A 2-Day Workshop Developing Practice in Nature Based Therapy.
We have brought together 6 seasoned nature based therapists who will guide us through a host of engaging and dynamic learning experiences over the 2 days. Participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to start using these ideas creatively and flexibly their own practice setting.
Overview: Many mental health professionals intuitively understand the therapeutic potential of nature connection in treatment but may be unsure about how this fits with delivering evidence based models of care or where to begin applying the theory to practice.
Join this group of experienced therapists as they share nature based practices to implement in your unique clinical setting along with the theoretical foundations for a deeper understanding and rationale for taking therapy outdoors.
Multiple experiential learning opportunities are embedded within this workshop to increase the embodied learning experience that builds on your knowledge base. You will be invited to consider how nature based practices might fit into your current approach to treating mental health and potential next steps as you cultivate your unique offering in this field.
Our intention is to provide an engaging and dynamic experience equipping participants with the knowledge, skills and support to develop their nature based practice whether you are just starting out or keen to freshen up and extend your practice.
Workshop Outcomes:
Who will benefit:
Therapists and mental health professionals seeking to enhance their current nature based practice or those considering taking therapy outdoors and are feeling unsure how to get started will benefit from joining. This workshop will provide the theoretical foundations and experiential learning opportunities from several relevant practices that you can implement immediately in your own practice.
It is also an opportunity for those seeking to connect with likeminded therapists and develop professional networks.
Program outline:
There will be 6 key presentations
In this interactive program you will be expertly guided by practitioners who are experienced in their respective fields of nature based therapies. The educational sessions will equip you with the theoretical foundations and experiential learning opportunities of multiple nature based practices that you may then choose to integrate into your unique clinical setting.
Nature Based Therapies Australia is thrilled to bring to you this amazing line-up of seasoned therapists who will share with you their wisdom, experience and passion for their outdoor practices.
Panel Conversation: Approaching the Challenges in Building a Nature Based Practice
Optional Saturday Morning self-care experiences
Cost: $660 (includes GST)
This includes all workshop materials, lunches and snacks both days.
Accommodation: Camping is available at an additional cost of $20 per person per night and can be arranged directly through Yarabalba Stables yarabalbastables@gmail.com with many other accommodation options close by.
To Register: You can register directly by clicking here.
It you would like to arrange a payment plan (2 x $330 payments), please contact us at admin@naturebasedtherapies.com.au advising your full name, best email address and contact number and your interest in a payment plan for this workshop; we will be please to arrange this for you.
Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for this workshop.
Cancellations: Participants can withdraw up to 1 month prior, minus a $100 administration fee. Cancellations thereafter are non-refundable but very happy if you would like to transfer the registration to another practitioner or credit to another offering with NBTA.
Nature Art
Andi (she/her) is a Clinical Psychology Registrar and PhD Candidate in Psychology at the University of Newcastle who grew up in the United States and now lives on Awabakal country. She offers individual and group nature-based therapy through The Base Health in Newcastle, NSW. Her current research on walk-and-talk therapy was awarded a Medical Research Future Fund grant by the Australian government in 2023 to investigate the effectiveness of outdoor therapy for men with depression. Andi moved to Australia after travelling the world as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow where she studied the intersection of nature connection and mental health practices, including forest bathing, nature art, adventure therapy, ecotherapy, solo experiences in nature, horticulture therapy, and more. Andi’s background in both philosophy and psychology informs her passion for learning more about reconnecting to the earth. She is the volunteer convenor of Outdoor Health Australia’s Research & Evidence Committee, and is a co-editor of the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education’s Special Issue on Nature-Based Therapies as well as Outdoor Health Australia’s upcoming book on the same topic. Andi feels most at home when nestled among the trees (especially pine and maple trees).
Exploring Existential Phenomenology in Nature-Based Therapies
Mauro is a Registered Psychologist and Board Approved Supervisor with over 18 years of experience in mental health care and psychological services. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Graduate degree in Psychology, and Post-Graduate qualifications in Art Therapy and Psychological Practice in Institutions. Trained in Brazil, Mauro has worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, addressing complex emotional disorders, illnesses, and life challenges. His career includes roles as a university professor, supervisor, and internship manager in psychology courses. Mauro is passionate about humanistic care and has extensive experience with existential therapy, existential phenomenology and client-centred therapy. Founder of Hawkesbury River Psychology, Mauro delivers Outdoor Psychology Sessions on the Hawkesbury River – NSW, on a boat, bush or boat access only beach setting. His unconventional approach encourages participants to embrace their uniqueness and fundamental aspects of life through being-with-nature.
