~ WE ARE POSTPONING THE FULL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR 2023 ~
AN ECOTHERAPY INTENSIVE WILL BE OFFERED MARCH 26-31, 2023
– Details will be posted shortly (we are experiencing website problems)
If you are interested please send an email to events@holosinstitute.net
Holos Ecopsychology Certificate Program 2023
RECOVER your wild heart and mind,
RESTORE your connection to Nature,
BECOME a guide for others in
RECONNECT and discovering RESILIENCE !
“If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear. People who can open to the web of life that called us into being.” – Joanna Macy
The crises of our unprecedented times need leading edge solutions. Psychology can play a part in helping to change attitude, perception and behavior. The most appropriate form of psychology is one that reconnects the human animal with the rest of life on earth. Holos has been a touchstone resource for applied ecopsychology and has developed a comprehensive, 100 hour training program that draws on the wisdom of many pioneers in the field of ecotherapy, ecopsychology, eco-resilience, eco-racism and more. As this program evolves, we are seeing the need to support practitioners who can not only offer ecotherapy and eco-based transformative experiences, but also help others in climate change grief and anxiety.
Come learn with leaders in the field as you develop community, delve into a range of ecotherapy practices and prepare yourself to lead others and offer solutions to the fundamental needs of our time. This program is deeply experiential, transformative and informative!
100 CEUS are available for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs
We will now be offering this program on alternate years starting in 2023
Residential retreat schedule for 2023:
March 26 – 31, 2023
May 18 – 22, 2023
June 25 – 30, 2023
~ residential retreats will take place at the Bell Valley Retreat Center in Boonville, CA (USA)
~ application process opens July 1, 2022.
~ online info sessions will be offered starting again in late fall – BUT click on the link below for a recorded info session
~ FOR A SHORT VIDEO THAT ANSWERS THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PLEASE CLICK HERE ~
THE PROGRAM
The 2023 program is composed of 3 thematic modules, each with a 4-5 night residential components with an additional 2 hour online webinars. It also includes one-on-one mentoring sessions and a capstone project.
The training will prepare participants to deeply understand and translate the framework of ecopsychology in a range of applications, including traditional clinical psychology settings as well as in community leadership, eco-therapy practices and creative endeavors. At the completion of the program, participants will be certified by Holos Institute, a leader in ecopsychological practices, to confidently offer ecotherapy and eco-based healing practices in the greater community.
While the program is geared toward clinicians it is also open to other healing arts professional or people interested in translating a nature-based connection into positive action and/or healing. We particularly hope to prepare people to mitigate climate crisis anxiety, serving as community translators of dispair into active hope. The program covers, in-depth, the concepts and principles of ecopsychology, the origins of the field, and many of the intricacies of its clinical application both within a traditional, in-office setting as well as in outdoor therapy. We take a deep look at eco-racism, social injustices and try to open up closed cultural assumptions about relating to the natural world. We look at the psychology of individuals from archetypal patterns to developmental, somatic and attachment theory lens. We also address the ever growing need to meet the anxiety and grief of climate change and environmental degradation.
This certificate program is unique in that it is not representing one viewpoint but rather engaging many diverse voices whom all speak passionately about caring for our planet.
We hope that this program will also inspire participants to become community/environmental leaders in a creative and heartfelt way meeting the concerns that are arising in the current planetary situation. The program is a blend of didactic learning processes along with very deeply experiential components that help to integrate the learning more deeply and ground the material in a profound personal experience.
The immersive residentials build on previous ones as this very special cohort of trainees bond and have an exceptionally deep time and intimate experience with the land. The intensives are held in a vast valley in Mendocino County where the wildness of the land invites the wildness of the psyche.
We have enlisted an incredible community of elders and spokespeople who are leaders in ecopsychology and environmental stewardship. The program will be lead by seasoned clinicians who offer their personal insights into ecotherapy, ecopsychological approaches and earth-based practices applicable to both individuals and groups. It also offers the wisdom of many other great teachers, inviting their wisdom in-depth.
These teachers and topics have previously included the list below we will be formalizing the 2023 schedule later in the year:
- Original leaders in ecopsychology thought, such as Craig Chalquist, PhD and Linda Buzzel,MFT
- Joanna Macy’s Work that Reconnects with Mutima Imani , MA and Constance Washburn, MA
- Environmental racism and cultural considerations with Mutima Imani, MA
- Climate Crisis as an Initiatory Experience with Reene Soule, PhD
- Story of Landscape with Sharon Blackee
- Making Sanctuary in a Time of Demise: Bayo Akomolafe, PhD
- Somatic Expression in Nature with Jamie McHugh, RSMT
- Narrative Cartography with Shmee, MA
- Naturalist’ approach for Ecotherapists, Grieving processes, De-colonizing Ecotherapy practices, etc., with Mary Good, MFT
- Ecotherapy practices, Working with Trauma and Ecotherapy, Liminal Spaces and Nature Work, etc., with Jan Edl Stein, MFT
….and numerous other pioneers leaders in the field of ecopsychology.
The program has been created and curated by Mary Good, MFT and Jan Edl Stein, MFT. They are the primary organizers/instructors and general guides through the experience.
Our 2018 pioneer cohort was an incredibly dynamic group of heartfelt people with a range of diverse backgrounds. They deeply bonded and reported transformational experiences and some life-altering choices as a result of the program. See and hear about their experience in their own words:
“The eco-psychology certification program through Holos institute was a deeply transformative and healing experience for me. Personally and professionally, through each module, I found myself in a deep process with my own psyche and heart, the land and creatures, and the well chosen and thought-provoking readings. The many teachers that joined in the retreats and in the webinars provided a stalwart framework from which to step onto my own path as one who can both offer eco-therapy practices and healing to my clients, but also as an awakened way for me to relate to my own community and local environment”… Shannon Rogge LMFT
“Holos’ EcoPsychology program created a profound shift in my life’s work. As an outdoor guide and leader, I strive to connect people to our natural world through seeing with new eyes, opening other sense portals and creating spaces that are connective, open and reciprocal. I didn’t know how deep you could go with this work until this program! I learned so many tools on how to speak directly to the wild animal-self that lives deep within all of us. We are truly wild beings and we know it, we just need a little help from experienced leaders that know how to access the language of that wild self. Through this program I learned how to speak that language and now feel confident in leading people into a deeper connection to nature, providing a broader view of what it means to truly be a peaceful, helpful guide for others in this Great Turning that is upon us at this pivotal moment.” …Caitlen D.
Application/Enrollment is currently open.
Late applications (received on or aftern Dec 30, 2022) will be considered on a space available basis.
Please be sure to send in your $65 application fee in addition to completing the form below.
Payment may be made via PayPal to “events@holosinstitute.net” or via check mailed to Holos-Events, POB 439, Lagunitas, CA 94938.[gravityform id=”16″ title=”true” description=”true”]
This certificate program is a comprehensive, 100+ hour training (including CEUS for MFTs, LCSWs). The training will prepare participants to deeply understand and translate the framework of ecopsychology in a range of applications, including traditional clinical psychology settings as well as in community leadership, eco-therapy practices and creative endeavors. At the completion of the program, participants will be certified by Holos Institute, a leader in ecopsychological practices, to confidently offer ecotherapy and eco-based healing practices in the greater community.
This program is geared toward clinicians but is also open to other healing arts professional or people interested in translating a nature-based connection into positive action and/or healing. The program will cover, in-depth, the concepts and principles of ecopsychology, the origins of the field, and many of the intricacies of its clinical application both within a traditional, in-office setting as well as in outdoor therapy. We look at socio/racial considerations of ecotherapy, class and racial environmental inequalities and ways to engender fairness and access. We will also be addressing the ever growing need to meet the anxiety and grief of climate change and environmental degradation.
We hope that this program will also inspire participants to become community/environmental leaders in a creative and heartfelt way meeting the concerns that are arising in the current planetary situation. The program is a blend of didactic learning processes along with deeply experiential components that help to integrate the learning more deeply and ground the material in a profound personal experience. The program is structured in 3 modules, each with it’s own residential intensive. Each module will include a 5 or 6 day residential, experiential and didactic process where we may all deepen into the work.
Students are required to produce a capstone project and offer a brief presentation of it to the cohort. The project can be anything from reflections of an ecotherapy practice, reflections of working with a group or individuals applying the principles and techniques learned, a research paper, or a personal reflection.
There is both required and recommended reading.
Additional webinars covers more topics and deepens some of the processes of the residential retreats. Webinars will be held on weekend mornings (typically 10:00 am – noon PT) . There are 8 webinars total. The webinars are recording in the case that a student cannot attend one in person. We expect that students will be able to attend at least 6 of the 8 webinars live.
Students will also have 2 one-on-one meetings with an ecotherapist practitioner (most likely Jan or Mary) to help refine their individual relationship to the work. Most students utlize these sessions to refine their capstone project while some use these sessions to explore their personal relationship to ecopsychology. All sessions are completely confidential and greared to support the individual.
