Therapy in the Great Outdoors: Recent Episodes
Dr. Laura Park Figueroa
This podcast is about the business & practice of nature-based pediatric therapy of all kinds. If you are an outdoors-loving practitioner in the field of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, behavioral health, or mental health counseling, THIS is for you! We'll discuss how you can take your therapy work with children outdoors into nature and cover exactly what it takes to run a successful and profitable nature-based pediatric practice that changes children's lives (and yours!) forever.
On this show, you'll get answers to questions like: What does nature-based therapy look like? What types of activities work well in outdoor therapy sessions? How can nature-based therapy be a profitable business? What evidence is there for nature-based pediatric therapy? What does research say about getting children out into nature? What kinds of different business models exist for offering nature-based services for children? How can I ensure the success of my nature-based business? What systems do I need to grow a nature-based practice?
Hi Friends,
This final episode is a candid, from-the-heart conversation about a pivot I'm making and why this is the last TGO podcast episode.
I share the behind-the-scenes story of my whirlwind year in 2025— expanding my practice, buying a business, onboarding staff, and stepping back from business coaching — and why all of it led to a major pivot I'm making now.
I'm ending the TGO podcast to launch The Well Women Business Podcast, focused on women in health and wellness who are in the growth stage of their businesses. The new podcast will launch in June 2026.
This is a pivot to expand my business coaching, but I'm not leaving you nature-based therapists! The Therapy in the Great Outdoors free online community is staying open. The ConTiGO Nature-Based Therapy Certification program will continue to open for enrollment 3 times per year.
And of course, any of you women who are growing nature-based practices will be welcome in my future business programs and retreats (more on that in the first episode of Well Women Business).
Thank you for every listen and every step you've taken to connect kids and families with nature. I truly believe the ripple effect of all your therapy work in the great outdoors has changed lives forever!
xoxo
Laura
This one's a heart-to-heart.
I'm tired y'all. Just. SO. Tired.
So I'm taking a break from doing the podcast weekly...for I don't know how long. You can hear some of my honest thoughts and off-the-cuff reflections in this short episode.
I bet I'll be back at some point but for now I will be mostly hanging out in the free TGO Community and supporting people in my paid programs.
There are SO MANY people and resources in the TGO Community to support you in your nature-based work. You can join here: https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com
I hope to see you there!
xoxo
Laura
In this episode, I share a few things I'm thinking about putting in the brand new Therapy in the Great Outdoors SHOP for you. Weigh in on which ones you want to see offered in the TGO community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com.🌳✨ 00:00 Welcome to Therapy in the Great Outdoors 00:59 Upcoming Growth Code Conference 01:54 Introducing the Therapy in the Great Outdoors Shop 03:36 Social Media Break and Community Engagement 07:30 Valuable Resources for Nature-Based Therapy 10:43 Business Templates and Tools 15:18 Employee Compensation and Work Plans 20:33 Additional Resources and Feedback Request 30:00 Conclusion and Announcements Other resources from this episode: 5-R Work Plans podcast episode: https://sites.libsyn.com/116069/287-transform-your-team-by-leveraging-5-r-work-plans-with-sabrina-davis Flodesk email service: https://flodesk.com/c/Y63MIS
Lauren MacLean is a teacher, podcaster, author, and owner of Teach Outdoors in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. She has years of experience teaching children outdoors and is joining me today to talk about how we can integrate sit spot practices into our work as nature-based pediatric therapists. Lauren shares her valuable insights from 17 years of teaching, her work with nature schools, and authorship of children's books. We dive into practical strategies for therapists and educators to help children connect with nature, including tips on balancing structure and freedom, managing boundaries, and adapting practices for children with different needs such as ADHD and autism. You'll learn how to model positive behavior, use language effectively, and integrate play and learning in the great outdoors. 00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy 00:58 Meet Lauren MacLean: Educator and Author 04:37 Understanding Sit Spots 08:12 Implementing Sit Spots in Therapy 12:18 Balancing Structure and Freedom in Outdoor Learning 21:43 Adapting Outdoor Activities for Diverse Needs 28:23 Sports Psychology and Coaching Challenges 28:49 Safety Reminders for Outdoor Activities 29:26 Pre-Teaching and Classroom Management 30:06 Classroom Book Projects and Environmental Awareness 32:03 Children's Picture Books and Their Impact 36:50 Balancing Technology and Outdoor Play 42:30 Risky Play and Child Development 49:10 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 51:25 Enrollment for ConTiGO Nature-Based Therapy Program Connect with Lauren online at teachoutdoors.ca or on Instagram @teachoutdoors.ca The ConTiGO Approach Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant Certification Program is now open for enrollment till Jan 31, 2025 at 5pm CST. Go to contigoapproach.com to get more information.
Here's my annual last-year-in-review episode where YOU get to peek inside my businesses' metrics from 2024 and learn from my mistakes (as usual!) 😆 You'll learn: -What I'm NOT doing anymore this year -Why reviewing your profit-loss statement is critical -How $60,000+ in your business bank account may NOT mean you were highly profitable -Ways to assess market demand for your services -How my business is structured now to be in a position for growth -Strategies for maintaining business growth and fostering a supportive team -The value of slowing down and honoring your own energy/feelings Enrollment will open January 24-31 for you to become a Certified Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant in the ConTiGO Approach. Go to contigoapproach.com to get all the details and join the waitlist. We'll send you an email when doors are open! Timestamped Outline: 00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy 00:58 Podcast Episode: Learn from My Mistakes 01:31 Business Metrics and Mistakes of 2024 02:51 Overview of Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) 04:08 Financial Challenges and Reflections 11:31 Future Plans for TGO 15:13 Financial Overview of Outdoor Kids OT 15:59 Business Budgeting and Profit First 20:06 Challenges of Running a Therapy Business 22:00 Setting Financial Goals for the Year 23:11 Team Expansion and Role Delegation 25:09 Annual Planning and Market Research 28:41 Balancing Transparency and Discretion 35:17 Reflections on Leadership and Personal Growth 42:33 ConTiGO Certification Program Announcement
THANK YOU for being a TGO podcast listener! To celebrate our 100th episode of Therapy in the Great Outodors, this week I answer YOUR questions about: - How to start and run a nature-based camp (3:20) - Evaluation methods for both group and individual therapy (13:40) - Choosing the right website hosting platform (26:30) - Balancing business growth with family life (31:10) - Handling extreme weather conditions in your nature-based practice (41:40) - Navigating permits and waivers for public parks (46:00) Join me as we dive deep into these listener questions and help you take steps towards creating your dream practice. And if you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving a review to help our podcast grow! 00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors 00:58 Celebrating Episode 100 with Listener Q&A 03:09 Starting and Running a Nature-Based Camp 09:04 Nature-Based Evaluations for Group and Individual Therapy 14:54 Rules and Regulations for Providing Services Outdoors 15:57 Website Hosting and Business Planning Tips 25:12 Managing a Nature-Based Practice in Extreme Weather 27:48 Waivers, Permits, and Liability Insurance 31:01 Conclusion and Call to Action Want free resources to support your nature-based practice? Go to https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com
