Thriving Roots
Counselling Services
More info on Thriving Roots Counselling Services and Programs here.
Vanya Laporte
Director of Counselling Services and RCC
Vanya does all things behind the scenes to support Thriving Roots Counselling Services come to life. She also brings songs, stories, therapeutic skills and games to her nature-based counselling services as well as introducing kid-friendly mindfulness and somatic tools for helping to navigate the internal compass; emotions and conflict.
Why Nature-based Counselling?
There is a growing body of research and literature that discusses the benefits of children and adults spending time outdoors deeply connected to the natural world with so many therapeurtic benefits:
- Promotes healthy development in a stimulating learning environment (Louv, 2005; Selhub & Logan, 2012; Maynard, 2007).
- Enhances opportunities for free play that inspires creativity (Gray, 2013; Hughes, 2009).
- Encourages children to take appropriate risks to learn risk assessment and self-regulation (Gill, 2010).
- Fosters social skills and peer-group relations (Knight, 2013; Porter, 2003).
- Nurtures a connection to the natural world and an understanding of environmental stewardship (Chawla, 2007; O’Brien, 2009).
The particular activities that are woven into each counselling session are unique to each location, the clients’ needs and goals, and individual interests. However, there are a few common threads that help define what we do at nature-based counselling sessions:
- We use therapeutic nature-based skills and naturalist skills to support our collective learning and healing.
- It’s curiousity-led and includes spacious time for free exploration and play.
- Sessions use songs, stories, games, and gratitude practices to both inspire and support learning about our connection to nature, others, and self.
- We use somatic theory and creative methods to help support clients to remember and discover their gifts and resources.
- We utilize mindfulness/awareness principles to promote a conscious awareness of our thoughts, actions, and feelings.
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