The 2020 Schedule is as follows (Pacific time) Content highlights outlined here (the actual program is very rich with many extras added)
Residential 1 at Bell Valley Retreat Center, Boonville, CA
Sunday, March 26, 2021 4:00 pm to Friday, March 31, 2023 noon
Topics: Ecopsychology principles and history, naturalist approaches for ecotherapists, terrapsychology, ecotherapy techniques and clinical considerations.
Faculty includes Jan Edl Stein and Mary Good (with possible guest presenter Craig Chalquist)
Residential 2 at Bell Valley Retreat Center, Boonville, CA
Thursday, May 18 4:00 pm to Monday, May 22, 2023 noon
Topics: Follow-up on ecotherapy practices, working with groups, addressing climate change grief and anxiety, trauma informed approaches in ecotherapy (drawing upon NARM)
Faculty includes Jan Edl Stein, Mary Good, and possible guest teachers
Residential 3 at Bell Valley Retreat Center, Boonville, CA
Sunday, June 25 4:00 pm through Friday, June 30, 2023 noon
Topics: Capstone Project Presentations, Exploring the Inner Landscape and Utilizing Liminal Spaces, Nature Solo Time on Land with Council Sharing Integration and Closing review and Ritual.
Faculty includes Jan Edl Stein, Mary Good
WEBINARS dates of 2023 webinars TBA as year evolves.
Currently (tentatively) scheduled:
Sunday, March 19, 10:00 am to noon Mary Good and Jan Edl: Welcome & Introductions, Intro to Ecopsychology Principles, program overview and reading list suggestions
Saturday, April 8 10:00 am to noon Jan Edl Stein: Ecotherapy Interventions
Saturday, April 15, 10:00 am – noon Jan Edl Stein and Mary Good: Practice Ecotherapy Session Analysis
Saturday, April 22 10:00 to noon: (tentative) Craig Chalquist: Introduction to Terrapsychology
Saturday, May 6 10:00 to noon: Mutima Imani: Ecoresilience and Environmental/Social Justice
Saturday, May 13 TBA: Bayo Akomolafe: Making Sanctuary in a Time of Demise
Sunday, June 4 10:00 to noon: TBA
Sunday, July 18, 10:00 am – noon Mary Good: Towards a Green Death
Current list of topics are: (Based on previous programs and subject to change)
Practices that Connect Us to Nature: Jan Edl Stein, MFT
Taking the Clinical Container Outdoors – more considerations: Jan Edl Stein, MFT and Mary Good, MFT
Working with Groups – Group Dynamics and Practical Considerations: Jan Edl Stein, MFT
Hakomi and Ecotherapy: Contact Processes: Rob Fisher, MFT
Environmental crisis as initiation: Renee Soule, PhD
Making Sanctuary in a Time of Demise: Bayo Akomolafe, PhD
Decolonizing your ecotherapy practice : Mary Good, MFT
Ecoresilience and Environmental/Social Justice: Mutima Imani, MA
Towards a Green Death: Mary Good, MFT
Our residential intensives will be hosted at a the Bell Valley retreat center outside of Boonville, CA, which includes over 650 acres of rolling grasslands, expansive views and extensive trails amidst a rich and bio-diverse ecosystem in the rolling inland hills in the lovely Anderson Valley of Mendocino County.
In this setting our intensives will invite our senses to expand and for the group to drop into a very deep experience of themselves in relationship to the landscape while being supported by a truly exquisite variety of accommodations There are a variety of accommodations. These range from an elegant farm house to more rustic rooms. Some are close to the main house/dining room and some are more remote. All are very comfortable and beautifully furnished. Visit the center’s website for more details.
There is a supplement for any retreat to upgrade to a private room. We will do our best to provide preferred accommodation type and will encourage everyone to try out different rooms during the residentials. Lodging varies between: Permanent “glamping” tents on gorgeous rolling hills with bathroom access a short walk from the tents. Upstairs in a classic remodeled country barn with shared bath. Bunk beds in spacious octagonal building with own kitchen and full bath. Graciously restored four bedroom farmhouse. Some rooms with en-suite. Some folks may opt to set up their own tent on the land.
Our meeting space will be a lovely knoll top yurt, outdoor theater and many comfortable places to sit outdoors. The center has an extensive system of hiking trails, a swimmable pond and a hot tub. Delicious, organic and locally sourced meals (with many options for food preferences) will be shared in the main farmhouse dining room.
