This 4 night/5 day intensive workshop is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals and anyone sincerely working in the helping professions.
The program will cover principles of ecopsychology and the unique way that we may embrace the world from the ecological perspective. We will explore techniques and various processes of holding a clinical container outdoors, facilitating a deeper connection with and reciprocity to the natural world, and employing a nature-based approach in working with trauma and the nervous system. We will consider cultural, clinical and ethical considerations of ecotherapy. We will address the growing collective anxiety of climate change or “eco-anxiety” and ways to work with this. The program will also include ways of wilderness healing work, thresholds of initiatory processes and a solo time on the land.
Primary instructor is Jan Edl Stein, MFT, director of Holos Institute.
We will be joined by naturalist, writer and ecological consultant, Roy Blodgett.
It is hosted in the gorgeous, rolling hills of inland Mendocino County at WhisperTree Retreat (formerly Bell Valley Retreat Center) on over 600 acres of pristine, mindfully stewarded land.
This program has a limited group size to preserve an intimate learning environment …so early registration is encouraged.
This program offers 20 CEUs for California BBSE licensees (reciprocity with other states may be possible)
There will be an optional 2 hour (no extra charge) online follow-up to the program 2 weeks after the conclusion of the program to support the integration of the learning into each student’s particular application.
The course imparts the skills and confidence to lead nature-based healing work both in individual and group work. The program is designed for psychotherapists and facilitators of deep learning who are seeking to learn more skills and experience as they move their clinical work outdoors, expand into an ecologically based framework, develop nature-based programs and consider ways of addressing an growing phenomena of eco- anxiety. The learning style is practical, highly experiential and immersive. This workshop will fill you with new ideas, skills, confidence and approaches for your work and will also be very personally transformative.
The program will mostly offer the CEU curriculum during the daytime hours but we will also have a few evening programs that tap into our more creative sides as we deepen our connection to the natural world. However, there will be “free” time for students to integrate material and deepen into the landscape.
Participants will receive a certificate in Ecotherapy at the completion of the program
Fees
- Fee ranges from $950 to 2100 according to lodging preference and includes tuition, meals and lodging.
- Register and pay in full BEFORE March 15 for a $50 discount
- A non-refundable deposit of $250 will hold your spot but lodging choice not guaranteed until paid in full.
- We will offer very basic, self-serve breakfasts that participants may wish to augment on their own.
- There will be hearty, organic prepared lunches and dinners from Sunday dinner through Wednesday evening dinner.
- Very limited Work/Trade positions with discounts of $50 – 100 are available on request.
- Please scroll down to see the various accommodations and select your preferred lodging on the registration form.
For an CEU certificate please add $40.
Logistics
Please plan to arrive between 4:00 and 4:30 on Sunday afternoon. You can plan on leaving the center around 11:00 am on Thursday.
We will help coordinate ride-sharing and pickups from either the Marin or Sonoma Airporter buses (for SFO arrival/departures).
Complete details will be sent in late April.
REGISTRATION
A non-refundable deposit of $250 will hold your space and your choice of lodging will be held tentatively until the balance is paid in full.
- We will confirm your registration and send you instructions on how to pay.
- The balance is due no later than April 20, 2024.
- All fees are non-refundable after April 15, 2024.
- In the event that the event is cancelled you will receive a full refund.
ACCOMODATIONS
Bell Tents & Cabins
These “glamping” tents are scattered on the knoll in the back of the property – close to the yurt and outdoor ampitheater where most of the sessions will take place. Each tent has 2 twin beds. The tents are heated, lit, have heated mattresses and full linens. Each tent has a platform “porch”. The tents offer the most intimate connection to the natural world. They share a spacious bathhouse with private shower rooms. There is also a covered, outdoor kitchen for guest use.
Shared Bell Tent (farther from bath house)
A twin bed in a 2 bed shared “glamping” tent nestled among oak trees. Bath house is about a 3-5 minute walk uphill.
Shared Bell Tent (close to bath house)
A twin bed in a 2 bed, shared “glamping” tent Bath house is short, level walk.