Research and Evaluation for your Outdoor Therapy Practice
Hi, I’m Linda, a Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle in Australia. With over 20 years of research and clinical experience, my work focuses on supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those diagnosed with autism and ADHD, as well as people with chromosomal genetic disorders like 22q-related conditions. I work closely with their families and broader support networks to provide comprehensive care. My research covers a wide range of topics, from brain imaging and cognition to mental health and the lived experiences of young people and families, resulting in numerous scientific articles.
In the past year, I’ve launched my own solo private practice, 22qMinded, and also serve as a consultant clinical psychologist for NeuroKind on the Central Coast. As a board-approved supervisor for provisional and registrar psychologists, I am dedicated to fostering the next generation of professionals. Additionally, I have a strong interest in developing bespoke research and evaluation services for smaller-scale businesses in the mental health and disability sectors. My goal is to assist these businesses in collecting, analysing, and understanding relevant data to maximise the impact of the important work they do.
Getting Playful: Exploring Nature Based Practices when working with Children and Adolescents.
Nadine is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and the founder of Hunter Valley Children’s Therapies, a private practice supporting children and young people to access effective therapeutic support in a meaningful way; where fun, play and safe connections with animals, humans and nature help guide the growth, learning and healing processes. HVCT offers individual sessions and small group programs, including school holidays programs, specialised group programs for school group and tailored sessions for sibling groups.
Nadine now has over 20 years of experience in working with children and young people who have navigated trauma, abuse and neglect, those with mental health challenges and children with special needs and disabilities. Nadine offers a range of Therapeutic options, including Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Nature Based Therapy.
During this session you will be guided through an experiential activity that you can deliver with children in your practice, outside in nature, that involves psychoeducation about feelings, emotions and body sensations, visually and experientially learning about how emotions move and change and ‘don’t last forever’, and exploring a variety of emotions through fun, messy, colourful sensory play.
Nature Based Resourcing
Sue is a psychologist passionate about increasing accessibility to relevant and effective therapeutic experiences that support individual healing and collective vitality.
Through personal and professional experience, Sue has developed a deep appreciation of the value of an integrated and flexible approach that is meaningful and relevant for both the client and therapist.
Underpinning the main therapeutic models Sue typically draws from, is the belief that we all have the innate capacity for healing. When we are intentional in our interactions and mindfully engage with nature and animals, it seems to support greater authenticity and an increased sense of belonging. In addition, many clients describe being drawn to outdoor therapies as it feels safer or more comfortable than a room based setting. Self-energy, a sense of belonging and sufficient safety are all important ingredients in the healing process.
This presentation will focus on establishing the value of nature based resourcing as an effective part of the healing process as well as an essential element in trauma process work before we experience various nature based resourcing practices for ourselves.
An invitation to play with expressing JOY using bilateral movement
Sara has been practicing Social Work since 1982, first in the UK and for the last 34 years, in Australia. Over the decades Sara has enjoyed adding a Master of Counselling, plus qualifications in Narrative Therapy, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy, Equestrian Taichi and Therapeutic Drumming to inform her practice. Sara also practices as a clinical supervisor.
Sara knows herself the healing power of connecting with Nature and animals, and the joy and regulation to be found in engaging with play, rhythm, drumming, movement, mindfulness, storytelling and art. She feels privileged to at this later stage of her career, to be able to bring this all together, and offer it to her clients within a framework underpinned by current therapeutic models and theory.
Sara’s practice, Mima Counselling Services, is at Darkes Forest NSW (between Sydney and Wollongong).
An invitation to play with expressing JOY using bilateral movement This presentation will offer you the opportunity to connect with Nature and gently invite understanding through play and curiosity about your own experience of Joy.
Together we will explore the theories underpinning this Nature-Based Expressive Arts experiential practice, including teachings of Dr Cathy Malchiodi and her concept ‘Circle of Capacity’.
With a focus on connecting with your embodied experience, you will be invited to a personal exploration and creative expression of joy in a nature based therapeutic exercise incorporating bilateral movement you can utilise in your own clinical practice.
As part of our e-newsletter family, you will have first priority to new webinars, retreats and upcoming training opportunities with our experience practitioners.
Don’t worry – we don’t spam you. We won’t send you meaningless emails :)
