Coaching Outdoors

“Being outside in nature, and especially moving in nature, are backed up by science as the major ways to fire up creativity” 

Garry is the author of “The Creativity Factor”, which uncovers the importance of creativity in business success and clarifies how you can use time spent outdoors to fully harness your creative potential. From being the co-founder of multiple tech start-ups, and entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Bath, to leading walking events in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and beyond, Garry found his thinking ‘space’ and inspiration outside, with the absolute conviction a desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world. 

Discover how the numbers 23-3-3 are fundamental to spending time immersed in nature, how the what3words app can actively fire the imagination and the innate power of natural story telling. Garry highlights the need to shift our deeply embedded business culture perceptions, where activities indoors are classified as ‘work’ as opposed to outdoors ‘leisure’.

This episode is packed full of the latest science and recommended resources which signpost a whole new level of creativity to enhance your imagination and deepened your coaching conversations. 
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“I realised I’d lost a part of me; it was so amazing for me to come back to nature”.

Marie Dove is a nature-based women’s life coach and founder of The Campfire Community, a monthly circle for women who crave real, meaningful connection to themselves, each other, and the natural world.

Join us as we explore her backstory. As a child, Marie had a profound connection to nature, however, as a teenager and young adult, she became disconnected from it and in turn herself. Marie was lucky enough to find her way back to the connection she experienced as a child and describes this as like coming home to herself and her own true nature.

This experience led Marie to train in coaching and combine her passion for supporting people with her love of and connection to the natural world. Marie feels a deep knowing that the way for us to heal, thrive and live the life we want, is to come back to our roots, to cultivate a deep connection to the natural world, to nature’s seasonal cycles, bringing us back to ourselves, our own true nature and each other.

Marie runs women’s circles, she is passionate about creating deeper connections between people, being able to see and support each other beneath the layers, opinions and divisions that are created in the world. She also works one to one, in partnership with nature, supporting women to live a more connected and meaningful life.

Coaching and circles usually happen seated around a fire in beautiful woodland, but Marie also coaches online and runs online circles and workshops.
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“I’ve always used the outdoors as my toolkit. It’s what I call my Natural Health Service and I believe everyone should have access to it.” – Alex Staniforth

 Alex Staniforth and Chris Spray are the masterminds behind Mind Over Mountains, a charity whose tagline “Restoring mental health, naturally” conveys their collective passion and vision. The stark realisation by Alex that it took longer to access NHS mental health services than it did to cycle and run 5,000 miles (8000km) around the highest county tops of the United Kingdom (72 days) fuelled his desire to help others access the outdoors to manage their mental health. 

 The charity offers open public one day hill walks and retreats for those in need, supported by a phenomenal team of coaches and psychotherapists across Snowdonia, Peak District, Dartmoor, Chilterns and the Lake District. These events are simply life-changing as individuals have the space and time to walk alongside others in a different environment. 

 Discover how the collaborative partnership of Alex and Chris resulted in the co-creation of Mind Over Mountains, the Benedictine philosophy of ‘perfect hospitality’ that lies at the heart of each event and details of their vital work in of support front-line emergency service members post-COVID amongst others. 

  

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“Connecting with nature, it’s like giving your brain a mini vacation.” Pam Cho

Pam Cho is an Executive Coach and certified Forest Therapy Guide from Cincinnati, Ohio, no stranger to the coaching world, Pam has over seventeen years of coaching experience. However, it’s only in the last two years Pam discovered the power of outdoor coaching. She shares insights and anecdotes on the incredible client transformations she has personally observed from taking this path into nature.

Join us as we explore Pam’s backstory from the ocean, to hitting a wall of online coaching at the beginning of the pandemic, to taking her practice outdoors and witnessing the power of nature on her clients. Pam shares some great techniques which she uses in collaboration with nature.

Pam steps into the client’s world to understand first what being outdoors means to them, and what works for them however small that time may be. Pam talks about the presence of nature, closing your eyes and grounding, “feeling bad energy come out and good energy going in”, and the positive effects of fractals on your brain, all of which result in a more creative, productive coaching session. 

Lastly, learn how Pam gifts her clients “nature in a bag” to sustain their connection with nature.
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ 

 #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“Dogs have a real potential impact on our capacity to flourish and sustain our capacity to flourish. It’s hard out there in the world and we need all the help we can get.”

In this episode of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast we are joined by another duo, but this time one of them has 4 paws and a shiny nose.

Meet Clive Leach, outdoor coach, positive psychologist and wellbeing hospital volunteer, and Miss May, his beautiful 3 year old Golden Doodle “Pets As Therapy” pup.

Clive shares with us the serendipitous events that lead to him welcoming May into their family and work, and how, in the last year, they have become “Pets as Therapy” hospital volunteers.

Clive shares some really heartfelt and truly inspiring stories about how he brings Miss May into his work outdoor coaching in organisations, and volunteering in hospitals and education settings.

Clive’s background and qualifications in Positive Psychology and Miss May’s amazing skills at bringing positivity and happiness to people’s lives, puts her in a perfect position to be called a #permapup (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments).

Spending time with dogs has the ability to help us become more present, to calm our mind, to boost our mood and to just… be.

“Dogs have a real potential impact on our capacity to flourish and sustain our capacity to flourish. It’s hard out there in the world and we need all the help we can get.”

In this episode of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast we are joined by another duo, but this time one of them has 4 paws and a shiny nose.

Meet Clive Leach, outdoor coach, positive psychologist and wellbeing hospital volunteer, and Miss May, his beautiful 3 year old Golden Doodle “Pets As Therapy” pup.

Clive shares with us the serendipitous events that lead to him welcoming May into their family and work, and how, in the last year, they have become “Pets as Therapy” hospital volunteers.