Private Bell Tent (farther from bath house)
Have a “glamping” tent nestled among oak trees all to yourself. Bath house is about a 5 minute uphill.
Private Bell Tent (close to bath house)
Have a “glamping” tent all to yourself. Bath house is short, level walk.
Camp with your own tent
There are a few limited spots to pitch your own tent in the knoll area and use the shared bath house. You need to bring all of your own gear.
Shared Tent Cabin
There are 2 spacious tent cabins. Each has 2 twin beds that may be configured as one king bed for couples.
These are slightly more spacious than the bell tents. Both are fairly close to the bath house. These also have heat and electricity.
Private Tent Cabin
Have a spacious tent cabin all to yourself. These are slightly more spacious than the bell tents. Both are fairly close to the bath house. These also have heat and electricity.
Barn
The large, modern barn has rooms on the top floor. They share 4 bathrooms and a guest kitchen. The barn also hosts the main kitchen with an outdoor patio.
The barn is situated between the Toll House (short walk) and the knoll (10 minute walk).
Shared room in Barn
Twin bed in a shared room in the barn. May also be configured as a king bed for couples.
2 people per room.
Private Room in Barn
Have your own room (twin bed) in the barn
Bunkhouse
The Bunkhouse is a modern addition to the Toll House. It consists of two rooms, a large living room with bunk beds, a common room with its own kitchen and Murphy bed, it’s own deck/garden and a lovely bathroom with a clawfoot bathtub. Attached to the Toll House, it has easy access to the hot tub.
Shared room in Bunkhouse
A twin bed in a spacious, shared room. Up to 3 people.
Semi-Private room in Bunkhouse
A twin bed in a spacious room that you will have all to yourself. It is lightly closed off from the common area which will host one other person.
Share bathroom with other guest.
Semi-Private Queen bed in Bunkhouse
Sleep in a queen Murphy bed in the common area of the bunkhouse, sharing the bathroom.
This is a good fit for people who want privacy while sleeping but don’t mind sharing space when awake.
Tollhouse
The Toll House is a large, renovated, turn-of-the-century farmhouse that sits at the front entrance to the property.
It has 4 bedrooms (3 ensuite), a large country kitchen, living room with fireplace, dining room, large deck and lovely garden.
The hot tub is located in the Toll House garden.
Porch Room – shared
A spacious room on the ground floor with a king sized bed and twin day bed. Ensuite bathroom with shower and tub. This also has its own screened in porch with a day bed.
Porch Room – private
A spacious room on the ground floor with a king sized bed and twin day bed. Ensuite bathroom with shower and tub. This also has its own screened in porch with a day bed.
Toll House upstairs room – shared (couples only)
Room in top floor of Toll House with queen bed. 2 rooms have ensuite bathrooms and one uses private bathroom down hall.
Toll House upstairs room – private
Room in top floor of Toll House with queen bed. 2 rooms have ensuite bathrooms and one uses private bathroom down hall.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS
Holos is an approved CEU provider through CAMFT.
Your CEU will cover the requirements of all CA BBSE licenses and may be reciprocated in other states or with other licesnces
This course offers 20 hours of continuing education credits.
LEARING OBJECTIVES (for CEU’s)
At the conclusion of this program, participants may expect to be able to:
- Describe at least 4 fundamental principles of ecopsychology
- Describe and design an eco-based program for psychological healing
- List at least 6 interventions that will create a deeper connection with the natural world
- Describe the 3 phases of an ecotherapy session
- List at least 3 important practical considerations in setting up an ecotherapy session
- Explain how ecotherapy impacts limbic system processing
- Name at least 3 ways to foster reciprocity in eco-therapy
- Describe an ecotherapy process that addresses dysregulated/traumatized self-experiences
- Name at least 3 ways that working with liminal states can enhance psychotherapy outcomes.
- List the 3 phases of wilderness therapy
- Offer a basic description of a deep mirroring process
- List at least 3 ways to clinically address eco-anxiety
- Name the 4 part cycle of an eco-grieving process
- Explain at least 2 ways in which eco-anxiety may drive emotional dysregulation.
- List at least 3 considerations of race, culture and socio-economic situations that impact one’s relationship with the natural world