Outdoor Therapy

Outdoor Therapy, also known as Walk & Talk, Nature-based or Ecotherapy is a valuable alternative to office-based therapy.

At Summit & Sky, Outdoor Therapy is about inviting nature into the conversation, allowing room for our natural environment to be acknowledged and honored in the process.

An outdoor session could look like sitting or walking in a city park, or meeting at one of the many accessible hiking trails near Denver. There are countless ways to incorporate nature into sessions.

Outdoor therapy has so many mental health benefits, and some people find it more accessible than sitting in an office.

FAQs

Sun shining through the trees on a forest path.

So many! Nervous system and emotion regulation, somatic experiencing, increase in self-awareness and self-advocacy. Research has shown that outdoor spaces have been known to decrease anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms.
Additionally, outdoor sessions might simply feel more approachable! Side-by-side sessions allow room for a different way of processing. These sessions naturally decrease power dynamics, and are sometimes preferred by individuals who might feel uncomfortable or overstimulated by prolonged eye contact.
That’s okay! Outdoor therapy looks different for everyone, so we’ll collaborate to figure out the right type of session for you. I like the term Outdoor Therapy because it’s reflective of the wide array of possibilities: hiking therapy or walk & talk might be right for one person, but are not accessible options for everyone. There are countless ways to incorporate nature into sessions that do not include hiking. And if outdoor is not your preference, indoor is okay too!
We’ll always have an indoor session before taking it outside to review safety, benefits and risks and make sure outdoor therapy is a good fit for you.
Once we’ve had that conversation, before your outdoor session we’ll confirm our meeting location, identify appropriate attire for the weather and discuss confidentiality.
Outdoor therapy sessions typically follow the standard 50-minute clinical hour. There may be times when we want to extend a session; we’ll discuss this in advance so you know how much time to allot!

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Honoring the History

There is no way to talk about outdoor therapy without acknowledging and honoring its roots in indigenous culture. As a relational therapist, I think it is essential not only to talk about our relationships with each other, but also to talk about our relationship with the land that has existed long before we called it home. Indigenous communities have understood the connection between the natural world and health for centuries. Our modern concept of ecotherapy is just a small piece of this rich history.

Ecotherapy in western practice encompasses adventure therapy, wilderness therapy and animal-assisted modalities like equine therapy. However, these modern modalities have a history of appropriation, leaving indigenous people out of the conversation, and harming QTBIPOC communities.

Within this context, my hope is to make room for identity, privilege and oppression in conversation, both personally and therapeutically, and to invite discomfort as a means of growth and healing. My intent is to honor those who have paved the way, and create an intentional and inclusive space for people who have been displaced or harmfully excluded from outdoor spaces.

Specialties:

Whether this has been a lifelong struggle, or you’re just noticing budding body image thoughts, eating disorders are complex, painful and nearly impossible to carry alone.
I have experience working at the inpatient, residential, PHP and outpatient level of care for eating disorder treatment, and often encourage family engagement alongside individual support.
As a member of the queer community, I know the value in meeting with a therapist who “gets it.” Dysphoria is a complex combination of thoughts, feelings and body sensations that are so much more than one’s appearance, and gender affirming care is the bare minimum that healthcare can provide.
Let’s explore what it means to be you in the context of your family, community and society, and find ways to access joy.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is one of the most misunderstood diagnoses- even within the field of mental health! It’s so important for OCD providers to be thoughtful in the treatment process, because it’s easy to misdiagnose and mistreat.
Obsessions can be uncomfortable to talk about because they often deal with thoughts that are taboo or uncomfortable to begin with, which is why they are so distressing. You are not alone, you are not crazy, and you deserve a nonjudgmental space with someone who understands this.
Whether you are the loved one of someone who is self-harming or you are experiencing urges to self-harm, it’s often painful and overwhelming. Sometimes self-harm accompanies suicidality, and sometimes they exist on their own, but they are both indicators of a deeper struggle.
I am comfortable talking about and exploring suicidality in the outpatient setting, and am transparent in my recommendations if higher level of care is required. Suicidal thoughts don’t simply go away just because you’re in treatment, so if we can work on managing thoughts and urges while you’re still living at home, then we absolutely will.
It’s so easy to be hard on yourself when it comes to managing big emotions. I often hear clients say, “but everyone gets sad and anxious. I don’t understand why I’m affected so much.”
Yes, everyone has the capacity to experience these emotions. But nobody else has the exact same combination of physiology and life experiences as you! You deserve individualized support that speaks to your specific experience of anxiety, depression, mania, etc. because there’s no one coping skill that works the same way for every person in every situation.
Showing up fully means honoring the parts of your identity that you might mask elsewhere. I strive to create a space where you can be yourself, where you don’t have to worry about offending me, or showing up in a way that might be deemed unprofessional or disorganized elsewhere.
There are far too many people who don’t understand neurodivergence, and it’s painful to feel alone in your identity. On the flip side, there’s so much joy in being seen and connecting with others who truly understand you. Your stims, fidgets and special interests are welcome here!
Moved to a new city or a new school? Just went through a major breakup? Trying to navigate new family dynamics after a divorce?
Life transitions of all kinds can bring grief, anger, guilt, anxiety and other complex emotions. Whether you need short-term support during this particular transition, or long-term support through the seasons of life, we’ll make space to process your thoughts and feelings, and identify what you need to get through it.
As someone with extensive experience working in all levels of care, I have seen how disorienting it can be coming back into the chaos of life after discharge from inpatient, PHP or IOP. Sometimes it feels like the rug was pulled out from beneath you, and going from daily therapy to weekly therapy is not enough support. Sometimes the transition is a relief, but you have all these complicated feelings about treatment that you need to process.
Going to a higher level of care is often traumatic in itself, and I believe it is crucial to have continuing support. I offer higher session frequency if you need to start at 2-3x/weekly before easing into weekly or bi-weekly sessions.