In this episode, we dive into the 'Tool for Observing Play Outdoors' (TOPO), a new typology for capturing children's play behaviors in outdoor settings by Lobach and Cox. (If you missed part one, be sure to catch up with episode 98 first!) You'll learn:
- The non-hierarchical framework of TOPO
- Ways to capture the complexity of play when making observations
- How the TOPO can help you plan nature-based treatment sessions for children
00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy
00:58 Exploring the TOPO Tool for Outdoor Play
04:27 Implications and Applications of the TOPO Tool
10:53 Using the TOPO Tool for Individual and Place-Based Observations
17:24 Alternative Uses and Practical Tips for the TOPO Tool
20:45 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Link to the article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7432422/
In this episode, I discuss the article The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO): A New Typology for Capturing Children's Play Behaviors in Outdoor Environments by Loebach & Cox. You'll learn how this tool was developed and tested, and hear about the 9 categories of outdoor play and their subtypes included on this tool. This episode will help you hone your observation skills of children's play and consider ways to inspire different kinds of play in your outdoor therapy sessions. Next week (in part 2) we'll talk about implications for nature-based therapists and how you can use the TOPO tool in your practice to become a more skilled facilitator of play in your nature-based sessions. 00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy
00:59 Personal Reflections
02:18 Introduction to the TOPO Tool
03:13 Abstract and Relevance of the TOPO Tool
05:38 Development Phases of the TOPO Tool
09:17 Nine Types of Outdoor Play
10:43 Physical Play and Its Subtypes
12:31 Exploratory Play and Its Subtypes
13:32 Imaginative Play and Its Subtypes
15:15 Play with Rules and Its Subtypes
17:32 Expressive Play and Its Subtypes
20:15 Bio Play and Its Subtypes
21:20 Restorative Play and Its Subtypes
23:45 Digital Play and Non-Play Categories
26:28 Conclusion and Certification Information
Enrollment is open till Dec 31 at 5pm CST for you to become a Certified Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant in the ConTiGO Approach. Go to contigoapproach.com to get all the details and join us before the price goes up in 2025 for the first time in 5 years!
How are you feeling in your nature-based practice or business right now? In this episode, you'll hear about my current feelings about both of my nature-based businesses, my therapy practice (Outdoor Kids OT) and my online business (Therapy in the Great Outdoors - which produces this podcast for you!).
You'll learn:
-That you are NORMAL if your emotions ebb and flow over the course of your practice/business!
-Tips for choosing the right niche
-Why it is important to think long-term about your work and life
-The importance of knowing how you come to your best ideas/decisions (and how I come to mine.)
-How YOU can give feedback to guide the offerings of Therapy in the Great Outdoors next year in 2025!
Here's the link to the TGO 2024 End-of-Year Survey! Please share your thoughts. All replies are anonymous! https://forms.gle/9o64NtPVeGsA75yg9
In this episode, I share my recent travel experiences in Nepal and Indonesia and reflections I had along the way. This trip was MUCH more challenging than I anticipated it would be! In many ways, it was just like being an entrepreneur: super rewarding and ALSO very hard. You'll hear what I observed about children in these different cultures and how that impacted my own thinking about nature-based therapy service provision and life here in the US.
00:00 Introduction
00:58 Personal Travel Reflections: Nepal and Indonesia (an overview of the trip and what we did)
09:10 Challenges and Hardships of the Journey
15:32 Cultural Observations of Children
27:16 My Existential Crisis and Reflections on Nature-Based Therapy Service Provision
33:30 ConTiGO announcement
Enrollment is open till Dec 31 at 5pm CST for you to become a Certified Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant in the ConTiGO Approach™. Go to contigoapproach.com to get all the details and join us before the price goes up in 2025 for the first time in 5 years!
Thanks to Layna Lovelady for posting the question that inspired this episode in the TGO community!
In this episode, I share my top 12 favorite gift ideas for outdoorsy kids. Plus a few embarrassing/funny stories from my own childhood and young parenting days... :)
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Morakniv Pocket Knife - fixed blade (not folding) with ledge for protecting hand.
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Wooden sling shots
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Bow and arrow from Two Bros Bows
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Waldorf sack doll
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Hearthsong outdoor swings
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Ribbon sticks or playsilks from Sarah’s Silks (Or Dharma blank silks that you can dye yourself.)
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Tegu blocks (expensive but truly an heirloom quality toy- I still have my kids’ from when they were little and pull them out every time we have young kids over to our home)
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Wood play food/dishes or mini-kitchen from Etsy (also pricey but beautiful quality)
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Any book from the Living Books list I made a while back (ep 68). Get the list at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/list
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Potholder Loom
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River rock blocks
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Nightbuddy beanie headlamp
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Bonus family gift idea: This firewood splitter is SO FUN to use. Would be a great family gift for an outdoorsy family who lives in a place with cold winters where fires are commonly built during the season. (Make sure to include a mallet or sledgehammer with it!)
Announcement:
We'll be opening the ConTiGO Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist Certification for the final time at 2024 prices for our February 2025 cohort. The price will go UP in 2025. Get on the waitlist to be notified! contigoapproach.com. Last 2024 enrollment will close December 31 at 5pm.
We're diving back into research after a long break! In this episode, we explore the article titled Theory of Affordances to Understand Environment Play Transactions: Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features- A Scoping Review by Morgenthaler, Lynch, Loebach, Pentland, and Schultz, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy in 2024.
This article examines how various outdoor environmental characteristics influence children's outdoor play. The authors developed a taxonomy (a HUGE chart!) that allows practitioners to evaluate the "affordances" of outdoor play spaces...in other words: what do different types of features of the outdoor environment invite children to DO in that environment?
The Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features categorizes physical environments, their functional qualities, and the play activities they support. This helps us as occupational, physical, and speech therapists, social workers or mental health professionals, to:
🌳 Consider ways we may change the environment to support different types of play in sessions
👀 Discover types of play that may be absent or happening infrequently in our sessions and consider ways to increase the variety of play experiences for children we see in therapy.
✅ Evaluate outdoor play spaces when providing consultation for schools and local governments
Find episode 94 of Therapy in the Great Outdoors wherever you get your podcast fix! And tell me: do you think you'll use this taxonomy in your work?
