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Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors


Feb 11, 2020

Daniel Fishburn is the Executive Director of SUWS of the Carolina's. Daniel shares his journey into wilderness therapy, which first began in 1987 when he worked as staff at Wediko, a therapeutic summer camp. After college, he did human rights work in El Salvador and went on to get his M.S.W. Daniel shares his remarkable story of service to others in a variety of public and private settings throughout the country. He returned to the wilderness therapy field as Clinical Director at SUWS in 2014.

From the SUWs Website:

Daniel Fishburn has been helping young people “find their way” in a variety of settings for 30 years, including close to 20 years as a licensed clinician.  He received his BA in Psychology at The Catholic University of American in Washington DC., and his MSW from the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work.  From the war zones of El Salvador to the streets of Dallas and Houston, Daniel has served families through numerous organizations such as Child Protective Services, public health agencies, community mental health, adolescent and adult substance abuse treatment, young adult transitional programs, and most recently at a therapeutic boarding school.  From the frontline staff to leadership, Daniel is highly experienced in working at the organizational level to create powerful, positive change.

In Daniel’s personal life, he is committed to mindfulness science and practice, nature adventure, and volunteer service in the Asheville community. He is involved nationally in the Recovery Dharma movement and engages in education/advocacy for LGBTIQ youth.