Beyond the Classroom: How Experiential Learning Abroad Transforms Treatment

What happens when teens leave behind comfort, technology, and familiar surroundings—and instead step into a world of service, connection, and humility?

What happens when teens leave behind comfort, routine, and screen time to immerse themselves in a new culture focused on service, connection, and perspective?

In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with therapist Kimberly Sparks about the transformative power of Turning Winds’ international service trips. Their latest journey to Belize offers a firsthand look at how real-world experiences can help teens shift from seeing themselves as part of the problem to becoming part of the solution.

They talk through how activities like building water towers, engaging with local communities, and stepping outside their comfort zones create space for emotional growth, self-worth, and lasting change.

Topics include:

• Why experiential learning supports deeper therapeutic breakthroughs
• How international travel helps teens build genuine confidence
• The importance of service and connection in a teen’s healing journey
• How relational environments create more sustainable change than clinical ones alone
• Whether you are a parent exploring treatment or a provider curious about impactful programming, this episode offers a compelling look into what makes the Turning Winds approach so effective.

To learn more about Turning Winds, visit turningwinds.com or call 800-845-1380.

Keywords: experiential learning, therapeutic service trips, teen mental health, Turning Winds, Belize, emotional growth, adolescent therapy, healing through service, teen treatment program, connection-based care

To learn more about Turning Winds, visit turningwinds.com or call 800-845-1380.