Have you ever realized the calming effects that come from simply taking a walk outside? Whether you are setting off on a leisurely stroll or rigorous hike, there are more benefits to being out in nature than you might think. Just ask Brooke Shaffer, who graduated last year with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling with a concentration in wilderness therapy from Naropa University in Colorado. Through wilderness therapy, she assists people of all ages with mental health issues by helping them form a better connection with nature.
A Deep History
“Wilderness therapy is a broad subject and has a deep history,” says Shaffer. “I take clients of all ages from three years old to adults over 70 and have a session around trails. Walking outdoors in nature has so many mental health benefits. It may also help put you more at ease, offering a more laid-back setting than going to a clinical office.”
Shaffer found her way to wilderness therapy organically. “It all started with my connection to nature and influence by my parents,” she says. “They encouraged us to go on walks and I always played sports as a kid. I started off in early childhood special education and was upset when I saw kids were only being let outside for 30 minutes. Kids need more exploration and I found that being outdoors in nature was lacking for them. I shifted to work at an outdoor school and realized there was a profession in nature. This ended with me doing outdoor educational programs as a teacher naturalist. I love working with people to foster their connection with nature. One of my clients is a 3 year old who lost his home in the recent fires. We took a walk and looked at geese. We talked about what home means utilizing the elements of nature and he opened up.”
Many Benefits
This type of therapy has come a long way in recent years as more and more people realize the many benefits of being in nature, especially when it comes to treating young adults. “Years ago, I found out about this program called New Vision Wilderness Therapy. I was a guide there a few years ago,” Shaffer says. “We had six to 10 teens and young adults who were sent to the program and they backpacked with us in the woods. The kids had significant mental health issues and their parents may have felt overwhelmed and didn’t want to send them to a hospital program. I realized my connection with nature was not only about instruction; I felt really empowered. There are so many aspects about being outdoors that allow you to challenge yourself in extreme ways. My younger brother has mental health challenges, so this program just felt so right for me.”
While winter in Colorado certainly poses a challenge to outdoor therapy, Shaffer remains passionate about introducing wilderness therapy to those not familiar with its many benefits. “My current caseload is around 40 people and I see between 18 to 27 people a week,” she says. “My goal is to have 88 percent of my clients outside. Right now, we have 10 to 15 percent during the winter, and 40 to 60 percent outdoors in the summer.”
Plans for the future.
In the future, Shaffer is planning on working with guides and first responders to overcome mountain trauma. “If someone has encountered a traumatic situation or been physically threatened outdoors, I would like to help them,” she says. “I would also like to try to be more involved with the “Climbing Grief Fund” through the American Alpine Club which helps those who lost loved ones to climbing accidents.”
Another goal is to do more backpacking trips with children and adolescents. “It may be an overnighter somewhere to work on empowerment and confidence, where just being outside can be really triggering for them,” she says. “I want to help them build a more secure connection with nature and understand the benefits of being outside.”
Here at Girl Camper, we can fully attest to the mental health benefits of just getting outside. “Nature promotes a positive emotion, creates less anxiety, lowers the heart rate and allows the brain to rest and restore,” says Shaffer. “When we are outside, nature helps us connect to ourselves and our planet. You can go to a local park, feel the sun on your face and enjoy some incredible benefits of nature.”
This article by Kellie Speed was originally published in Girl Camper Magazine.
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