00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy
01:00 Research Review Episode Introduction
02:37 Understanding the Theory of Affordances
03:49 Developing the Environmental Taxonomy
09:02 Applications and Implications for Therapy
22:36 Practical Takeaways and Conclusion
28:34 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Today on the podcast, I interviewed John Arbuckle, a passionate regenerative agriculture farmer and owner of Singing Pastures. He shared his inspiring journey from conventional to regenerative farming, how regenerative animal farming can offer significant environmental benefits, and the crucial role of grazing animals in nurturing healthy ecosystems. Our conversation also dove into the impact of our food choices on ecological health.
Follow Singing Pastures on Instagram and Facebook @singingpastures or check out singingpastures.com. Use code Wilderness20 to get 20% off your first order!
Other resources mentioned in this episode:
Joel Salatin's website and books: polyfacefarms.com Watch the Sacred Cow documentary here: Amazon Get the Sacred Cow book here: sacredcow.info/book
00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy
00:59 Interview with Farmer John Arbuckle
04:13 John's Journey to Regenerative Agriculture
07:02 The Philosophy and Practice of Regenerative Farming
10:51 The Role of Animals in Regenerative Agriculture
20:55 The Impact of Regenerative Farming on Wildlife and Ecosystems
22:49 Introduction to Sacred Cow
24:15 The Importance of Hoofed Animals
25:14 Personal Dietary Choices and Health
26:42 The Role of Grazing Animals in Ecosystems
28:39 Photosynthesis and Carbon Sequestration
30:17 Grazing Practices and Soil Health
35:14 Supporting Local Farmers
37:27 Singing Pastures: Products and Philosophy
39:03 Upcoming Travel Adventures
42:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Hello, friends! Welcome to the final episode of our series on money and pricing. Today, I’m sharing three easy strategies to help you raise your prices so you can make more with the same amount of effort and work!
Offer installment payments. If your service costs $1,000, break it into smaller payments to make it more manageable for clients.
Add upsells. Offer additional services that enhance your primary offering. For instance, if you offer therapy visits, an optional monthly parent consultation call could be a valuable upsell that increases your revenue per client.
Use package pricing. This involves bundling services into a flat monthly rate, which helps clients understand the value they’re receiving and gives you more control over your time. Many of my coaching clients have successfully transitioned to this model, allowing them to work smarter, not harder.
Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more updates!
00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors
01:00 Series Finale: Money and Pricing
01:09 Three Easy Ways to Raise Your Prices
01:51 First Strategy: Offer Installment Payments
03:22 Second Strategy: Add Upsells
04:05 Third Strategy: Package Pricing
07:39 Recap and Final Thoughts
08:44 Upcoming Episode Preview
09:00 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Welcome back to our series on money and pricing! Today, we’ll dive into the psychology of pricing—a topic that fascinates me!
Key Takeaways from this episode:
Understanding Pricing Psychology:
Pricing psychology is about presenting your prices in a way that’s most appealing to potential customers, increasing the likelihood of them purchasing your services. For instance, have you ever noticed prices often end in .99 instead of rounding up to a whole number, like $2.00? This is because our brains anchor to the leftmost digit; $1.99 feels much cheaper than $2.00. NOTE: this isn’t about "tricking" customers, but is simply understanding how the human brain perceives prices so you can present your prices in a way that is most psychologically pleasing to a potential customer. (Check out Nick Kolenda's website at Kolenda.io for extensive resources on pricing psychology.)
Payment Timing Matters:
It can be psychologically easier for clients if they don’t pay at the time of service. Think about structuring your payment systems so clients pay upfront or at a different time than their service. By doing this, you can ease the sense of loss associated with paying, allowing clients to focus on the value they are receiving at the time of your service.
Combatting Buyer’s Remorse:
After a client commits financially, it’s vital to reassure them that they made the right decision. This can be as simple as sending a follow-up email filled with valuable information that excites them about the upcoming service. In my nature-based practice, we send a welcome packet shortly after families sign up their child for services. This welcome packet includes essential details about what to expect and introduces their therapist, helping clients perceive value from our upcoming services and feel good about their investment right from the start.
TL;DR:
Check out Kolenda.io for more on marketing and pricing psychology, consider structuring your payment processes to ease the psychological burden on clients, and always aim to reassure and provide value immediately after clients pay for services.
Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more resources!
00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors 00:59 Series on Money and Pricing 01:37 The Psychology of Pricing 06:21 Practical Tips for Pricing 10:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Are you charging enough for your services? In this week's podcast, I'm sharing the mindset shift you need to confidently raise your prices.
You need to move away from the traditional per-hour thinking that often limits our earning potential.
Instead, focus on the true value you're providing to your clients and the expertise you bring to the table.
Then, communicate that value clearly and get comfortable discussing money with potential clients.
Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for a while, this episode provides valuable tips to help you embrace your worth and take those necessary steps toward raising your rates.
Repeat after me: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING MONEY WHILE HELPING PEOPLE!!!!!
My nature-based business coaching program, the Business Hive, will open in January. If you're ready to set your nature-based business up for success, join us in the Hive, where we’ll focus on creating systems that allow you to work less and make more while your business grows.
https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/hive
Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more resources and to stay updated!
00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors
00:59 Excitement for Upcoming Retreat and Travel Plans
02:46 Mini-Series on Business Topics
07:43 Mindset Shift for Raising Prices
08:45 Practical Tips for Pricing and Value
15:10 Conclusion and Call to Action
In this episode, we kick off a mini-series on pricing your nature-based therapy services.
Key Takeaways from this episode:
- Research what is average for your area and charge a similar amount for your services. Don't set your prices too high or too low at the start because either can be detrimental to your business.
- Try not to over-explain when telling people what you charge. Say your price and SHUT UP and wait for them to respond.
- If you are a cash pay business, you can offer scholarships for families to expand the reach of your services to lower-income clients. Always have a system in place before offering scholarships.
- Raise your prices for new clients after you have a established a proven concept and have raving testimonials from previous clients.
- Think about VALUE. Offer add-ons that add value for families so they see why they are paying versus going to a standard non-nature-based provider (for example: a weekly update, progress notes, consult minutes, on-call PRN services, home programs, etc.).
Stay tuned for more episodes in this series on pricing, and consider joining my Business Hive group coaching program, opening for enrollment in January, to help you build a successful nature-based practice! You can join the waitlist at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/hive 00:00 Introduction and Series Announcement 00:52 My Upcoming Trip to Nepal and Indonesia 02:18 Gratitude and Life Reflections 04:35 Introduction to Pricing Your Services 05:46 Setting Initial Prices for Your Services 07:02 Understanding the Value of Pricing 07:24 The Importance of Silence After Stating Your Price 07:48 Handling Objections and Offering Scholarships 08:47 Investing in Yourself and Your Business 09:59 Researching Funding Options 11:07 Adjusting Prices Based on Cost of Living 12:27 Adding Value Through Additional Services 13:50 Final Thoughts on Pricing and Valuing Your Services
In this episode, we dive into how to make your first $1,000 as a nature-based pediatric therapist. I share actionable strategies and business insights to help you hit this milestone, from focusing on one key service to pricing your offerings effectively. Whether you’re offering outdoor enrichment groups, creating multi-month therapy packages, or thinking outside the box with retainer fees, there’s a method that fits your style and your market.
