Outdoor Therapy

Youth Flourish Outdoors is a Business 2 Business Health Promotion charity. Our job is to help other organisations run adventure therapy that works for their young people.

• Trauma focused adventure therapy for adolescents
• Adult training
• B2B mentoring and capacity building
• Adventure based youth work
• Volunteers and interns are welcome

Adversity during childhood leaves tell-tale signs. Complex trauma focused adventure therapy heals. Keeping it simple: Learn – Flourish – Grow

See also:

• School of Outdoor Therapeutic Practice
• The EMU Files

MySUMMIT ABS offers adventure-based activities to support children, young people and families with their behavioural, psychological, and psychosocial development. Our approach can appeal to those hesitant and less responsive to traditional interventions.

Our programs are underpinned by trauma-informed and evidence-based practices. They are provided in individual and small group settings that focus on increasing participants’ mental and physical health and overall wellbeing. Our intensive support is delivered by experienced and accredited professionals who encompass our four core values of Integrity, Respect, Empower and Safety.

The Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy Inc. is a professional body for practitioners who have an interest in supporting, developing and promoting the field of Bush Adventure Therapy in Australia. The breadth of our work is guided by our intended actions document. We encourage interested persons to connect with the association and get involved in the many areas of work the association is engaged with.

Blue Peter The Sea School delivers fun programs with a heightened sense of adventure by using both literal and metaphorical voyages of discovery. Activities such as sailing, snorkelling, paddling, bushwalking, island camping and sunset reflections help us to learn about the magnificent ocean and how we can use our strengths wisely. We pay close attention to creating a safe, positive learning environment for all participants, trainees and staff. Our skippers are truly amazing, you will love it!

Blue Peter is our training program for sea leaders, focussed on skills development, group facilitation and personal growth through adventure education and expeditionary learning processes.

Adventure Therapy Expeditions

Bornhoffen is Police-Citizens Youth Club’s (PCYC) Leadership Development Centre, a not for profit community organisation and social enterprise located at Natural Bridge in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The purpose is to inspire young people to be self aware, to build their social skills and to contribute positively to their community.

Services include:

• Group Accommodation and Conference/Retreat Facilities
• Professional Catering or Self Catering
• School Outdoor Education Programs
• Youth Leadership Programs
• Centre-based or Expedition Programs
• Youth at Risk Intervention Programs in partnership with other agencies

Birdwings Forest School teaches intuitive nature connection through play in wild spaces. We strengthen connection to Country and promote an inclusive and sustainable culture committed to ecological projects and the conservation of wild nature. Our mentoring practices are based on a trauma-informed approach encouraging individual growth and confidence through challenge, creativity and therapeutic nature connection practices.

Held Outside provides nature connection experiences, often called nature therapy or forest bathing, for everyday adults and families. We can all benefit from the therapy nature offers, but sometimes we don’t know how or where to start.

Held Outside hosts public walks as well as private groups on Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi land (Sunshine Coast, Australia) and online nature connection video calls in the spirit of raising awareness of nature relationship for our ecological, community and individual wellbeing.

Nature in Mind Psychology is a Brisbane-based private practice that provides psychological support for a range of issues and offers a unique and effective approach to therapy. Nature in Mind combines the outdoors with traditional psychological practice.

Heartwood Nature Bathing offers mindful outdoor experiences that support the health, wellbeing and happiness of both people and the planet. Gentle wanders, inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, help people to slow down and connect with nature in a conscious and contemplative way. The practice is trauma informed, and open to a wide range of people and abilities.

Drop Into Nature is a Brisbane based forest therapy provider run by Cerae Mitchell, a fully certified Forest Therapy Guide with the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA). She has over 18 years of experience in education, environmental engagement, and creative practices, and her passion lies in helping people connect with nature, slow down, and experience the therapeutic benefits of the natural world.

Through guided Forest Therapy walks, she creates opportunities for participants to connect deeply with the natural world, promoting mindfulness, wellbeing, and a sense of calm. Drawing on her experience in education and creative practices, she brings a thoughtful and intuitive approach to facilitating these transformative experiences.

Forest and Nature Therapy, also known as Shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing,” originated in Japan in the 1980s as a public health practice. It has since gained worldwide recognition as a scientifically proven approach to improving mental, emotional, and physical health.

Forest Therapy is not about hiking or strenuous exercise—it’s about slowing down and mindfully connecting with the natural environment. During a Forest Therapy session, participants are invited to engage their senses and experience nature in a calm and intentional way.

Shift your minds Outdoors …

Bringing the outdoors into the mental health landscape.

The Nature-based Health Alliance (NHA) of Queensland is proud to take a pioneering step toward redefining well-being through connection with the outdoors. Envisioned as the peak body for outdoor therapeutic and well-being practices, the NHA serves as a unified voice, championing the integration of outdoor therapies into Queensland’s health and mental health frameworks. NHA was formed over several sector consultations as a result of the Outdoor
Therapy and Mental Health summit, in Brisbane on 9 July 2024.

Rooted in the principles of harnessing nature’s healing potential, our alliance works collaboratively with partners, practitioners, and policymakers to develop accessible, effective, and community-driven solutions. The NHA is proud to be supported by Outdoors Queensland, the state’s peak body for outdoor activities and recreation. This partnership ensures that all initiatives, including the establishment of the NHA, are aligned with the highest standards of
governance and advocacy for outdoor health initiatives.

Shifting minds: The Queensland Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan 2023–2028 is the Queensland Government’s five-year plan to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders.

It focuses on preventing and reducing the impact of mental ill-health, problematic alcohol and other drug use, and suicide.

It sets the vision and direction towards achieving a whole-of-community, whole-of-person and whole-of-system approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Green Prescribing

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the profound impact that nature and community-based activities can have on mental and physical health. One innovative approach emerging from this awareness is green prescribing—a social prescription model that links individuals with non-clinical, nature-based interventions to improve health and wellbeing.

What Is Green Prescribing?

Green prescribing, also known as nature prescribing, is a form of social prescribing whereby healthcare professionals—such as GPs, nurses, or social workers—refer patients to nature-based activities as a way to support their health. These activities can include:

• Walking groups or guided nature walks
• Community gardening or allotment work
• Conservation volunteering
• Outdoor exercise programmes
• Forest bathing or mindfulness in nature

Unlike conventional medicine, green prescribing addresses the root causes of health problems by promoting social connection, physical activity, and a relationship with the natural environment.

Benefits to Individuals

1. Improved Mental Health
Spending time in green spaces is consistently linked with reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression. Engaging in nature-based activities offers a calming environment that promotes mindfulness and emotional regulation.

2. Enhanced Physical Health
Many green prescribing initiatives involve moderate physical activity, such as walking or gardening, which can help manage conditions like obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Regular physical movement also boosts cardiovascular health and immune function.

3. Increased Social Connection
Loneliness and isolation are significant contributors to poor mental and physical health. Green prescriptions often involve group activities, which foster social bonds and a sense of belonging, especially for those who are otherwise socially isolated.

4. Empowerment and Self-efficacy
By participating in accessible and purposeful activities, individuals gain a sense of achievement and control over their health, which can improve self-esteem and motivation.

Benefits to Society

1. Stronger Communities
Green prescribing promotes local engagement, encouraging people to participate in community gardens, volunteer-led conservation projects, and social walking groups. This fosters community resilience and cohesion.

2. Environmental Awareness
As individuals spend more time in nature and contribute to environmental projects, their awareness of ecological issues increases. This can lead to more environmentally conscious behaviours and community-led sustainability initiatives.

3. Reducing Health Inequalities
Nature-based interventions are often low-cost or free and can be delivered in diverse settings, including urban areas. This makes green prescribing a valuable tool for reaching underserved populations who might struggle to access traditional health services.

Benefits to Health Systems

1. Reducing Demand on Primary and Secondary Care
Green prescribing can reduce the burden on GPs and hospitals by providing non-medical support for conditions that are often exacerbated by social or psychological factors. This includes issues such as chronic stress, mild to moderate depression, and lifestyle-related diseases.

2. Cost-effectiveness
By preventing the escalation of chronic conditions and reducing the need for medication, green prescribing can contribute to long-term savings in healthcare budgets. It is a low-cost, high-impact approach that complements clinical treatments.

3. Holistic, Preventative Care
Green prescribing reflects a shift towards more holistic and preventative models of care. It aligns with public health priorities that seek to address social determinants of health and promote wellbeing rather than just treat illness.

Conclusion

Green prescribing is a compelling example of how health systems can innovate to meet the complex needs of individuals and communities. By leveraging the natural environment as a resource for healing and connection, it not only supports individual health and happiness but also fosters resilient communities and more sustainable healthcare systems. As evidence of its effectiveness grows, green prescribing is poised to become an integral part of 21st-century public health strategies.

Source: ChatGPT