Introduction to Outdoor Ecotherapy in Clinical Practice
Fri, May 29
|RecuperAcres
The overall goal of this workshop is for participants to be introduced to the concept of ecotherapy and to further an understanding of the benefits to clients when this nature-based lens is employed in clinical mental health settings, as well as to explore how to utilize this approach realistically.
Time & Location
May 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
RecuperAcres, 9880 Swede Lake Rd, Watertown, MN 55388, USA
About the event
Objectives include:
1. Developing a working definition of ecotherapy and the many different forms it can take (animal assisted therapy, horticulture therapy, somatic ecotherapy, etc.) as well as the two different levels of working (level one and two). This also includes conceptualizing ecotherapy as a systemic and relational lens, leading to systemic interventions and outcomes.
2. Increasing awareness of the benefits of ecotherapy on mental health outcomes.
3. Developing a brief understanding of ethics-based client considerations for this work and when/when not to utilize this approach with a wide variety of clients and presenting concerns. This includes a discussion of assessment questions for clients and preparing them for an outdoor session. This also includes exploring the ecological self-of the therapist and identifying therapist and client readiness for nature-based work.
4. This workshop will include specific interventions to utilize both indoors and outdoors with clients, including discussion and experiential practice of…