All webinars and most mentoring sessions will be managed from the Zoom platform. Participants need only a computer or tablet to connect into the conversation. In a pinch, even a phone connection will work. We will walk everyone through the process of setting this up but it is very easy. Webinars are recorded and available to students (only) who may not be able to attend the webinar.
The intensives will require trainees to be present in person and to stay overnight. The residential programs are hosted at the Bell Valley Retreat Center outside of Boonville, CA in Mendocino County (USA) with a variety of lodging options.
If you are using air travel to come to the bay area for the intensives, please speak with either Jan or Mary BEFORE booking your flights. We will help you sort out best times to arrive and transportation to/from either the San Francisco, Oakland or Santa Rosa airport. We will do our best to arrange carpools, and in the case of people coming in from outside the bay area, we help coordinate your transportation. One of our program assistants will be in touch with you to refine your travel plans.
You will be sent detailed information well in advance of each intensive on how to prepare and what to bring, etc.
FEES
~ The cost of this 100 hour program, including all lodging, meals, tuition and fees is $4,950 per person.
~ A separate, non-refundable application fee of $65 is required to process your application.
~ There is an additional $40 fee for a CEU certificate (offered to CA BBSE licenses)
~ Please note that meals covered are lunches and dinners while on site at the residential retreats with simple/basic items available as self-serve breakfasts.
Some people may chose to bring additional items for breakfasts at their own expense.
~ This does not cover travel expenses to each of the 3 residential modules.
PAYMENTS
~ A non-refundable $600 deposit will secure your place in the program and is due within 2 weeks of acceptance.
~ One half of the balance is due by January 15, 2023 (or 2 weeks after acceptance if you have applied after December 30, 2022).
The final balance is due March 15, 2023.
~ Or, with a payment plan for an additional $80 fee. Pay the fee in equal payments starting December 1, 2022 (or starting on the first of the month following your accepted application) and then on the 1st of each month following ending June 1, 2023. More details about this are below.
~ For late applications (received after Feb 15, 2023) you may pay half of the fee within 2 weeks of acceptance as a non-refundable hold, and the second half by March 15, 2023 – OR – pay off the remaining balance in equal payments March 1 – June 1, 2023 for a $80 payment plan fee.
There are some discounts and add-ons as options:
ADDITIONAL FEES FOR SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
Single lodging supplement – this insures that you have first pick of private accomodations
add $275 for first residential
add $250 for second residential
add $275 for third residentials
add $775 for all three residentials
PAYMENT DISCOUNTS (for applications received Before December 1, 2022 ONLY)
4% DISCOUNT: Pay fee in full within 2 weeks of acceptance for a 4% discount on total fee including any work/trade discounts or supplemental add-ons (All fees due by December 15, 2022).
2.5 % DISCOUNT: Pay one half of total fee within 2 weeks of acceptance (Before Dec 15, 2022) and balance by Feb 1, 2023.
Work-Trade Discount: We ask that everyone pitch in to help at the Bell Valley intensives. However, we do need students to offer extra support at Bell Valley around meal prep/clean-up and basic set-up needs.. There are a limited number of work-trade discounts available and these are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. (please inquire for details – there is a place on the application to indicate your need). Basically, work/trade discounts run about $250 per residential retreat. This amount will be lowered as we fill up our allotment of full W/T spaces.
Payment Plan: If you need to break the fee into monthly payments we can offer monthly payment plan that breaks down the balance (minus the $600 deposit) into equal monthly payments due on the 1st of each month from the start of acceptance or Dec 1, 2022 (which ever is sooner) to June 1, 2023. There is an additional processing fee of $80 to use this extended payment option. Payments will be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar amount. There will be a 10% late fee assessed to any monthly payment received more than 5 days after the 15th of each month.
Exceptions will only be considered (and not promised) in written agreement between Holos and the student.
PLEASE NOTE: We will do our best to make this affordable for candidates who sincerely want to attend. We are seeking outside funding to offer deeper scholarships and will work with you to make this affordable as reasonably as possible.
Payments may be made via check, cash, PayPal or credit card.
Refunds/Cancellations
The $65 application fee and $600 hold deposit to reserve your space is non-refundable.