Clive shares some really heartfelt and truly inspiring stories about how he brings Miss May into his work outdoor coaching in organisations, and volunteering in hospitals and education settings.

Clive’s background and qualifications in Positive Psychology and Miss May’s amazing skills at bringing positivity and happiness to people’s lives, puts her in a perfect position to be called a #permapup (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments).

Spending time with dogs has the ability to help us become more present, to calm our mind, to boost our mood and to just… be.

 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“Worldwide, everyone everywhere can step forward to truly #EmbraceEquity”

In recognition of International Women’s Day 2023 we would like to honour the amazing female guests we have had on the Coaching Outdoors Podcast. 

We have selected a short snippet of each lady’s podcast to highlight the insight and experience they have to share. And maybe to entice you to watch their episode if you haven’t already.

From examples of what brought them to outdoor coaching in the first place and what benefits they and their clients get from the experience, to examples of what methods they use and how they have coped with the unexpected. Along with the importance of coaching with the environment in mind. These clips give you an idea of the wonderful women we have been lucky enough to feature on the podcast so far.

Outdoor coaching is a truly inclusive way of coaching, with something for everyone.

For more information about International Women’s Day 2023 visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/


Speakers, and their episode, in order of appearance:

Penelope Mavor – Episode 31
Jennifer Wills – Episode 24
Gerdi Verwoert – Episode 26
Cat Boersma – Episode 34
Rose Dixey – Episode 39
Catherine Gorham – Episode 18
Jacqueline Harris – Episode 19
Cat Trebilco – Episode 6
Alex Burn – Episode 15
Christiana Frischmuth – Episode 17
Diana Tedoldi – Episode 9
Karen Liebenguth – Episode 3
Claudia Geratz – Episode 36
Rachel Woods – Episode 7
Anna-Marie Watson – Episode 15
Lizzie Larbalestier – Episode 8
Susan Joachim – Episode 38
Ruth Steggles – Episode 39
Elen Sentier – Episode 42
Elle Smith – Episode 21
Gwyneth Jones – Episode 22
Liz Hall – Episode 13
Lesley Roberts – Episode 20
Anna Brown – Episode 40

“Allow nature to do the work” Peter Krijger 

Peter Krijger and Coen van Broekhoven have amassed a phenomenal forty years plus of outdoor coaching between them. Step back in time to discover when Peter established the Atma Institute in Amersfoort in the Netherlands in the late 1990s and was later joined by ex-student Coen. The Institute offers programmes from one day introductory or two day advanced ‘Wandelcoaching’ translated as ‘Walking coaching’ to use nature’s symbols. 

Simplicity lies at the heart of their work where the power of two questions; What do you notice? What does it symbolise? invites their coaching clients to connect with both wider nature and the inner nature within themselves. Peter and Coen bring their knowledge and experience to life with stories of a dead bird, a tree amongst a forest and how to find your inner king or queen. 
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“I think the basis of all Old Ways, all around the world, is about that connection between the planet we live on because we can’t live without it, and the sun which enables the planet to come alive.”

Our guest, Elen Sentier’s, journey to outdoor coaching is a winding road, from being a dancer, working at the MOD and training as a Transpersonal Psychotherapist, through to running her Wild Women Retreats in the scenic hills of Shropshire. At the route of everything is her connection with nature and her grounding in the Old Ways, the British Native Traditions that she grew up emersed in, the hills of Dartmoor and Exmore.

Elen loves to encourage her clients, mostly women, who reach out to her to release their badass selves on her Wild Women Retreats, connecting with nature and their inner selves.

Her father asked her, as a child, “What makes your heart sing?” and now Elen asks all her clients this question to help them to put the soul back into their life and business.

We have had previous guests who have shared how the Old Ways of their culture have influenced their outdoor coaching, and Elen’s experience with the British Native Traditions adds another example of these wonderful practices.

The podcast is dotted with really interesting stories that Elen shares, bringing these connections and feelings vividly to life for our audience.

 

 View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“Being in nature leads a bit of perspective; maybe your problems aren’t so earth-shattering. There’s a world out there which is bigger than you” 

 The client’s outdoor coaching experience takes centre stage as Ian Merrill shares his experience of partnering with our previous guest Paul Jefferies in this episode. Our conversations trace his initial love for nature back to his childhood in Cheshire and how he believes coaching outdoors is ‘supercharged’ in comparison to the traditional coaching indoors. 

 This episode covers how the undulating terrain of Macclesfield Forest mirrors the ebb and flow of ideas and reflections; shifts in perspective set against the expanse of nature and how the ‘commute’ to and from a coaching session can be used to prepare and process information. 

 
View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“The Systems Approach, put simply, is thinking about how everything is interrelated and interdependent”

In our 40th Podcast Episode, and the last one for season 4, we meet Anna Brown, Executive and Developmental Coach and Coach Supervisor.

Anna’s practice is informed by the Systems Approach, Systems Psychodynamic Approach and Adult Learning Theory, so we delve into these extremely interesting areas of Coaching and how Anna adapts them to be used outdoors. We chat about the opportunities for mirroring, metaphor and seeing patterns in the great outdoors.

Anna also describes her concept of slip streaming and how we can help our clients to nurture their soil to help them develop and nourish themselves.

Anna shares her recollections of living abroad as a child and how she noticed the way nature was similar but different between Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong and the UK. And we share a wonderful childhood memory of the book “The Folk from the Far Away Tree”.

A great podcast to round off series 4, released Tuesday 18th November.

Watch this space for an update on series 5.

If you have a topic you’d like us to include in a podcast, or you’d like to recommend anyone to be a guest on The Coaching Outdoors Podcast please get in touch. We always love suggestions and recommendations from our followers.
  

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently