Meet Josh Goldstein!
Josh (he/him) grew up in Philadelphia, PA and now lives in Palmer, Alaska. Josh is the owner and therapist at Alaska Wellness Journeys, providing, "individual and family therapy to Alaskans between the ages of 12 to 100 as well as consulting for organizations on how to develop their staff and strengthen their teams". He offers, "trainings, therapeutic adventures, walk and talk therapy, nature-based therapy, and good old fashioned indoor therapy to clients". Josh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), AEE Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (CCAT), and Chemical Dependency Counselor Supervisor (CDC-S).
Tell us more about yourself!
I have 10 years of relevant field experience providing trauma-informed care and a strengths-based approach to young adults, adolescents, and adults. I implement a client-centered, holistic wellness and harm reduction approach to support marginalized individuals, families, and communities. I have worked at all levels of care, including with incarcerated people in jails, people in psychiatric crisis in the emergency room, residential therapeutic settings, horticultural and wilderness therapy settings, rural/village settings, and outpatient community mental health clinics. Additionally, I am certified in Trauma-Informed Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI), Narcan/Naloxone Administration Training, Mental Health First Aid, Outdoor Education, Wilderness First Response, Swiftwater Rescue Pro 1, Avalanche Safety and Rescue Recreation 1. In the summers I work part time as a sea kayaking guide in Kenai Fjords National Park since 2016.
What excites you when you think about the future of Experiential Education?
I look forward to seeing increased spiritual programming connected with outdoors spaces, including psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and wellness retreats.
Who or what inspires you?
My mom. She is a social worker, non-profit leader, and badass Jewish sweety pie.
In your free time, we can probably find you:
Packrafting or hiking in the Chugach or Talkeetna mountains, kayaking, fishing, or ice skating on Dena'ina and Sugpiaq waters.
How long have you been involved with AEE?
I have been with AEE since 2022 after learning about the CCAT certification.
How long have you been a Member of AEE?
As an Alaskan, I am somewhat isolated from the in-person gatherings of AEE, so even though I've been a member for 3 years, it all still feels fairly new. I attended the Wilderness Risk Management Conference in 2024 and enjoyed meeting so many like-minded and talented individuals in the field. I look forward to attending an AEE conference sometime in the future!
Is there a specific moment or memory you've had with AEE that impacted you?
There is a very tight-knit cohort of CCATs in southcentral Alaska, and we go for quarterly walks on the trails around Anchorage. It has been inspiring to get to know these wonderful folks with highly specialized skills and educational backgrounds.
What has attaining the AEE Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist credential meant to you? Why do you feel certifications are important for the field moving forward?
The CCAT is a badge of honor to me. It indicates that I take continuing education, safety, and risk management seriously, and have the paperwork to prove it. The CCAT to me represents a security blanket for both clients and myself. They can feel secure knowing that their therapist, guide, and educator has the necessary skills and knowledge. I can feel secure knowing that a certifying entity is maintaining high standards.
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