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Nature Informed Therapy

Training Program

Training Course Description

The Nature Informed Therapy Training is a three-month program for individuals who want to integrate nature and mental health, includes 28.5 CEU Credits.

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Part I: a 3-day intensive course

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Part II: 3-month online mentorship 

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Participants will receive an overview of significant research findings, learn how to assess a client for ecotherapy, choose appropriate therapy locations, discover suitable therapeutic approaches, and practical elements to get you and your clients into the natural world.

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Course Objectives

  • Working knowledge of current research in the field of nature informed therapy

  • Assess specific populations, diagnoses, and treatments goals 

  • Assess clients fit for ecotherapy

  • Evaluate appropriate locations and gears.

  • Administer an Ecological Wellness Checkup 

  • Describe Dr. Schreiber-Pan’s Ecological Model of Psychological Well-being 

  • Apply suitable therapeutic approaches 

  • Apply activities that use Metaphor, Ritual, and Ceremony 

  • Use nature-based interventions that inform treatment goals 

  • And many more...

Who Should Attend

  • Psychologists

  • Counselors

  • Social Workers

  • Life Coaches

  • Wilderness professionals

  • Practitioners in the wellness and nature fields. 

Prerequiste

1. Write your own nature autobiography

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2. Assigned readings / film

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3. A Mental Health First Aid course is required for all non-mental health practitioners.

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3 Month online mentorship program

Small group mentorship to maximize learning includes:

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  •  A virtual, one-on-one meeting with a mentor for consultation purposes, once per month

  • A virtual meeting with a small group to discuss nature informed practice and application of content and goals, once per month.

  • In addition to the mentorship elements, the 3-month online program will include a self-directed learning module. This module will consist of training videos, select reading materials and consequent assignments. You will receive all materials for this module at the end of the intensive. Those materials are delivered asynchronously where participants can learn on their own schedule (self-paced learning).

Program Instructors

Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan

Heidi Schreiber-Pan, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC is a successful psychotherapist, author, clinical director and sought-after nationwide speaker on topics of resilience, anxiety, neuroscience, and occupational burnout. As an affiliate and former faculty member of Loyola University, Maryland, her past research has focused on resiliency, psychological well-being, and nature-based mental health. 

 

Dr. Schreiber-Pan has developed unique continuing education courses that combine established clinical methods such as CBT with innovative treatment approaches including nature-based psychotherapy and neuro-counseling. 

 

Her largest research project investigated the role of nature on mental health and spirituality.

 

She is the author of Taming the Anxious Mind: A guidebook to relieve stress and anxiety. 

Zoe Jack

 Zoe Jack is a licensed psychotherapist at Chesapeake Mental Health Collaborative where she specializes in nature informed and client centered work with children, adolescents, and adults. As a former wilderness therapy field guide in Utah and a behavior interventionist at a trauma informed school in Vermont, Zoe incorporates the teachings of the natural world into her treatment approach with individuals and groups.In 2017, Zoe had the opportunity to thru hike the 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, solidifying her therapeutic philosophy that connection and presence lead to meaningful healing and growth. Zoe holds her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and currently serves as the advisor to CMHC's Center for Nature Informed Therapy.

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Phillip McKnight

Phillip has experience teaching a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, and abilities and uses his MA in Instructional Systems Design to determine the needs of the participant and help them develop skills in mindfulness meditation with tools for body, heart, mind, and community. Trained in the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, Phillip will help design and facilitate course implementation. In addition, Phillip brings with him fifteen years of environmental leadership where he has acted as a naturalist, educator, community advocate, and guide for groups such as The Audubon Society and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Participants will receive a Starter Kit to launch your own nature informed therapy practice. The kit will include:


- Informed consent for NIT
- Sample Outdoor Waiver
- Intake Form that includes ecological assessments
- Important gear list 
- Safety checklist
- Sample statement/reading that speaks to ethical land use and acknowledges decolonization efforts 
- Code of Outdoor Therapy Ethics 
- A booklet with nature informed interventions, exercises, and activities 
- Wilderness first aid pocket guide

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Course tuition includes a certificate of completion for the program and 28.5 CEU

 

We offer the interest-free installment payment option. Please email billings@cmhcweb.com to set up the installment option. 

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Program Agenda