Anyone withdrawing from the program in writing* before February 1, 2023 will be refunded 75% of any fees currently paid (minus the application fee and deposit)
Anyone withdrawing from the program in writing *on or before March 15, 2023 will be refunded 50% of any fees currently paid (minus the application fee and deposit)
Anyone withdrawing from the program in writing* on or after March 16, 2023 to April 1, 2023 will be refunded only 20% of any fees curremtly paid (minus the application fee and deposit)
Anyone withdrawing from the program in writing *after April 1, 2023 forfeits any refund or any fees paid.
* “in writing” cancellation notices will only be accepted via email to “events@holosinstitute.net” or by written letter sent to “Holos, POB 439, Lagunitas, CA 94938”
PLEASE NOTE: There are absolutely no partial program attendance and fees. This program works as a whole and we have learned that attending only some parts is a great loss for the student and also damages the cohesiveness of the cohort.
Holos director, Jan Edl Stein, MFT and ecotherapist, Mary Good, MFT are the primary instructors, guides and developers of this program. Jan and Mary will lead and/or support all of the sessions while coordinating with an extraordinary cast of guest instructors. Below is a list of all of the currently confirmed instructors who will be providing training. We have many more who are still in exploration who will either join us to be in person at one of the residentials or will participate in a webinar.
CURRENT PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS:
Jan Edl Stein, MFT is the director of Holos Institute as well as a licensed MFT in private practice in San Francisco and Marin. Jan is also Adjunct Faculty in East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Jan leads workshops and retreats that interweave meditation, active imagining, shamanic journeying and earth based contemplations. She has taught/presented at Sonoma State University, Grof Transpersonal Training Program, The Bioneers Conference, Esalen Institute, IONs, and numerous private venues. All of her work draws upon a lifelong study of spiritual traditions and healing practices of earth-based cultures and a deep love of the natural world. More information may be found at www.janedl.com.

Mutima Imani, MPA, provides Comprehensive Coaching to balance the Body, Mind and Spirit. In her words’”Having over two decades of supporting people into greater clarity and balance I listen to what is behind the words. I listen deeply to hear beyond the programmed mind to what the heart has to say. Everyone is gifted and has all their answers inside. I am a guide to discover what is inside, there is a place inside where one can find that is whole, perfect and complete, no matter what has happened. I enjoy the “Aha” moments people have in a session with me. The moment when self-trust is established as the mind releases blame, shame and guilt, stress in the body dissolves and the Spirit reveals the answer. As a Social Justice Visionary, Master Trainer and Facilitator working to Heal the Heart of Humanity I provide 21st Century Tools for Personal/Professional Development and Transformation. As a Global Diversity Specialist, I understand and inspire people to think locally while planning globally. I am skilled at bringing diverse groups together to resolve conflicts. I work with people conducting the Work That Reconnects workshops and Restorative Justice Circles. I have Master’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Phenomenology; I am passionate about how all things work together and what humans can learn from the natural world. I am a partner in a women-owned business – www.parcentra.com.”

Jamie McHugh, RSMT is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist, somatic coach, and visual artist living on the Mendocino coast. The creator of Somatic Expression® – Body Wisdom for Modern Minds, Jamie has guided somatic-expressive encounters with the natural world for the past 25 years in the United States and Europe.
Continuing Education Credits This course meets the qualifications for 100 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavior Sciences. Holos Institute is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs.
There is an additioanl fee of $40 for the CEU certificate (this will be worked into your final invoice upon application acceptance).
Holos maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Holos Institute is a CAMFT Approved CEU Provider #90905
At the completion of this program, trainees will be able to:
- Describe the theoretical base of ecopsychology
- List at least 3 ways that it may be directly applied
- Describe an archetypal pattern of human response to the natural world
- Describe ways in which Permaculture may be applied to human psychology
- List 3 considerations of cultural/racial differences and ecotherapy
- Describe how environmental degradation impacts some groups mnore than others
- Discuss important BIPOC considerations vis-a-vis ecopsychology
- List the 5 most important considerations when doing outdoor psychotherapy
- Describe a working model of nature-based therapy with individuals
- Design and implement a nature-based exercise for group work
- Assess for clinical appropriateness for ecotherapy
- Describe an eco-somatic framework
- List at least 3 differences in working with individuals and groups in an ecotherapy frame
- Discuss and design a program to help alleviate climate change anxiety
- Discuss 2 ways in which to nurture resilience
- Explain considerations of diversity in environmental movement
- Design a ritual process that develops hope and deepens connection to landscape
- Describe at least 3 fundamental features in their landscape of origin and how that impacts consciousness
- List at least 3 ways that climate change creates anxiety
- List at least 2 approaches to addressing climate change anxiety