Advancing Skills in Nature-Based Therapy: Nelson, BC

Join us for a deeper, experiential immersion into the possibilities that nature-based therapy can hold for yourself and your clients.  Within the serene setting of the Bear Spring Eco Resort we will play, practice, and grow our capacity to hold and transform emotional pain within this container of connection to self, community and Earth. Be prepared to build community, be self-reflective, practice interventions in role play, and bring your full authentic self.  We hope you can join us in this incredible retreat, which will include a light dinner, and 3 home made lunches provided by the owner of  Bear Spring straight from her gardens.

This course is designed to build on the theory and core skills learned from the Introductory course, and translate the online learning into embodied practices.  The goal of this training is for participants to leave feeling confident in their ability to draw from a breadth of tools and lived experience when turning to Nature as co-therapist.  This course is for you if you are either already working in the outdoors with clients, or planning to make the switch out of 4 walls.   Participants will learn and practice interventions they can apply right away with clients of all ages, with families and in group work.

** Prerequisite: Completion of the Introduction to Nature-Based Therapy Course or related prior experience (for approval of related experience, email [email protected])

Next Intro to NBT Course: April 20, 21, & 28, 2023.

 The online intro course covers the basics around theory and guiding principles of our approach to NBT, and we will not be reviewing those in the advancing course. We hope participants come with a foundations so that they can dive into the experiential practice in person.    Also, we highly recommend reading our book ahead of the course “Nature-based Therapy, a practitioners guide to working with children, youth and families in the outdoors“.

Course Content: This course will cover learning modules 1 & 2

Module 1: Nature-based therapy foundations 

• Introductions and setting up safe space
• The therapist’s baskets – drawing from your skill sets
• Practitioner’s relationship with nature & embodiment
• Client assessment and Ecological identity
• Sensory awareness & regulation
• Nature as co-facilitator
• Working with mirroring and metaphor

Module 2: Working with youth, families and group process

• Experiential learning and growth
• Nature awareness with kids
• Risky play,  adventure and bonding with families
• Three stages applied to Children, youth and families (regulation, re-structuring, consolidation)
• Guiding models for group program flow and process
• Weaving in psycho-education with nature connection 
• Solos and sit spots
• Integration and closing

Schedule

July 15th,  5pm – 9pm:   Arrivals, Introductions and Module 1.  The evening will include sharing a light dinner provided by Bear Spring. 

July 16th, 9am – 5pm:   Module 1.  Includes lunch. 

July 17th, 9am – 5pm:  Module 2.  Includes lunch

July 18th, 9am – 4pm:  Module 2 and Closings. Includes lunch.  (ending early to allow travel time). 

Facilitators

Your teaching team will be led by Human-Nature Counselling’s co-founder, Katy Rose, MA RCC, who brings 14 years experience growing the field of Nature-based therapy in Canada as a clinical counsellor, supervisor, teacher, facilitator, writer and program developer.  Katy has supervised and mentored over 30 Masters level counselling students , and taught over 150 professionals worldwide how to integrate nature as co-therapist in their clinical practice.

Katy will also be supported by:

 Bonnie Dyck, MSW RCC – who brings over 20 years of experience practicing in the fields of Adventure therapy and wilderness therapy with youth and families (and a mentor of Katy’s).

Sarah Duncan , MA RCC –  a core team member of the Human-Nature counselling team who has over 15 years experience working with youth and families, and has been instrumental in developing and facilitating transformation Nature-based therapy group programs for HNCS.

Location: Bear Springs Eco Retreat, Nelson

We are so excited to be able to offer this course within the serene and gorgeous setting of the Bear Springs Eco Retreat! 

We will have access to explore the gardens, orchard and forested trails of this 300 acre property just minutes from the town of Nelson, BC.   This mostly off-grid retreat is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Sinixt Peoples.

Along with the course, participants will be provided each day with a healthy and nourishing lunch, sourced largely from the organic produce on the property (gluten free options available).

On-site Lodging options: 

While there is no camping onsite at the retreat, we have reserved 6 of their beautiful and comfortable ‘stargazer glamping tents“  for those people who want to have the full retreat experience on site.   Glamping tents are available to rent for $165/night.   If you are interested in this option, please email Katy directly at [email protected] after you have registered for the course and let her know you would like to reserve a tent.  We will then have a clamping reservation transferred into your name (reservations are on hold for the nights of July 15, 16 & 17 – you can add more dates if available).

There are only 6 tents available, so reserves soon!  

Off-site Lodging options:

There are many other wonderful places to stay in and around Nelson if you are coming from out of the region, here are some suggestions: