To the outside world, mountain climbing seems stressful.
But for Peter Mayfield, founder and executive director of Gateway Mountain Center, scaling the walls of Yosemite is a form of therapy.
"I spent a lot of time alone in nature," Mayfield said in a segment during NBC Sports' documentary, "HEADSTRONG: Mental Health and Sports." "I do big, solo trips along the spine of the Sierra. I'll cross-country ski for 36 hours and cover 40 miles."
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Now Mayfield is paying it forward by using mountain climbing as a way to help teenagers and young adults overcome traumatic events.
"From the age of 15, I was committed to helping people access this sport," Mayfield said. "And as an instructor and a guide, early on, I understood how profoundly transformative this experience was. Immersive experiences in mountain environments really change people."
In the documentary, which can be seen on NBC Sports Bay Area, Mayfield can be seen teaching students how to descend over a ledge.
"When a young person, who has had a really traumatic background, strengthens their sense of self, their self-awareness grows, their self-efficacy grows and their behavior changes," Mayfield said. "They're able to really improve or be healed."
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You can watch all of the "HEADSTRONG: Mental Health and Sports" vignettes right here. The full documentary will play all month on NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California.
Check our channel listings page for times and dates.