I also introduce my Business Hive group coaching program for nature-based practitioners, which opens for enrollment in January. Join me for a deep dive into business success and get ready to start building meaningful income in your practice!
00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy
01:00 Making Your First $1,000 as a Nature-Based Therapist
02:13 Business Coaching and Community Support
04:28 Key Advice for Starting Your Practice
05:24 Market Research and Pricing Strategies 06:04 Low-Cost Offer for Group Sessions
07:03 Multi-Month Therapy Packages
08:06 High Monthly Retainer Fee
08:54 Upcoming Episode on Pricing Services
09:29 Enrollment for Business Hive Program
09:58 Free Big Huge List of Nature-Based Activities
Katie Asmus is a licensed psychotherapist with three decades of experience in therapeutic nature-based interventions. She joined me today on the TGO podcast to discuss the essential role of rituals and ceremonies in nature-based therapy, particularly for neurodivergent children. Tune in to hear ways you can help ease transitions, address challenging behaviors, and open and close your group sessions using meaningful rituals to give children a positive experience in your nature-based therapy sessions.
Connect with Katie on IG @somaticnaturetherapy or her website https://www.somaticnaturetherapy.com/
00:00 Introduction
01:29 Meet Katie Asmus
01:45 Understanding Rituals and Ceremonies in Therapy
01:57 The Importance of Rituals for Neurodivergent Kids
02:39 Practical Rituals for Therapy Sessions
06:25 Beginning Rituals: Setting the Tone for Therapy
08:28 Engaging Group Activities to Start Sessions
19:23 Closing Rituals: Ending Sessions with Purpose
27:16 Handling Challenging Behaviors with Rituals
31:02 Final Thoughts and Resources
32:03 Bonus: Free Nature-Based Therapy Activities
This week I'm sharing some of my favorite fall activities for outdoor therapy sessions with kids. Check out the activities below and you can do them, too!
Rainbow leaf hunt - arrival activity Leaf confetti with hole punchers or shape punchers (from scrapbooking supplies)
Leaf sewing with yarn and needles
Find the color - match to cut out on cardboard with picture of something to match the color (red heart, orange sun, yellow banana, green frog, blue water, purple flower, brown tree trunk)
What are your favorite activities for therapy sessions in the fall? Weigh in in the Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community here.
https://tgo.circle.so/home
(P.S. If you're down under, here's the listener-feature episode where we shared favorite SUMMER activities.)
https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/podcasts/therapy-in-the-great-outdoors/episodes/2148704557
00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors
01:00 Fun Fall Activities for Nature-Based Therapy
02:03 Rainbow Leaf Hunt
02:50 Leaf Confetti Party
05:23 Leaf Sewing Craft
06:18 Color Matching Scavenger Hunt
09:09 Join the Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community
10:39 Get Your Free Big Huge List of Nature-Based Activities
In today’s episode, I’m sharing the “fail-learns” and wins from my first year inside the Business Hive. In addition to my reflections on how the program went, I offer you takeaways that you can apply to your nature-based practice.
I’m sharing about how I learned to hold people accountable, to charge what I’m worth, why I think longer programs are the way to go, and so much more. I’m so excited to celebrate the end of this first year with the program members and also kickstart the new cohort in August. It’s been a valuable experience for both me and everyone in the program and I can’t wait to see where it takes us in the future.
Enrollment for the Business Hive is open now through July 28th, 2023 at 12:00PM CST. If you’re a nature-based therapist and business owner, send in your application ASAP. You won’t want to miss out on this incredible yearlong program.
We’ll discuss:
- [00:00] The Business Hive is open for enrollment right now until July 28th, 2023. Join us!
- [03:39] My “fail-learns” from the first year of the Business Hive, including holding people accountable, ending on a high note, charging what you’re worth, etc.
- [13:04] The wins from Business Hive year one, including holding longer programs, using technology that will make your life easier, creating helpful resources for your community, and more
- [18:53] An exciting addition to the Business Hive this year
Resources from this episode:
- Join the Business Hive
💚 Work with me! Here's how I can support your nature-based practice or business: 🌎 Join the Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Community to get free support as a nature-based pediatric therapist.
🥾 Download my free guide The Nature-Based Practice ROADMAP to help you start or grow your nature-based pediatric therapy practice.
🌈 Join the waitlist for the ConTiGO Approach Online Course if you want to be an expert in nature-based pediatric therapy (+ get mentoring from expert nature-based therapists & free marketing of your practice on our ConTiGO Certified® directory of practitioners).
🐝 Join the waitlist for the TGO Business Hive if you want help starting and growing your nature-based BUSINESS.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jillian Blount, OT, owner of WildFree Kids OT in Alaska. Jillian has a lot of experience working with children who display challenging behaviors during nature-based therapy sessions and we had a long and enlightening conversation on this topic.
Jillian and I discuss some of the challenging behaviors we might see as therapists and our approaches to those situations, how to manage groups of children with challenging behaviors, and the importance of creating a safe environment for the kids we work with. Safety is always a concern, especially in the outdoors!
Jillian also offers really great insight into therapeutic holds, how to use them safely, and where to receive training in this area if you’re interested to learn more.
We’ll discuss:
- [00:00] A quick update on what’s been going on in my work life, mainly I’ve been prioritizing rest, plus registration opens for The Hive at the end of July
- [11:38] An introduction to Jillian and her nature-based business, plus defining what the term “managing behavior” means
- [17:16] Some of the challenging behaviors we might see as therapists, and our approach to handling those behaviors, plus how to broach this subject with parents and steer them to change their own behaviors
- [35:32] How to manage groups of children with challenging behaviors, especially in an outdoor setting
- [47:07] Jillian shares her thoughts on the clash between behaviorism and a therapeutic/relationship-based approach
- [53:40] Strategies to help kids feel safe in our sessions with them, and what to do when children don’t have the language/cognitive capabilities for collaborative problem solving
- [01:16:40] Jillian shares whether therapeutic holds are appropriate and if there’s a proper way to do them when it comes to children’s safety
Connect with Jillian:
WildFree Kids OT website
WildFree Kids OT on Facebook
WildFree Kids OT on Instagram
Resources from this episode:
- Book: Behavioral Challenges in Children with Autism and Other Special Needs: The Developmental Approach by Diane Cullinane
- Therapeutic Crisis Institute
- Crisis Prevention Institute
- Life Space Crisis Intervention
- Australian Childhood Foundation
💚 Work with me! Here's how I can support your nature-based practice or business: 🌎 Join the Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Community to get free support as a nature-based pediatric therapist.
