Along with my colleague Dr Nevin J Harper from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, I co-edited the new introductory book Outdoor Therapies: An Introduction to Practices, Possibilities, and Critical Perspectives. The book was published via Routledge.
This was an exciting project as we invited outdoor therapy practitioners and scholars from around the globe to describe their practice and the research informing their work. From surf to wilderness therapy, and nature-based to horticultural therapy, this book covers a range of modalities for taking therapy outdoors.
This was an exciting project as we invited outdoor therapy practitioners and scholars from around the globe to describe their practice and the research informing their work. From surf to wilderness therapy, and nature-based to horticultural therapy, this book covers a range of modalities for taking therapy outdoors.
Praise for Outdoor Therapies
"It’s time to open the therapy room door, step outside, and use the great outdoors to help those who seek our counsel. This comprehensive text, written by experts around the world, shows you how". — Scott Miller, PhD, founder of the International Center for Clinical Excellence and coauthor of Better Results: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve your Therapeutic Effectiveness
"In public health, the importance of human interactions with outdoor and nature-based settings is emerging as critically important to physical and mental well-being. Although focused on therapy, this book’s application and utility for health promotion practitioners and researchers is evident. I will absolutely be recommending this text to my students and colleagues involved in outdoor and nature-based interventions". — Patti-Jean Naylor, PhD, professor in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education at the University of Victoria, and international expert on children’s physical activity, healthy eating, and applying implementation science
"Outdoor therapies are fast evolving. We gradually realize that we do not have to confine ourselves to the therapy room; the outside world offers beautiful therapy opportunities. If you are interested in this growing field, this book will provide you with a great variety of topics and insights to enrich your thoughts and work". — Itai Ivtzan, PhD, associate professor at Naropa University and author of Awareness is Freedom: The Adventure of Psychology and Spirituality
"This book recognizes the relationship between humans and nature as fundamental to human experience, and perhaps most important for the practitioner and policy maker alike, this book brings together the many streams of nature-based interventions and shows how underneath the superficial appearance is a fundamental reality that is vital for the future of the planet. This integrated approach is needed to support the field and inform all stakeholders of the possibilities inherent within outdoor therapies". — Eric Brymer, PhD, associate professor and author of One Health: The Well-being Impacts of Human-Nature Relationships
"It’s time to open the therapy room door, step outside, and use the great outdoors to help those who seek our counsel. This comprehensive text, written by experts around the world, shows you how". — Scott Miller, PhD, founder of the International Center for Clinical Excellence and coauthor of Better Results: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve your Therapeutic Effectiveness
"In public health, the importance of human interactions with outdoor and nature-based settings is emerging as critically important to physical and mental well-being. Although focused on therapy, this book’s application and utility for health promotion practitioners and researchers is evident. I will absolutely be recommending this text to my students and colleagues involved in outdoor and nature-based interventions". — Patti-Jean Naylor, PhD, professor in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education at the University of Victoria, and international expert on children’s physical activity, healthy eating, and applying implementation science
"Outdoor therapies are fast evolving. We gradually realize that we do not have to confine ourselves to the therapy room; the outside world offers beautiful therapy opportunities. If you are interested in this growing field, this book will provide you with a great variety of topics and insights to enrich your thoughts and work". — Itai Ivtzan, PhD, associate professor at Naropa University and author of Awareness is Freedom: The Adventure of Psychology and Spirituality
"This book recognizes the relationship between humans and nature as fundamental to human experience, and perhaps most important for the practitioner and policy maker alike, this book brings together the many streams of nature-based interventions and shows how underneath the superficial appearance is a fundamental reality that is vital for the future of the planet. This integrated approach is needed to support the field and inform all stakeholders of the possibilities inherent within outdoor therapies". — Eric Brymer, PhD, associate professor and author of One Health: The Well-being Impacts of Human-Nature Relationships
Part I: Foundations 1. An Introduction to Outdoor Therapies
Nevin J. Harper and Thomas J. Doherty
2. Experiential Facilitation in the Outdoors
Luk Peeters and Martin Ringer
3. Ecopsychological Approaches to Therapy
Megan E. Delaney
4. Psychological First Aid for Outdoor Programs
Christine Lynn Norton, Anita R. Tucker, and Scott Bandoroff
5. Indigenous Land-Based Healing Pedagogies: From the Ground Up
Nick XEMŦOLTW Claxton
Part II: Practices
6. Wilderness Therapy
Carina Ribe Fernee and Leiv Einar Gabrielsen
7. Adventure Therapy
Cathryn Carpenter and Anita Pryor
8. Nature-Based Therapy
David Segal, Nevin J. Harper, and Kathryn Rose
9. Equine and Animal-Assisted Therapies
Heather White and Kay Scott
10. Garden and Horticultural Therapies
Rebecca L. Haller
11. Nature, Sensory Integration, and Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Kaya Lyons
12. Surf Therapy
Jess Ponting
13. Forest Therapy
Won Sop Shin and Juyoung Lee
Part III: Critical Perspectives and Conclusions
14. Critical Perspectives on Outdoor Therapy Practices
Denise Mitten
15. Future Directions for Outdoor Therapies
Will W. Dobud and Daniel L. Cavanaugh
Nevin J. Harper and Thomas J. Doherty
2. Experiential Facilitation in the Outdoors
Luk Peeters and Martin Ringer
3. Ecopsychological Approaches to Therapy
Megan E. Delaney
4. Psychological First Aid for Outdoor Programs
Christine Lynn Norton, Anita R. Tucker, and Scott Bandoroff
5. Indigenous Land-Based Healing Pedagogies: From the Ground Up
Nick XEMŦOLTW Claxton
Part II: Practices
6. Wilderness Therapy
Carina Ribe Fernee and Leiv Einar Gabrielsen
7. Adventure Therapy
Cathryn Carpenter and Anita Pryor
8. Nature-Based Therapy
David Segal, Nevin J. Harper, and Kathryn Rose
9. Equine and Animal-Assisted Therapies
Heather White and Kay Scott
10. Garden and Horticultural Therapies
Rebecca L. Haller
11. Nature, Sensory Integration, and Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Kaya Lyons
12. Surf Therapy
Jess Ponting
13. Forest Therapy
Won Sop Shin and Juyoung Lee
Part III: Critical Perspectives and Conclusions
14. Critical Perspectives on Outdoor Therapy Practices
Denise Mitten
15. Future Directions for Outdoor Therapies
Will W. Dobud and Daniel L. Cavanaugh
