on authentic choice."

Hours Breakdown:

Technical Skills (8 Hours)

Climbing Wall Instructor Skills
Self Rescue Skills
Climbing Instruction Techniques
Risk Management

Facilitation and Processing Skills (8 Hours)

Group and Individual Facilitation
Intervention Development
Incorporating Theoretical Lens
Dissociation and Symptom Assessment

Organization and Administration (4 Hours)

Gym and Outdoor Permitting
Crisis and Risk Management Policies and Procedures
Gear Maintenance
Program Logistics and Checklists
Creating a Risk-Aware Culture
Documentation

Conceptual Knowledge (4 Hours)

Clinical Applications of Climbing to Specific Populations
Intervention Development
Trauma-Informed Climbing

Therapeutic Alliance (2 Hours)

Relationship and Power Dynamics
Equity and Access Issues
Socio-Cultural Considerations
Professionalism

Assessment (2 Hours)

Clinical Assessment
Deliberate Practice Techniques

Adventure Therapy Interventions (4 Hours)

Creating Climbing Interventions
Treatment Planning
Progress Assessment

"Not only do we get to work in our element, we get to combine our passion with helping people!"

- Alisha C, 2021 Clinic Attendee

Course Session Outline: 5, 3 Hour Online Sessions

Week 1: Introduction to Climbing Therapy

Course objectives and individual goal creation
History and Program Options
Current Research

Week 2: Clinical Lens Development

Creating your lens.
Theoretical approaches to climbing therapy
Trauma informed climbing principles

Week 3: Program Design

Designing a climbing therapy program
Treatment Planning & Assessment
Instructing Climbing
Clinical facilitation tools
Leadership and "guide mode."

Week 4: Program Logistics

Risk management PNP
Gear list, care and maintenance
Location and logistical considerations
Crisis management
Documentation, Waivers and Liability

Week 5: Relationship, Ethics & Social Justice

Equity and Access in Outdoor Sports
Cultural Considerations in Climbing
Guide/Therapist Relationship and Power

In-Person Intensive: 21 Hours

Friday: Indoor, 6 Hours

Teaching Rock Climbing
Trauma-Informed Skill Application
Professionalism

Saturday: Outdoor, 8 Hours

Outdoor Site Management
Facilitation Application
Intervention Development

Sunday: Outdoor, 6 Hours

Risk Assessment
Rescue Skills

Lodging: Lodging is not provided as part of this program, however we will happily help you coordinate a shared rental through AirBnB or VRBO, and to select local hotels. There is no camping nearby. We will also help with transportation to the best of our ability. Our past groups have been collaborative and transportation/carpooling has worked out well!

Outdoor Climbing: Outdoor climbing locations include North Table Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Clear Creek Canyon and Boulder Canyon.

Register Now
for 2024!

Regiter Now

Your Instructor:

Aleya Littleton. MA, LPC, C-CAT, SPI

Aleya started rock climbing back in 2008. Finding herself in the middle of a major life transition, she sought the comfort of nature and found so much more. Initially she appreciated the sport for it’s aspects of adventure, but she soon learned that while becoming a skilled climber, she also discovered more about herself, her community, and found the peace she had been searching for.

MA Adventure Therapy, Prescott College
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Guide:
- Outer Edge Performance
- Colorado Climbing Company
Climbing Instructor:
- Boulder Rock Club
- Earth Treks Climbing
- ABC Kids Climbing
- Colorado School of Mines
Climbing Workshop Presenter:
- 2022: 9IATC, Kristiansand, Norway
- 2021 AT Best Practices, Park City UT.
- 2019 AT Best Practices, DeKalb IL.
- 2018 8IATC, Stanwell Topps, Australia.
Self Rescue: Earth Treks 2010 & 2015.

Contact Aleya directly with questions: aleya@wwlcounseling.com

Fees | Refunds | Cancellation Policy:

*All fees are due at the time of registration.

*Cancellation: Full refunds are available until one week prior to the beginning of the course. 50% refunds are available until the first day of the course. No refunds are available after the start of the course.

*WWL will do our best to avoid course cancellation. However, if we must cancel a course due to some unforeseen or unavoidable circumstance, we will contact you at the primary email address and phone number you provided at the time of registration. You will be able to select a full refund or full letter of credit to transfer to a new course date within 12 months of the date of the original course. If a course in progress is interrupted by unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances, participants will receive credit to take the remainder of the course a later date. All other expenses such as airfare and hotel accommodations will not be reimbursed by WWL.

Clinical Rock Climbing Training May 14, 21, 28. June 4, 11. Tuesday Evening: 5:00pm - 8:00pm MST Intensive: June 15-17 - 2024! Cohort 3 is now enrolling!