🥾 Download my free guide The Nature-Based Practice ROADMAP to help you start or grow your nature-based pediatric therapy practice.
🌈 Join the waitlist for the ConTiGO Approach Online Course if you want to be an expert in nature-based pediatric therapy (+ get mentoring from expert nature-based therapists & free marketing of your practice on our ConTiGO Certified® directory of practitioners).
🐝 Join the waitlist for the TGO Business Hive if you want help starting and growing your nature-based BUSINESS.
Today’s episode is a live business coaching call for Jenna Miller, OT, owner of Well and Wild Child OT. Jenna is deep into the start-up phase of her nature-based practice in New York. If you’re thinking about nature-based practice or just getting started, this episode is for you!
Jenna and I discuss a variety of topics, including why it’s so important to have a community around you as a nature-based business owner, Jenna’s feelings of overwhelm, the cash pay model and generating super bills, the difference between nature-based therapy and enrichment services, and so much more.
Jenna was also really honest about deciding whether or not to join the TGO Business Hive (spoiler alert, she obviously did!) and if you’re in need of community as well while running your nature-based business, this is your invitation to join the waitlist. Hope to see you there.
We’ll discuss:
- [00:00] The importance of having a community as a nature-based business owner, and an invitation to join the waitlist for the TGO Business Hive
- [07:46] An introduction to Jenna Miller, OT, and how she partnered with local nature-based organizations to get started, plus the difference between nature-based therapy vs. enrichment services
- [17:53] Jenna’s questions about the start-up phase and her feelings of overwhelm and discomfort (which are totally normal!)
- [21:05] Generating superbills for clients in a cash-pay model, how to offer above-and-beyond services that people will pay cash for, and documentation for nature-based services
- [30:09] The fear of doing something wrong as you get started, but also the joy of having a community where you can be honest about your entrepreneurial struggles
- [38:41] Things to consider when deciding to offer individual or group therapy services when you’re starting out
- [44:37] Jenna’s decision making process on whether to join the Business Hive and who she thinks the community is best for (HINT: almost anyone running a nature-based business!)
Connect with Jenna:
Well and Wild Child OT
Follow Jenna on Instagram
💚 Work with me! Here's how I can support your nature-based practice or business: 🌎 Join the Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Community to get free support as a nature-based pediatric therapist.
🥾 Download my free guide The Nature-Based Practice ROADMAP to help you start or grow your nature-based pediatric therapy practice.
🌈 Join the waitlist for the ConTiGO Approach Online Course if you want to be an expert in nature-based pediatric therapy (+ get mentoring from expert nature-based therapists & free marketing of your practice on our ConTiGO Certified® directory of practitioners).
🐝 Join the waitlist for the TGO Business Hive if you want help starting and growing your nature-based BUSINESS.
Today’s episode is a bit different from what you’re used to hearing from me, but I thought this was a great time to give you my life and business updates.
I have a trip and a speaking engagement to share with you, plus updates on my Business Hive and ConTiGo courses, Therapy in the Great Outdoors community (we’re almost at 400 members, come join us!), and The Great Outdoors Foundation.
Lastly, I want to remind you all (and in turn, remind myself) to be gentle with yourself and give yourself grace. You can’t do everything all the time, you can only do the best you can.
We’ll discuss:
- [00:00] Why I decided to do an update on my life, plus my upcoming dual purpose trip to California
- [07:10] My takeaways on gaining and losing staff members in your business and the importance of documenting your business processes
- [12:09] What’s going on with the Therapy in the Great Outdoors community
- [16:18] Updates on my Business Hive and ConTiGo courses
- [25:45] Focusing on strategic marketing and speaking at a conference in the fall
- [26:39] A reminder to be gentle with yourself and give yourself grace
- [28:47] A quick status update on The Great Outdoors Foundation
Resources from this episode:
- The Healthy Rebellion Radio
💚 Work with me! Here's how I can support your nature-based practice or business: 🌎 Join the Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Community to get free support as a nature-based pediatric therapist.
🥾 Download my free guide The Nature-Based Practice ROADMAP to help you start or grow your nature-based pediatric therapy practice.
🌈 Join the waitlist for the ConTiGO Approach Online Course if you want to be an expert in nature-based pediatric therapy (+ get mentoring from expert nature-based therapists & free marketing of your practice on our ConTiGO Certified® directory of practitioners).
🐝 Join the waitlist for the TGO Business Hive if you want help starting and growing your nature-based BUSINESS.
Building a nature-based occupational therapy business comes with a whole lot of considerations. How many children do you want to see? Do you want to do group or individual therapy? Will you take insurance or operate cash-based?
Today, I’m chatting with fellow nature-based OT, Kim Wilson, about how she answered those questions for herself, and how that led her to keep her business small to align with her vision and lifestyle. She shares how her business evolved, why it’s her mission to empower families to be equipped with tools and knowledge, and how she’s made a cash-based business work in multiple locations.
As you’ll learn in today’s episode, the most important thing is to be intentional with your decisions and make them from a place of honoring your interests, your passion, your current season of life, and your personal business goals. You get to chart your own path, and there are so many ways to make a nature-based therapy practice work for you.
We’ll discuss:
- How Kim got into the field of nature-based OT and how she juggles her business as a mom of six children
- The evolution of her business, Nature’s Path OT, why she has kept it intentionally small, and how word of mouth has worked for her in acquiring clients
- Why you should define your area of interest and passion before assessing other parts of how to grow your business
- The importance of learning to communicate confidently about your business, seeing the value in your work, and building relationships that can lead to clients
- The differences between cash-based and insurance models, and the value of activities that would not be reimbursed by insurance
- Why you shouldn’t let yourself believe the lie that your business has to look a certain way to be successful
- Kim’s thoughts on what services set apart a nature-based OT business that make it worth paying cash for
- How Kim individualizes her home programs boxes to the needs of the child, and what a relief it is for families to have the weight of creating activities off their shoulders
Resources from this episode:
Kim’s website
Kim’s Instagram
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature-based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature-based practice or program.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? Visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist for the next ConTiGO Approach Online Course.
As humans, we are inextricably linked to the earth. And in a world and society with so much emphasis on technology, it’s more important than ever to stay regularly connected with nature.
In this episode, I’m talking about why I think that nature-based therapy practices have longevity and sustainability. Not only can it renew your passion for the work that you do, but we aren’t healthy when we’re detached from the earth (and vice versa).
Whether you’re starting a new practice or thinking of ways to reinvigorate an existing one, the benefits of nature-based therapy are many, and they will continue to benefit children and adults alike for decades to come.
