Coming back to Earth.
When the modern world feels like a runaway train, connecting to nature can be a balm to our frazzled hearts and minds.
Most of us have absorbed the idea that we are separate from nature. This separation is needed for us to participate in systems that exploit people and planet. What if there were another way?
What changes when we see ourselves as part of an ecosystem, interconnected with all the other parts? Where traditional psychology focusses mainly on the individual, Ecopsychology shows us the bigger picture by seeing the individual within the whole system.
When we see the world with these eyes, we can transform our guilt and shame into care and compassion. We discover new ways of being in the world and are more effective in taking action.
You will be surprised how quickly your perspective shifts when we work together in partnership with nature.
You will be surprised how quickly your perspective shifts when we work together in partnership with nature.
Ecotherapy helps when...
✔ You care deeply about the world.
✔ You don't have a place for your eco-emotions.
✔ You don't feel like you belong in mainstream society.
✔ You want to step into deeper relationship with the natural world.
✔ You would like to build your emotional resilience.
Eco-anxiety
Whether you work on environmental issues or are a concerned citizen, the state of the world can bring up some powerful emotions.
Eco-anxiety and climate distress can be debilitating, leading to burnout and compassion fatigue - a feeling of not being able to care anymore.
Many people find that their eco-emotions are dismissed or that other people don't want to hear about it.
I help you process your feelings around the climate and environmental emergency in 1:1 coaching sessions and group Climate Circles.
And I support teams who are confronted daily with the realities of making change in this world.
Lighten the emotional load so you can keep showing up for a better world.
Ecotherapy
Instinctively we know that nature is good for us and that's backed up by research. Ecotherapy helps us connect to nature in a deeper way.
It's no longer about what nature can do for you in an exploitative way but about a reciprocal relationship.
As we develop respect and reverence for the natural world, we learn to show it to ourselves too. As we look deeply into nature, we are shown what we need to learn.
How would I describe an ecotherapy session? It's an outdoor coaching session where we partner with nature.
I think you'll really like it.
Feel less alone
Immerse yourself in nature and build community with the more-than-human world.
Take effective action
Connect to a more grounded way of being so you can take engaged and effective action.
More joy and wonder
Experience a new world of fascination and possibility. Feel more joy and more peace.
At home in the world
Cut yourself some slack. It's not all on you. Nothing ever changed from a place of guilt and shame.
Deepen your connection.
Finding stable ground.
Being more connected to nature has changed my life in so many ways. I am calmer, happier and more grounded in myself and in this place.
I used to spend my winters in the mountains in a breathtakingly beautiful place. One year, I read an article about forest bathing and nature prescriptions.
That was the start of my journey back to nature. I had to relearn that nature is not only the spectacular and the faraway but is all around us.
A few years later when I learned about Ecopsychology, it was such a relief. I wished I'd known sooner that there was language for what I was struggling with when I was working in sustainability.
Today I share this this accessible nature-based approach with others, giving them pockets of rest in their everyday lives and inviting a deeper, more reciprocal connection with the natural world.
I find solace in nature where the everyday comings and goings of the more-than-human world never cease to amaze and entertain me.
My personal practice is to tread lightly on the Earth and walk in reverence and gratitude.
Let's be practical.
What is ecotherapy? Is it one set of instructions or practices?
Ecotherapy is nature-based therapy and it includes many different practices. I tailor the approach to your needs so it may include a walk and talk session, Forest Mind or forest bathing exercises, using natural objects to represent or map something out, mindful walking, gentle movement, opening the senses, finding symbols to help us put things into words, bringing our attention to the wounded places in nature... there are so many beautiful possibilities.
How much does it cost?
For a 1:1 ecotherapy session, my coaching rates apply. For teams, prices vary depending on the activity. You could book a teambuilding activity, a group walk or sharing circle in nature or a tailored intervention around a particular theme. Contact me to discuss your needs.
How long does a session last?
This depends on your needs but a 1:1 session is usually 1 hour. Longer sessions are available on request. Group sessions are usually longer.
How often are the 1:1 sessions?
This is up to you. Many people have a session every 2 weeks, more often if they need it. Outdoor sessions can be combined with indoor or online coaching sessions.
How many sessions do I need?
As many as you want. Most people sign up for a series of ecotherapy or coaching sessions. For some people, the journey goes on for years and for others, it can be a few weeks around a particular question.
Where do we meet?
There are a few different locations in Brussels, mostly parks and woods. We can discuss what works best for you. We can also meet near Leuven.
Can we meet online?
Surprisingly, yes. If we’re not able to meet in-person for ecotherapy sessions, we can meet online for coaching and include tailored ecotherapy practices for you to do between our sessions.
What if it rains? Can we still go out?
If the weather is really unfriendly then we might move to an indoor session or find another date. From a safety point of view, we only postpone if high winds make it dangerous to be in the woods. A bit of rain is not normally an issue once we get into the trees.
Do I need special equipment?
We won’t be climbing mountains so not really. I suggest wearing long sleeves and long trousers. Comfortable shoes and a raincoat are a good idea. And sun protection when needed.
Do I need to be super fit?
No, I'm not so the pace will be gentle and we don’t walk very far. If you have any challenges standing for a while or walking on uneven ground, let me know and I will adapt the session and the location to meet your needs.
Help is available.
If you are experiencing eco-anxiety and climate distress, you are not broken and you are not alone. We are all at different stages in this process. When your worries are overwhelming, you can get stuck in survival mode which is exhausting. We work together so you can manage your fears and move forward in your life.
I need to save myself.
Sometimes it feels like you're done and you can't care anymore. Often described as compassion fatigue, feeling this way can be a real blow to the psyche and can lead to existential crisis and doom. Connecting to the world outside you through ecotherapy helps you reconnect to your sense of meaning and motivation.
Nature has your back.
Despite what we may think about being human on the planet today, nature still welcomes us into reciprocal relationship. As you learn to move respectfully in the natural world, you feel held by both the guide and the environment.
It's not airy-fairy.
It's not, I promise. I take a practical approach to being in relationship with the natural world, to giving back and finding peace within. I draw on many different practices and teachers and have trauma-informed coaching and Ecopsychology at the core of my approach.
You don't have to move to an off-grid commune.
Unless of course you want to. Ecotherapy is accessible to everyone. You don't have to feel aligned with any specific views or ways of life.
