Tim Walsh is an outdoor educator and expert recovery coach and outdoor guide trainer, with more than 20 years of experience leading programs for young adults, adolescents, and families. Tim has spent decades cultivating his expertise in program development. He is a thought leader in adventure-based counseling and recovery. His areas of expertise include youth mentoring, outdoor leadership, prevention, and outdoor guide training.
Tim is the founder of Adventure Recovery, a mental health informed outdoor education and mentoring group. Adventure Recovery provides individual and group programming for clients, families, schools, and recovery and treatment programs. Tim’s background includes serving as the Executive Director of two national healthcare organizations—Newport Academy and Mountainside Treatment Center in Canaan, Connecticut, where he was the founder of the center’s adventure-based counseling program. Prior to this, Tim held a leadership position for 10 years at the Mountain Workshop, an outdoor leadership school, as Program and Staff Development Director. He is also former youth director for the New Canaan Congregational Church and created and facilitates their youth programs since 1998. Tim is an expert in the recovery/mental health space, and provides services as a consultant to parents, clinicians, treatment facilities, and recovery-based initiatives. He creates prevention programs for schools, youth development agencies, and presents at national conferences. His unique model of engagement draws people into a dynamic, solutions-based conversation on the topics of mental health and substance use awareness. He has presented programs for Yale Divinity School, ADAP of Weston, Connecticut, Recovery 2.0 Conference, High-Five Adventure Symposium, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Salisbury School, Hotchkiss School, Newport Academy, Wanderlust Festival, and high schools and colleges throughout the United States. He holds multiple advanced certifications in several disciplines, including wilderness first response, mental health first aid, recovery coaching training, and whitewater boating.
“Adventure Recovery founder, Tim Walsh, facilitates the Youth Wellness Council for ADAP in Weston, CT. He’s done so for the last fifteen years and is an integral part of our program’s success. His unique approach fosters lasting connection and creates a safe environment where kids can openly share their feelings around substance use and the underlying challenges facing teenagers and parents today. Tim’s leadership is powerful and the ongoing connection he and his team maintains with our community’s kids, parents, and facilitators is a testament to the impact of his model.”— Rob Handel, President of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) of Weston, CT