INTO THE WILD: TALKING THERAPY IN NATURAL OUTDOOR SPACES

It has BEEN MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH a diverse set of CLIENTS across the United States and abroad THAT THERE ARE UNIQUE BENEFITS IN TAKING INDIVIDUAL THERAPY OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL OFFICE ENVIRONMENT. PARTICULARLY FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EXERCISE AND THE HEALING COMPONENTS OF THE NATURAL WORLD. FOR ME, IT MAKES SENSE TO TAKE A SURFER SURFING, A SKIER SKIING, or to place an equestrian on their most loved horse. IT IS OFTEN WHEN A CLIENT FEELS MOST AT HOME AND AT PEACE IN THEIR BODY AND SURROUNDINGS THAT THEY CAN MAKE THEir GREATEST STRIDES FORWARD.

ACCORDING TO COOLEY ET AL., (2020), “THERAPY OUTDOORS IS NOT ONLY EFFECTIVE IN CONNECTING CLIENTS WITH THE NATURAL WORLD, BUT ALSO THROUGH ENRICHING THE THERAPEUTIC ENCOUNTER; PROVIDING NOVEL WAYS OF INCORPORATING CONVENTIONAL THERAPY APPROACHES, WITH ADDED MUTUALITY, HOLISM, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND ENHANCED PRACTITIONER WELL BEING. BENEFITS OF THERAPY OUTDOORS WERE NOT EXCLUSIVE TO PARTICULAR CLIENT GROUPS, AND ITS USE IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED USING A PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH BASED ON INDIVIDUAL FORMATION.” (P. 1.).

It is this “freedom of expression” that I find most interesting. I am dedicated to helping a client cultivate their most authentic expression. It is often in movement that an individual finds their truest voice.

Here is THE ENTIRETY OF THE COOLEY ET AL., (2020) ARTICLE AS SEEN IN SCIENCE DIRECT.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735820300295