About

Welcome! You may be wondering what outdoor therapy is. It is a non-traditional therapy modality that has been around for decades, more commonly in the Western portion of the United States. You may have heard of exciting programs that include excursions in the wilderness for weeks at a time, which people have described as life changing. While these programs can indeed be life changing, my goal is to offer outdoor therapy as a regular and obtainable local practice here in Connecticut.

The outdoors has been a passion of mine since childhood. Within the daily rush and high mental expectations of day to day life, I found nature to be a grounding force. My interest took me to many heights, pun intended! I have traveled to many places across North America in pursuit of adventures such as hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, mountaineering, and canoeing/kayaking/rafting. I pursued a Bachelor's degree in Mountain Recreation Management while living in Vermont for many years, followed by a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. There, I combined my passions for the outdoors with counseling to study and practice outdoor therapy and eventually become a Licensed Practicing Counselor (LPC). For nearly a decade, I have worked with kids, teens and young adults in a variety of settings including outdoor recreation, therapeutic school, public school, and extended day treatment.

So, what does it all look like here in Connecticut? Utilizing a variety of local outdoor spaces, I provide outpatient weekly therapy incorporating activities such as hiking, snow shoeing, and canoeing. Instead of the traditional therapy that takes place within the four walls of an office, we will engage in these activities while working toward your therapeutic goals which may include self confidence, joy, relaxation, and overall healing from challenging life experiences. The goal is to use mindfulness, emotional processing/regulation and perspective gaining, all within the beautiful outdoor setting. This is an exciting mind-body modality that will challenge you in unique ways to build skills that can then be transferred into your daily life.