We’ll discuss:
- Why experienced therapists are entering nature-based practices and how it can renew your passion for your work
- How forest schools and nature play are becoming more widely acceptable
- How more competition means a greater need for unique, high-quality services
- The need for more connection to nature in light of continued advancements in technology (especially geared towards kids)
- The nonduality of humans and the earth
Resources from this episode:
N/A
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
If you’re serious about taking your nature-based practice to the next level, come join the Business Bedrocks Group Coaching Program in The Business Hive. You'll get clarity & confidence to grow a profitable and personally fulfilling business that runs on auto-pilot as much as possible.
For even more resources, check out The Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Library, a proven toolkit for no-stress nature-based treatment planning.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Kids love getting messy. They love playing outside. And when you provide them with opportunities for safe risk-taking and exploration, the learning outcomes and success that follow will prove invaluable to their development. This is true for all children, and today’s research takeaway episode gives further proof of the benefits for autistic children.
In this small scale study, four autistic children attend forest school, and then the children, along with their parents and teachers, provide feedback on the experience. And there are some very exciting qualitative outcomes.
This research brings up an interesting idea: how we can implement videos as a strategy in treatment sessions. It also supports the practices we are implementing as nature-based therapists: getting messy, risk-taking, learning about nature, and making friends in a safe space.
We’ll discuss:
- Why this study specifically centers the voices of the autistic children who participated
- How the researchers used videos to show the full range of experience for each child
- Why they got multiple sets of data responses (verbal, non-verbal, visual) and how they analyzed
- The common themes that both parents and educators agreed on as outcomes they witnessed
- The common themes in the children’s responses
- How all the children depicted positive emotions when drawing their experience
- Takeaways from this study for nature-based therapy
Resources from this episode:
I found a free, publicly available link to the article!
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
If you’re serious about taking your nature-based practice to the next level, come join the Business Bedrocks Group Coaching Program in The Business Hive. You'll get clarity & confidence to grow a profitable and personally fulfilling business that runs on auto-pilot as much as possible.
For even more resources, check out The Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Library, a proven toolkit for no-stress nature-based treatment planning.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Running a nature-based therapy practice is about more than the therapy itself. From knowing what’s needed to get started to how to market your business to making sure you’re taking time for yourself, there’s a lot that goes into running a business.
In this episode, I answer your listener questions about the behind-the-scenes aspect of business. I share what work/life balance looks like both in early and later stages of a business, why I love what I do, and the importance of not letting yourself get burnt out. I also talk about strategies and decisions around whether or not to open an LLC and marketing strategies that I recommend if you’re just starting out in your business.
We’ll discuss:
- How a recent OT retreat solidified for me the impact of nature-based therapy and the importance of community to the growth and transformation of nature-based practices
- An update on my current work life
- How to navigate work/life balance in the first few years as a business owner and how that balance is different for everyone
- The prevalence of burnout and knowing when you need physical and mental rest
- The importance of having support in your business so you can focus on the work you love
- What helps me stay sane in running multiple businesses
- Whether and when to consider sole proprietor, LLC, or S-corp for your business
- Important decisions to make before opening an LLC or S-corp
- The most helpful marketing strategy for me when I first started my business and what I recommend now
- How email marketing can help you gain a wide potential client base
- Why in-person marketing and word of mouth is so successful
Resources from this episode:
Grounded to Grow Retreat
Nicole Gordon - Outside OT
Angela Rosenberg - Treeline Enrichment
Marika Austin - Bearfoot Occupational Therapy
Kate Davis - Adaptations Unlimited
Mind Your OT Business - Episode 34
Therapy in the Great Outdoors - Episode 5
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
If you’re serious about taking your nature-based practice to the next level, come join the Business Bedrocks Group Coaching Program in The Business Hive. You'll get clarity & confidence to grow a profitable and personally fulfilling business that runs on auto-pilot as much as possible.
For even more resources, check out The Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Library, a proven toolkit for no-stress nature-based treatment planning.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
If you have questions that come up as you’re listening to the podcast, feel free to reply to my Instagram stories when I put out a listener Q&A callout, or DM me @lauraparkfig or @outdoorkidsot. I’ll feature your questions in a future Listener Q & A episode.
Earthing is the practice of connecting your body to the surface of the earth. Walking outside barefoot. Sitting in the grass without a blanket. It is a concept that has tangible benefits for both children and adults. What’s even better is that there is an indoor alternative known as grounding in which you can use grounding devices to connect with the earth.
The best part is that there’s scientific evidence that supports the practice.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn about earthing and grounding as well as a few research studies that share compelling evidence in favor of this practice. You’ll also hear the benefits of using earthing and grounding in your nature-based therapy practice.
The beauty of these practices is that they are low-cost, easy-to-implement strategies. You can incorporate earthing into your outdoor sessions. You can suggest grounding mats to your families for an opportunity to improve health inside and in situations you cannot observe, like the home setting.
Direct contact with the earth has innumerable benefits, and I can’t wait to see how you will incorporate these methods into your practice.
We’ll discuss:
- What earthing is
- Grounding devices that you can use inside
- The many benefits of physically touching the earth with your body
- A study on how grounding improves vagal tone in NICU babies
- A study on the benefits of regular grounding in a teenager with severe disabilities
- A study on how grounding can improve inflammation and autoimmune diseases
- Results from a randomized, controlled trial in how grounding can improve quality of life in adult massage therapists
- How both earthing and grounding can be easily implemented into your nature-based therapy practice
- Why more research is needed on this important topic
Resources from this episode:
Book:
Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? By Ober, Sinatra, & Zucker
Articles:
How Does Grounding Affect Children with Severe/Profound Disabilities? (Delp, 2021)
Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm Infants (Passi et al., 2017)
The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (Oschman et al., 2015)
The Effects of Grounding (Earthing) on Bodyworkers' Pain and Overall Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Chevalier et al., 2017)
Two bonus articles I didn't cover on the podcast:
Electric Nutrition: The Surprising Health and Healing Benefits of Biological Grounding (Earthing) (Sinatra et al., 2017)
Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons (Chevalier et al, 2012)
Previous episodes:
Gut microbiome episode
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature-based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature-based practice or program.
If you're a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature, the ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Are you a traditional pediatrician therapist considering taking your practice outdoors? There are so many benefits to starting a nature-based practice, many of which you’ve probably never thought of. Today, I’m breaking them down using some of my recent research findings.
In this episode, I share ten reasons you should take your pediatric therapy practice outdoors. I explain what makes nature-based therapy so effective for patients and appealing to parent. You’ll also hear the benefits of nature-based practices from a business owner’s perspective.
We’ll discuss:
- How my current research is going and a few sneak peeks into what I’m uncovering
- How nature-based pediatric therapy can reignite your love for your work
- Why nature-based therapy is often more affordable and accessible than regular therapy
- Why parents and patients value nature-based therapy so highly
- Research that supports the effectiveness of nature-based pediatric therapy
- Why children need to engage in risky play in a neutral environment
- The unlimited potential of nature-based therapy, both for patients and practitioners
Resources from this episode:
Sparked by Jonathan Fields
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
If you’re serious about taking your nature-based practice to the next level, come join the Business Bedrocks Group Coaching Program in The Business Hive. You'll get clarity & confidence to grow a profitable and personally fulfilling business that runs on auto-pilot as much as possible.
For even more resources, check out The Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Library, a proven toolkit for no-stress nature-based treatment planning.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
As a nature-based therapist, you’ve probably already seen the effects of nature programming in your patients: improved motor skills, lower stress levels, and even greater self-confidence. But what about the invisible benefits? Can nature-based therapy improve a child’s internal, physical health?
In this episode, we’re diving into a groundbreaking study on the impact of nature exposure on a child’s gut microbiota. You’ll learn how the gut microbiome affects a child’s physical, cognitive, and behavioral health. You’ll also hear how it can significantly improve a child’s stress levels. Plus, you’ll get to hear how these findings affect your practice and patients.
We’ll discuss:
- How your gut microbiome affects a child’s physical, behavioral, and cognitive health
- The relationship between your gut microbiome and serotonin levels
- How this study impacted the subjects’ connection to nature and stress levels
- Whether or not weekly programming is enough to impact children’s outcomes
- Why you should treat children holistically and consider internal and physical health when addressing behavioral health
- How to access resources to help you in your own nature-based practice or business
Resources from this episode:
Read the study mentioned in today’s episode
The Connection to Nature Index for Preschool Children
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
If you’re serious about taking your nature-based practice to the next level, come join the Business Bedrocks Group Coaching Program in The Business Hive. You'll get clarity & confidence to grow a profitable and personally fulfilling business that runs on auto-pilot as much as possible.
For even more resources, check out The Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) Library, a proven toolkit for no-stress nature-based treatment planning.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Your business has a lot of moving parts, and it’s easy to let things spin out of control. But with the right systems in place, you can free up your time as the business owner to do MORE of what you love in the business, all while the business grows to impact more people and bring in more revenue.
In this episode, you'll learn the four systems every nature-based business needs: mindset, operations, marketing, and finances. These are the bedrock foundations of every single successful nature-based business...or ANY business, really!
We’ll discuss:
- Why you have to consider the logistical side of running a nature-based business or program
- How to create a system for checking in and working on your mindset
- Why you need a plan in place for times when you’re personally not feeling well
- How to develop a thorough, well-documented system of operations
- How to develop your marketing plan and map out your customer journey
- The different kinds of marketing you can utilize for your business
- Why you should prioritize ease of use in your website design and functionality
- How to shift your mindset around finances and profit
- Why your business needs a budget and an organized financial system
- How to access tons of resources for building and growing your business
Resources from this episode:
MYOT Podcast Episode 43: Accept Challenges & Commit to Action with Carlyn Neek
TGO Podcast Episode 5: Email Marketing for your Nature-Based Practice
“Marketing Table Activity” post in the TGO CommunityProfit First by Mike Michalowicz
My accountant, Sandi York (She's @fitmoneycoach on IG)
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature-based practice or program.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Running a nature-based therapy practice is more complicated than just taking your patients outdoors. There’s a lot that has to happen behind-the-scenes – from payroll to insurance to business strategy – and you’re bound to have questions along the way. I’m answering some of those questions today!
In this episode, I answer a few listener questions about starting and growing a nature-based therapy practice. I explain how you can work towards your goals, even when you’re not in a place to scale your business. I explain the purpose of liability insurance and why you need it. Plus, I share my experience finding outdoor spaces where I could legally conduct my practice.
We’ll discuss:
- What to do if you don’t feel like you’re ready to grow your business yet
- How to reverse-engineer your way to your business goals
- How hiring employees can actually help you work less
- The importance of parent buy-in when growing your practice
- How to talk to families about insurance issues and best practices
- What liability insurance does for therapists
- How to find outdoors spaces to use in your practice
- How to protect and respect the outdoor spaces that you use
Resources from this episode:
Life Course Nature Exposure and Mental Health Outcomes A Systematic Review and Future Directions
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
While we as therapists do lean on our intuition, it’s important that our work be rooted in research. In my 10-Minute Takeaway series, I break down recent research in the world of nature-based therapy to help you serve your patients to the best of your abilities.
In this episode, I share recent findings from a study on how nature exposure in childhood impacts mental health in adulthood. I explain how the study was conducted, what the researchers tested for, and the results. Then, I talk about how you can apply these findings to your own work as a nature-based therapist.
We’ll discuss:
- How to join the paid TGO community and what kinds of resources you can find there
- This week’s article on how early nature exposure can impact adult mental health
- How to measure availability, duration, and quality of nature exposure
- How early nature exposure improves mental health later in life
- Which mental health disorders and behavior problems can be reduced through exposure to nature
- How nature exposure especially impacts people from disadvantaged backgrounds
- How we can apply these findings to our own practices
Resources from this episode:
Life Course Nature Exposure and Mental Health Outcomes A Systematic Review and Future Directions
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
What are common "tenets" (traits, ideologies, beliefs, or principles) of a nature-based lifestyle?
In today’s episode, I’m sharing my very EARLY thoughts on commonalities I’ve noticed from working with other nature-based therapists for several years now.
Through conversations with others in this space, I have developed seven tenets that I think exemplify values we share as nature-loving therapists.
I’m sharing them in this unscripted, semi-fumbling-over-my-words, early ideas format because I want to hear what YOU think!
The 7 (tentative) Tenets of a Nature-Based Lifestyle may be:
- We CONNECT with each other and nature
- We PROTECT the earth
- We HONOR the interconnectedness of life—past, present, and future
- We NOTICE things, both big and small, in nature and in each other
- We MOVE our bodies for health and well-being
- We GROW by embracing opportunities and staying open-minded to change
- We SIMPLIFY our personal and professional lives to make time for what matters in life.
So in sum: connect & protect, honor & notice, move & grow, + simplify.
After you listen, I want to know: Does this resonate with you?? Share YOUR thoughts inside the Podcast discussion in the TGO Community here: https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/join-the-community
Resources from this episode:
Dr. Paul Saladino on Instagram
Diana Rodgers, RD on Instagram
Sacred Cow book and documentary
Katy Bowman - Nutritious Movement
Anya's Reviews - minimalist shoes
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature-based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature-based practice or program.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Do you think outdoor play is associated with better motor skills?
It may SEEM like a no-brainer, but often research is needed to prove something known by therapists for a long time!
This article needed more than a 2 minute takeaway- so I'm doing a whole episode to break it down.
