Travis Strickland, MSW
Master Senior Field Guide
Joined Open Sky: September 2010
In Wilderness Therapy since: 2004
Interview with Travis Strickland
September 2010
Q: If you were able to meet anyone (living or dead), who would it be and why?
A: Hmmmm... this is a tough question. The type of person I'm most interested in meeting would be a type of character as depicted in "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman (Socrates) or Tom Brown, Jr's "The Journey" (Apache grandfather). Both of these characters were spiritual teachers who had a depth that is rare to come across and challenged their students. A living person who embodies these same characteristics that I would love to meet is the Dalai Lama or the deceased J. Krishnamurti. I would love to meet these individuals because of their knowledge, wisdom, and warmth. It appears as though people like this truly know what it is to be human and I, too, one day hope to ascertain this level of understanding.
Q: What are a few of the defining moments in your life and why?
A: Starting at birth, I was 2.5 months premature and weighed a mere 3 pounds. I was lucky to have survived and spent the first couple of months of my life in the hospital. Of course, I don't remember any of that, but it has set in motion my life as a fighter (metaphorically speaking), optimistic thinker, and an incredibly grateful person for the opportunity to experience life as fully as possible. I'm from an economically desolate area of southeast North Carolina where opportunities for growth and change are seldom found. I saw some of my best friends growing up fall victim to drug and alcohol abuse only to get stuck in a cycle of self destruction that nearly claimed myself as well. However, due to some positive mentors within community college, UNC-W, and my first post-collegiate job as a "chief" at EYA, I found respite by meeting a few individuals who challenged me to grow past what I thought possible. I am also a first generation college student that recently received my MSW this May, 2010. Thanks to everyone at Appalachian State who had a part in my growth as a professional.
Q: Who has been your greatest inspiration and why?
A: My mother, Janice'. She epitomizes strength, resilience, perseverance, and has always held her family in the highest regard. She has always respected my individuality and even encouraged me to foster it. She is the backbone of our family, yet wants no recognition and merely sees this as her duty. She is incredibly humble, fun-loving, easy to talk to, and accepting. She has always had sage-like wisdom for me in hard and dark times in my life. She has taught me the importance of relationship and connection with the Earth and all that dwell thereon.
Q: What are your unique gifts and/or experiences that help our students?
A: The students have already pointed out my unwavering optimism, which I think helps during a dreary cold day, a rough letter from home, or having to eat a cold dinner. Outside of that, my life perspective of taking lemons and making orange juice (much sweeter than lemonade), helps students view adversity as an opportunity for growth. I love to laugh and bring a sense of humor that allows me to easily connect with students and build rapport with those around me. As a social worker (and conscientious being of the Earth), it helps for me to view things systemically--whether that be the family, school system, legal system, society, or global community that the student is a part of, to assist in understanding where the student is coming from and where they want to go. It probably helps that I was a defiant hell raiser of an adolescent as well and I take a nonjudgmental stance of this rebellious time of life. I also bring a sacredness of our interdependence with one another and the Earth in the group culture as this is oftentimes disregarded in modern society.
Q: Why do you work in wilderness therapy?
A: There is nothing more real than the wilderness. It has always served as a place of refuge and introspection for humanity. I enjoy the challenges of this type of work--the logistical planning, the level of direct care, the many "hats" that field guides wear, the uncertainty, and the lack of distractions to be able to look within and find out what is at one's core. I also have never found any other work that requires and supports such a strong community of people. I work in this field because I believe in it's effectiveness and I believe in wilderness as a much more conducive environment for therapy to take place than a sterile, institutionalized, alienating setting.
Q: Why do you think wilderness therapy works?
A: Well, for a number of reasons. Primarily, I think that it helps to bridge the understanding that we as human beings do not have to subscribe to an individualized, fragmented, and alienated view of our community. I think that wilderness therapy speaks to our primitive side--namely, to our sense of community, our need for connectedness to other living beings, our similarities and shared emotions. Too many of our youth are being raised by television and fed an artificial reality of fear and mindlessness. I think that wilderness therapy is a step in the right direction to resurrect awareness of self, community, and the mystery of life.
Q: What do you think Open Sky students need?
A: According to them, fried chicken would be nice (being from the south I tend to agree). Seriously, we all need an environment to heal, to be supported and heard, to be challenged and confronted, to be broken down and rebuilt, to become aware of the duality of life itself. Our students need love, kindness, discipline, empowerment, humor, resilience, space, positivity, and a solid foundation to build on. They also need a family that is willing to change with them because the whole system is in need of change or results are short lived. Students need to find passion, self-reliance, and empathy for others. Students need to be challenged to think critically, look beneath the surface, find their own answers/truth within, and feel confident in expressing that truth.
Q: What do you like to do for fun when you aren’t working in the field?
A: I enjoy hiking, reading, playing basketball and soccer, weight lifting, traveling, mountain biking, climbing, enjoying time with my girlfriend, canoeing, camping, running, laughing, and socializing. I'm also an avid Washington Redskins and NC State fan and enjoy watching a game when the opportunity presents itself. I'm looking forward to getting a dog in the near future and beginning to study martial arts.
Q: Anything else you want to tell us about yourself?
A: I would like to express thanks to all of those who have been guiding lights in my path. My mother, Janice', Clayton Harrington, Isaiah Rudolph, Kellie Reed Ashcraft, Mike Vannoy, Jessica Edelbaum, Sarah Edelbaum, Kiley Smith, Amber Lyda and the rest of the ASU Counseling and Psyc Center staff, Chris Turner, Dr. Heiner, Dr. Antonio Puente, Dr. Ogle, Dr. Sue Lamb, the Open Sky staff, my grandmothers, Priscilla and Lucille, my brother, Tyler, my little sister, Heidi, and my father, Michael. I'm sure there were many others and if you're unnamed, then I thank you as well.
Professional Experience
University Counseling Center, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
Intern/Graduate Assistant
University Recreation Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
Facility Supervisor
Event Partners Incorporated, Greenville, South Carolina
Crowd Management Supervisor
Eckard Youth Alternatives, Elizabethtown, North Carolina
Senior Counselor
Education
MSW, Social Work
Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
BA, Psychology
University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
