Deborah Shaer
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Children’s Outdoor Therapy in Nature
One-to-one facilitations for children from age 6 - 12 year-olds; engaging with the beautiful nature around them, using therapeutic play and somatic connection tailored to their individual needs and issues.
What initial steps do we take prior to the therapy in nature sessions?
The first step is to contact me via the website form, email or text for free 10 mins, initial phone consultation. If you wish to go ahead, an Initial Assessment is scheduled, which lays the foundation for the commencement of the therapy. See FAQs for more information on the Initial Assessment process.
What are the core components that determine whether my child is suitable for outdoor therapy in nature?
First off, I do a risk assessment to ensure that your child doesn’t have any conditions that could adversely affect them. For example, allergies, epilepsy or other types of health issues or conditions related to being outdoors and in nature.
It is also important that your child wants to do therapy in nature, not simply because they’ve been told it’s ‘good’ for them. It isn’t going to be good for them if their resistance is so strong that they don’t enjoy it and don’t engage. However, it might be that they have some resistance and there may be a small window of curiosity which allows them to at least give it a go. And it may turn out that they love it!
Another consideration, concerns the weather conditions and whether your child enjoys the rain (rain gear necessary), mud (they’d need a water resistant jacket and wellies for this), temperature such as cold and heat or a blustery wind. It’s about the somatic experience of these diversities that enhance the therapeutic process in creative and meaningful ways.
A willingness to engage with nature and be open to the unfolding adventure is important to support the success of the work. Even being a tiny bit willing allows more potential to stretch one’s self, to gain confidence, to feel more liberated, breathe in fresh air and breathe out whatever has been weighing them down.
Where would the parent(s) be during the one-to-one nature therapy sessions?
There is a bench where parents can chill out and relax in the nature spot whilst also being in full view of their child. If it’s raining, I provide plastic covering for the bench and they would need to bring an umbrella.
If your child is older and has had several sessions already, you could spend the therapy time in Hampstead village which is a minute or so away.
I would keep my phone on if this would be the case, if either of us need to call. Though I would ask that you return just before the end of the scheduled time.
What happens in a therapy session in nature?
The principles of psychotherapy or counselling remain the same whether indoors at my practice or in nature, but the activities will differ. The child is always given a say about engaging in any activity. It may even be that they simply want to sit and talk. And they may also change their mind and want to move.
What does it mean by a somatic creative approach?
The setting itself - the trees, the earth, rocks, birds, insects, flowers, or the pond, becomes an extension of the therapy and the interactions that arise from that. Attuning to the child and their responses, how and what they engage with, what they are drawn to is also something that informs the work.
Patterns of movement and stance can reveal developmental orienting processes experienced through gravity, earth and space. These patterns are linked to behaviours that arise out of these orientations to see how the child or young person experiences their sense of self, their thought patterns, and to address where they are stuck and how best they can be in flow, and flourish. Through my observations and facilitations, the aim is to restore balance and fluidity to a child-young person’s sense of self and sense of agency.
Do you facilitate parent and child outdoor therapy in nature sessions?
Yes. Though this would need to be explored before such a session is scheduled. There may be difficulties in bonding, resonance and other interpersonal issues, or parental challenges where they find it hard to engage in play, imagination and fun.
Since I facilitate parent and child mediations, it might be that a mediation can begin at my practice followed by a session outdoors in nature. This gives space to experience the contrasts between distorted relational patterns in comparison to ways in which the quality of connection can be enhanced.
Is it possible to have hybrid sessions, indoors and outdoors?
Yes. We can see how best your child responds and their personal preference.
What type of issues would these sessions be suitable for?
The list below includes some of the issues related to a child or young person that might bring them into therapy. Amongst the many benefits of being outdoors in nature is the interweaving of psychotherapy-counselling which brings awareness to these issues in a restorative way.
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Issues related to bullying
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Low self-esteem
- Hyper-active states
- Sense of isolation and loneliness
- Low moods and depression
- Confusion
- Dissociative states
- Spacey (ungrounded)
Where is the location?
Hampstead, London NW3 - in close proximity to Whitestone Pond.
What age group is outdoor therapy in nature suitable for?
I have given the age range from 6-12 because this is based on my direct experience. However, it may be that an older child or adolescent who enjoys being in nature, wishes to do talking therapy in a natural outdoor environment. In this case it might be sitting and walking and possibly interweaving some simple bodily movements and conscious breathing.
Benefits of outdoor therapy in nature
Research into the impact of being in nature reveals a multitude of benefits of being exposed to the beauty of a natural environment.
Findings include links between microbes in the soil that relieve depression, a decrease in rumination, the soothing effect on the brain by exposure to the colour green when encountered in nature, as well as autumn leaves.
These restorative elements have also been shown to increase the capacity for attention, higher cognitive function and creativity.
Ready To Take The First Step?
If you are a parent and would like to have a free phone consultation about outdoor therapy in nature, you can share what’s going on with your child to see how I can help.
Email me for your free phone consultation at therapy@plastikprizm.co.uk, or by using my secure online contact form.
My mission is to help children develop the confidence they need to rise above their perceived limitations, navigate emotional issues, build social skills, self-esteem and self-awareness, and tap into more joy.