The study examined the relationship between childhood outdoor play and motor skills in 2-7 year old children in the country of Finland. In this episode, I discuss the findings (one of them is rather perplexing) and suggest ways we can apply this research to our work as nature-based therapists.
We’ll discuss:
- The purpose, study design, and measurement tools used in this study of over 1000 children in Finland.
- The differences in outdoor play among children living in metropolitan vs. rural areas
- Surprising correlations found in the research
- Takeaways from this study you can use in your own practice
Resources from this episode:
Is Outdoor Play Associated With Better Motor Skills?
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature-based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature-based practice or program.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course opens for enrollment every few months: visit www.contigoapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Email marketing was a big contributor to the early success of my business. Unfortunately, it’s not something that a lot of nature-based therapists make a priority. It might seem overwhelming, but there are tools that help to make it easy for you to establish your email list. And the benefits are worth it.
In today’s episode, you'll learn how email marketing is an easy and effective way to connect with your potential customers. We’ll discuss my favorite (and least favorite) platforms, why automation is so important, and how to write emails that keep your audience engaged so that they will want to work with your practice.
We’ll discuss:
- A study that showed that children made more prosocial choices after spending the day in a nature setting
- What exactly is email marketing
- Why you need to use an email service provider for your email list
- How automation allows your business to run smoothly behind the scenes so you can enjoy your work
- How short, helpful emails at regular intervals will keep your practice top of mind
- Using email marketing to answers questions that you frequently receive
- Why you will automatically stand out if you add email marketing to your business
- The importance of a good copywriter (whether it’s you or someone you outsource)
Resources from this episode:
Dopko, Capaldi, & Zelenski (2019). The psychological and social benefits of a nature experience for children: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Environmental Psychology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494418307102?via%3Dihub.
This Book Will Teach You How To Write Better by Neville Medhora
Jenny Gill Copywriting
Krista Frahm Agency
The Office on Call
Flodesk: Design emails people love to get.
If you're ready to take the next step in this adventure, join our free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community at therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com. The TGO community is a private space just for nature based pediatric practitioners. We have loads of resources there to support you as you start or grow a nature based practice or program.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
As therapists, what we assess is what we address. But when you take your practice outdoors, you might find that your assessments change a bit. For nature-based therapists, it’s important to find a balance between the tried-and-true standardized assessments you’re used to and new, nature-specific ones.
In this episode, I’m talking about the importance of assessments and how to use them in your nature-based therapeutic practice. I’m sharing ways you can adapt your current assessments to a nature-based practice and a few new assessments to try. Plus, I’m explaining how you can supplement your standardized assessments with more organic observation.
We’ll discuss:
- How natural environments can improve parent-child communication
- Why assessment is so vital to the therapeutic process
- Understanding the purpose of and process for assessment in your specialty
- Adapting the assessments you already use in your practice to outdoor therapy
- How to supplement standardized assessment with clinical observations and nonstandardized assessments
- Measuring nature connection in children
- Three nature connection assessments to try in your practice
Resources from this episode:
Cameron-Faulkner, Thea & Melville, Joanna & Gattis, Merideth. (2018). Responding to Nature: Natural Environments Improve Parent-Child Communication. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 59. 10.1016/j.jenvp.2018.08.008.
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
If you're working with children who have challenges with attention, sensory processing, social skills, or executive function, gather a few simple supplies and try these 3 activities in your next outdoor therapy groups!
In this episode:
- 2-minute takeaway from the research: 5 ways you can create the conditions for children to engage with nature
- Why I love the giant spider web game to teach learning through failure, problem solving, and motor skills
- The ONE knot to know how to tie (that will make your work SO much easier as a nature-based therapist)
- How to use map-making activities to help children become more comfortable with and aware of their surroundings
- Why I love fire building with children after a less-than-ideal therapy session
- How to balance risk-taking and keeping children safe during sessions
- Why it’s important to let the children take the lead and practice problem-solving themselves
Resources from this episode:
This week's 2-Minute Takeaway article: The Art of Working With Nature in Nature-Based Therapies
My video on how to tie the bowline knot
My Book, Therapy in the Great Outdoors
The ferro rods we use in my practice when teaching fire building
🌳 Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
As you grow your nature-based practice, you’ll find that there are 4 main stages of business that you encounter. There is no endpoint and your journey will take you from stage to stage, and as you evolve you will face new challenges and opportunities.
In this episode, I’m sharing what you should focus on and the mistakes to avoid as you go through each stage of your business, You’ll hear insight from my own business as a nature-based pediatric therapist as well as the knowledge that I’ve accumulated over my years of group coaching and observing other practices and how they manage their companies.
We’ll discuss:
- My takeaways from the Umbrella Review from Harper, Fernee and Gabrielsen
- The 4 stages of nature-based practice
- My tips for what to focus on in each stage of your practice
- Mistakes to avoid during each business phase
- Why I recommend investing in mentoring or coaching
Resources from this episode:
Nature's Role in Outdoor Therapies: An Umbrella Review (Harper, Fernee, & Gabrielsen, 2021)
The ConTiGO Approach Online Course
Nature-Based Practice Roadmap
Small Business Administration
Nolo
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Trello
Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Are you a pediatric therapist who wants to take your work with children outdoors into nature? As a nature-based pediatric therapist & entrepreneur, I’ve spent years finding the balance between the practice of nature-based therapy and improving my business.
There’s so much to learn–from groundbreaking research on the therapy side to new marketing strategies on the business side–and I’m here to help you make sense of all of it, all while staying true to the core of your work.
In this first episode, I’m sharing my journey to becoming a nature-based pediatric therapist and what led me to help other professionals expand and improve their own businesses. I’m explaining why I pivoted from my old show to this one and what you can expect from upcoming episodes.
We’ll discuss:
- How nature-based practice might help you reignite your love of your work as a pediatric therapist
- How the ConTiGO (Connection & Transformation in the Great Outdoors) Approach was created
- A story about fear when starting something new & "putting yourself out there"
- Why I started this podcast and ended my old one (which had 100k+ downloads and 75 episodes!)
- What you can expect from upcoming episodes...how THIS podcast will be similar to my old one AND different.
There IS an irony to this episode! Did you notice it?
Since it is episode #1, I felt I needed to give a little intro and my history for new listeners. Then right after that, I'm telling you to STOP talking about yourself in your marketing and talk about what's in it for your customers! 😁 So...I just want to reassure you that future episodes will be jam-packed with helpful content for you and I will NOT be talking about myself as much! haha! 😆
Resources from this episode:
Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? Visit www.contigoapproach.com to join the waitlist for the ConTiGO Approach Online Course.
While you're waiting for the course, join our FREE Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community. We have treatment activities, research, training, a job & volunteer board, and a discussion forum where like-minded therapists are all gathered together to help you take your therapy work with children into the great outdoors! Did I mention it's FREE? Go to therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com to join today!