It has been sometime since I have taken a course that makes me think about specific therapies and their root beliefs/ways of understanding or seeing the world. I found it very interesting to revisit many of these, and learn a few new ones. The theme of understanding yourself was apparent, and something I have believed for a long time. Though I am not a therapist, as a teacher and principal who deals with dysregulated youth and staff I have come to learn very clearly what behaviours in others triggers things in myself. I know first-hand that if I do not address these issues and triggers then I cannot be of service to those around me with whom I work with, and even more important I will add to the issue rather than assist in resolving it. Sometimes it takes a while for me to accept that but as I evolve I notice that that time is less and less between realization of a trigger and looking directly at it and dealing with it. 

I found myself agreeing emphatically with the author about the importance of differentiated therapy. This is a daily practice in teaching and I see it as directly relatable to therapy as well where you are working with equally diverse individuals and learning styles. I regularly make decisions on how I feel and what would help me in any given situation and then try that out in the classroom; many times, it works. I do understand that therapy is quite different in the sense that someone is coming to you with specific needs, goals, desires, etc. Whereas school is somewhere we all have to be at some point in our lives. 

What I know is that the outdoors has almost always worked for the students I work with, as well as myself. I had never explicitly thought of it as therapy. I have thought of it as a self-regulation tool, I have even called it my “church”. If I did not have this daily dose of therapy, adventuring outside in some way, I would not be able to function in the world as I do. This fact made me think about what that would mean for me as a practicing therapist. Nature would be a key ingredient in my practice. Recently I was talking to the counsellor that comes to visit our school and we were discussing the importance of nature and getting out into it, he recommended some books but also sent this link which I will share here:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/01/call-to-wild/

Science is showing us what we intuitively know, being in nature is good for our bodies, minds and souls. I’m curious if anyone has experience with nature therapy or resources they would like to share? Also, which therapies that have been introduced to us in Chapters 1 &2 would be most effective when integrated with adventure/outdoor therapy? Are adventure and outdoor therapy the same thing?