What Outdoor Trauma Really Looks Like And How Therapy Can Help

Written By Dan Lundberg

Introduction For many, the outdoors is a source of healing. Time spent skiing, biking, hiking, or exploring nature is often restorative. But what happens when something goes wrong in those spaces? Outdoor trauma is real and it can impact your mental health just as deeply as any other kind of trauma. Whether you've had a serious accident, a near-death experience, or experience a major setback while outside, therapy can help you process and heal.

What Counts as Outdoor Trauma? Outdoor trauma doesn't always look dramatic. It might include:

  • A serious injury (skiing, mountain biking, climbing, etc)

  • Getting lost or stuck in the backcountry

  • Witnessing an accident

  • Feeling like you failed at something that once defined you

  • Losing confidence in your abilities after a fall or emergency

  • Hearing of a friend who had an accident 

If any of these resonate, you're not alone. Many people minimize these experiences, telling themselves to "shake it off" or “it happens to everyone”. But your body and mind remember.

How Outdoor Trauma Affects Mental Health Trauma can show up in subtle or overwhelming ways:

  • Anxiety or fear in situations that once felt fun

  • Nightmares or flashbacks

  • Avoidance of outdoor activities

  • Irritability or restlessness

  • Disconnection from your identity or community

You may start to question who you are without your sport or struggle with shame for not bouncing back.

Why We Often Overlook This Kind of Trauma Cultural messages tell us to stay tough, keep going, and not talk about pain. Especially in outdoor communities, there's pressure to be strong, fearless, and self-sufficient. This makes it harder to recognize when something has really shaken you.

How Therapy Helps At Switchback Counseling, I specialize in supporting people who've experienced trauma in outdoor spaces. Using Narrative Therapy, CBT, ACT, DBT, and EMDR, I help clients process what happened, reconnect with their values, and rebuild trust in themselves.

Therapy isn't about making you "soft", it's about helping you come back stronger, with clarity and confidence.

Dan’s Personal Connection to the Outdoors I’m not just a therapist, I’m someone who understands the culture of mountain towns, the risks of skiing, biking and climbing, and the deep connection many of us have with outdoor spaces. Having lived in small ski communities and spent time traveling the western U.S., I get it. And that makes a difference.

Call to Action You don’t have to go through this alone. Book a free 15-minute consultation with Switchback Counseling and take the first step toward healing on your terms. Whether you can attend sessions in person in Grand Junction, Colorado or you live elsewhere in the state and need telehealth, we can work together. 

Dan Lundberg