Adventure and Nature Based Therapy 101: Are you ready to leave the office? NEW

The global COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in Colorado residents seeking solace and recreation in our outdoor spaces, highlighting the innate health benefits of movement in and exposure to nature. The field of adventure and nature based therapy has also been growing over the last several decades, transforming from the widely known stereotype of wilderness therapy for at-risk youth, to a diverse set of professional healing models and practices. Licensed therapists are using nature individual and in groups, to treat everything from anxiety to PTSD to post-partum depression and more. Therapists in clinic and private practice settings can improve client engagement and outcomes, quickly develop rapport, and challenge clients to internalize change through this experiential modality. Adventure Therapy is theorized to lean on experiences in novel environments to promote change, while Nature-Based Therapy relies on the human-natural world relationship to improve overall physical and cognitive

Credit Hours