Nature-based or wilderness therapy is individualized therapy in a natural setting. These sessions can look like walk & talk sessions, where we meet at the office, walk on a nearby trail for the bulk of the session, and then end back at the office. Or they can be more immersive, meeting at a designated spot in nature and holding the entire session in the ‘outdoor office.’ Either way, these sessions take place outdoors instead of in the office, using traditional psychotherapy practices, such as: body-centered psychotherapy, mindfulness based therapy, EMDR or Brainspotting therapy, psycho-education, gestalt therapy and when appropriate, combine experiences in nature as a catalyst for change and personal growth. 

There is a part of ourselves that yearns for nature, to (re)connect to the wilderness within, and to (re)align with the interconnected rhythms of nature. And it is no wonder as Americans spend the majority of their lives indoors and in front of a screen. In fact, research states we are spending upwards of 90 percent of our time indoors! And while many Alaskans might find themselves spending more time in nature than the average American - we still can find ourselves spending a lot of time disconnected from it and in turn disconnected from ourselves. 

If we’re honest, many of us spend the majority of their days working inside concrete buildings with artificial lighting, in cars commuting, and in our houses with gadgets running. This leaves minimal time to step into a natural place, sit by a tree, put feet on the grass, watch clouds pass by, listen to ambient noises such as the birds chirping or even the sound of our feet as we walk on a dirt path or a trail through the trees. 

Nature based therapy challenges an individual’s underlying disconnection to the natural world while focusing on other issues presenting in daily life, such as anxiety, depression, anger issues, intimate relationships, body image, and trauma. 

As with any indoor session, we will work together towards your personal therapeutic goals - and reconnecting with nature and/or moving our bodies in nature can be part of the process, a therapeutic intervention, and/or a goal. This means an outdoor, nature-based sessions can take place sitting in a quiet outdoor place, walking or hiking a trail, or even running, cross country skiing, or something else you might need/want support around in a nature-based setting/activity.

In a safe, positive, and supportive environment, a nature-based therapy approach gives you an opportunity to turn your attention to the present moment and current challenges, while delving into past experiences. You will be empowered to make decisions, create change, experience safety and achieve mastery of living with a sense of wonder. 

If you’re interested in integrating nature-based sessions into your therapeutic journey, please reach out to windingpathcounseling@gmail.com.
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