July 19, 2026: Paddling a raft through rapids, cycling for miles, and climbing thousands of feet up a mountain are not the most difficult aspects of the expeditions organized by Arkansas-based Adventure Therapy.
For the participants, the toughest task is asking for help with their mental health, said Chris Davis, who recently founded the company with his wife, Jessy.
Many of Adventure Therapy’s clients are veterans and first responders.
“You are the one that people ask for help,” Chris said of those in careers dedicated to helping others. “So, it really is challenging for those people to be the ones asking for help.”
It’s also challenging to seek help for survivors of domestic violence, those in recovery, and couples who desire better connections. The excursions combine professional mental health support with outdoor experiences worldwide to empower all kinds of people to build healthier lives, cultivate resilience, and rediscover joy, according to the Adventure Therapy website.
After serving in the Arkansas National Guard, Jessy began her journey to achieve long-term sobriety, relying on her adventures with hiking, cycling, rock climbing and other activities to get her there.
“I started to realize that there was such a powerful gift in providing those experiences for other people,” Jessy told 5NewsOnline.
Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024 prompted her to wonder whether she could give that feeling of exhilaration, satisfaction, and contentment to others.
“Getting to the top of that mountain was really life-changing, and we wanted to figure out if we could do that with a group of people and be successful,” said Jessy Davis.
That was the inspiration for Adventure Therapy, which takes participants on multi-day excursions to challenge them physically while creating opportunities for connection and healing.
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Healing Through Adventure Therapy
Each excursion includes a licensed therapist and a trained guide.
Recently, a group of veterans completed several days of whitewater rafting, cycling, and climbing Pikes Peak, a Colorado landmark more than 14,000 feet above sea level.
“Everybody made it, and tears flowed,” Jessy said. “Just that relief and the excitement. It’s so powerful… The amazing thing about putting people together in a challenging situation is the bond that happens.”
The enormity of his struggles had weighed down one veteran on the trip.
“He came out of that with him saying, ‘I found my peace, and I can let these things go,’ and that’s huge,” Jessy said.
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For another story about recovery programs, read this article about an ex-con who became a chaplain and founded a sober living home.
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