Nature-Based Therapy
A therapeutic approach intentionally incorporating the natural environment into the healing process.
Nature‑based therapy, also referred to as ecotherapy, is a therapeutic approach that intentionally incorporates the natural environment into the healing process. It can be offered in both individual and couples therapy, using nature as a grounding, regulating presence that supports emotional awareness, reflection, and connection.
This approach recognizes the powerful relationship between mental health, the nervous system, and the natural world. Being outdoors can help slow reactivity, create space from entrenched patterns, and invite a sense of perspective that may feel harder to access in traditional indoor settings.
Helpful for:
Couples Work in Nature
Feeling stuck in repetitive conflict patterns
Difficulty communicating without escalation or shutdown
Wanting to reconnect emotionally and rebuild trust
Navigating relationship transitions such as parenthood or life stressors
Seeking a gentler, more regulating environment for relational work
Stress, Anxiety, & Nervous System Dysregulation
Chronic stress, overwhelm, or emotional fatigue
Difficulty slowing down or feeling present
Nervous‑system overload or feeling constantly “on edge”
Spiritual Exploration
Exploring personal spirituality or belief systems
Desire for greater meaning, purpose, or connection
Integrating spiritual identity with emotional well‑being
Life Transitions & Identity Shifts
Navigating major transitions such as parenthood, career change, or relationship shifts
Feeling disconnected from self, direction, or meaning
Seeking clarity and perspective during periods of change
What sessions look like:
My approach to nature‑based therapy is trauma‑informed, mindful, and relational, integrating evidence‑based psychotherapy with intentional experiences in the natural world. Nature is not used as a replacement for therapy, but as an active partner in the therapeutic process, supporting regulation, insight, and emotional connection.
Sessions are collaborative and thoughtfully structured, with clear therapeutic intention. Depending on your goals, comfort level, and clinical needs, nature‑based therapy may include a variety of approaches that support both emotional depth and nervous‑system regulation. All nature‑based sessions are carefully planned with attention to accessibility, confidentiality, and emotional safety. Therapy remains relational, professional, and clinically grounded, all while offering a more spacious, embodied way to engage in the work.
Individual Nature‑Based Sessions
Mindful Walking Therapy: Slow, intentional walking paired with reflective conversation and grounding practices. Movement can help regulate the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and allow thoughts and emotions to unfold more naturally.
Somatic & Sensory Awareness Practices: Invitations to notice bodily sensations, breath, and sensory input (sounds, textures, temperature) to support nervous‑system regulation and emotional awareness. This approach is especially supportive for anxiety, trauma, and overwhelm.
Sit‑Spot or Stillness Practices: Time spent seated or grounded in one location to support reflection, presence, and internal listening. These practices create space for clarity, insight, and emotional processing without pressure to “do” or perform.
Parts‑Informed & Reflective Work: Gentle exploration of emotions, internal parts, and patterns using nature as a supportive mirror. The external environment can help make internal experiences feel more approachable and less overwhelming.
Creative or Meaning‑Making Practices: Experiential exercises that use reflection, metaphor, or symbolic meaning drawn from the natural environment to support integration and insight.
Nature‑based therapy can also be a powerful option for couples. Being outdoors often helps partners move out of entrenched dynamics and into a calmer, more open relational space. Walking or sitting side‑by‑side, rather than face‑to‑face, can reduce defensiveness and support deeper listening and connection.
Couples sessions in nature may include:
Guided conversations to slow conflict and increase emotional attunement
Support in identifying recurring relational patterns
Somatic awareness to help partners notice regulation and escalation in real time
Practicing communication, repair, and emotional responsiveness
Grounding exercises to foster safety and presence during difficult conversations
Nature provides a shared, regulating backdrop that can help couples reconnect not just cognitively, but emotionally and physically as well.
Couples Sessions in Nature
Locations for nature-based therapy:
City Location: Cherry Hills Village
Suburb Location (Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield): Community College Open Space