Outdoor Therapy Centre Podcast

Will Dobud and Nevin Harper have a new book coming out on the 30th of September called Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health. Daniel turned the podcast around and interviewed Will and Nevin on this discussion about the new book and why outdoor therapy enthusiasts may be interested.

Kids These Days was endorsed by trauma-expert Dr. Bruce Perry who "highly recommended" the book and advocate for safer therapeutic programs, Paris Hilton, who called it a "protest book" and a "must read."

You can preorder the book on Amazon here or listen to the audiobook narrated by Tim Morgan on Audible.

To learn more about the book, visit www.kidsthesedaysbook.com.

Thanks for your ongoing support!

If you've been lucky enough to visit to Asheville, North Carolina, you know how special that place is. Matt Nannis moved to Asheville, NC in 2013 realized quite quickly that he never wanted to leave.

In this episode, Daniel and Will talk with Matt about all things related to starting PIVOTPoint WNC. This is an innovative therapeutic adventure company that harnesses the power of nature to drive transformation. One important theme is how learning about the local area, the culture, the regulations, and land-use policies can really help to create a thriving and sustainable organization...AND...meet good people who can support your work along the way!

Matt strives to bring Mary Oliver’s Instructions for Living a Life to others: “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

Useful Links

PIVOTPoint WNC

Matt's Interview on Stories From The Field

Matt's Interview on Nature Untold

In early September, Will hosted his annual Outdoor Therapy Series for Social Sciences Week. You can find the recordings and recordings from previous years here. That's more than 30 hours of free presentations from experts in the outdoor therapy universe.

This is the best! A great conversation with Katie Asmus!

Katie Asmus is a Somatic and Nature-Based Psychotherapist. With a Master’s degree in Somatic Psychology, over 30 years of leading individuals and group programs out in nature, and a lifetime of apprenticing to ceremony and rites of passage, Katie says the essence of her work is normalizing, celebrating, and bringing compassion to what it means to be human.  

For the past 20 years, alongside maintaining a private psychotherapy practice, she has taught graduate students at Naropa University and Prescott College in the areas of Somatic and Nature-based Therapies. In addition, through the Somatic Wilderness Therapy Institute (and in collaboration with other inspiring colleagues), she created and facilitates both online and in-person workshops and trainings in Somatic Trauma work, Ceremony & Rites of Passage facilitation, as well as in a wide variety of wilderness, adventure, and nature-based therapy skills. Having sat with thousands of people from around the world and from all walks of life, Katie is a tender of the thresholds and strongly believes in the necessity of following our deepest longing while simultaneously knowing and feeling our interconnection and belonging to the greater web of life.

Relevant Links

Somatic Nature Therapy Institute

More About Katie

Psychology Today

LinkedIn

Katie on Will White's Stories from the Field

Katie on The Awakened Therapist

Katie on Therapy in the Great Outdoors

More Ways to Connect

Social Sciences Week Outdoor Therapy Series 2025

New Name, Same Podcast ! Well...Daniel and Will got a bit too busy, but we're back for our third season. Thank you for downloading the Outdoor Therapy Centre Podcast with the super fun Becky Robbins!

About Becky

Becky Robbins lives in Western Washington, a fourth generation resident and descendant of settlers who came to this land, land that belongs to and has been tended by the Coast Salish, Duwamish, Suquamish, and Tulalip tribal people. Becky is both a steward and lover of this land. She loves her work as an ecotherapist, naturalist, outdoor adventurer and educator.

Becky spends equal time in the mystical and practical worlds, with earth-based spirituality and shamanism to scientific research-based practices in her work and personal life. Becky has a passion for people and learning, as well as collaborating with colleagues!

You can find Becky on Instagram @beautyeverywherepnw and her website https://innerphoenix.net

Becky owns a private therapy practice where she sees individual adult clients of all ages. She offers both continuing education classes for therapists and education for the general public on nature and spiritual topics applied to our steps and growth along life’s journey. And she volunteers as a steward for local parks and through the Mountaineers (http://www.mountaineers.org) by leading hikes, nature and mindfulness walks, backpacking trips, and other fun adventures.

Dr. Esther Ayers, obtained a PhD in Chicano/Latino Studies at Michigan State University, is a dedicated researcher and advocate for mental health in Latinx communities. With a Master's degree in Interpersonal Practice from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her qualitative research focuses on Latinx experiences, Adventure Therapy, and Community Mental Health that infuses methods and theories that are culturally congruent. Esther has presented her research at  the Association of Experiential Education Symposium. Driven by a commitment to service, Esther engages in various forms of community outreach combined with being a member with Association of Experiential Education and National Association of Social Work. Esther Ayers is an influential scholar, researcher, and therapist dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Latinx communities through her interdisciplinary work. On Esther's spare time she enjoys spending time with family/friends in the outdoors, listening to music and dancing. 

Useful Links

Esther's MSU Spotlight

Esther's Website

Esther's CV

Therapy for Latinx Profile

In his free time, Dr. Cian Brown enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing and bouldering, despite not being a huge fan of heights. In this episode, we talk about specific activities in adventure therapy, Cian's passion for getting outside with students, and nerd out on a little research.

Lots of letters follow Dr. Brown's name! He is a licensed counselor, Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (CCAT), and Board Certified in Neurofeedback, Fellow (BCN-Fellow) with a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision from the University of Arkansas specializing in Adventure Therapy. Cian is also the co-founder of the Center for Outdoor Therapy and Education at the University of Oklahoma.

Relevant Links

Center for Outdoor Therapy and Education

Cian's Website

Cian's Google Scholar Site

Zoe Jack, LCSW-C is the Director of the Center for Nature Informed Therapy in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the author of the new book Social Work Outside: Evidence Based, Micro and Macro Perspectives. This year, Zoe has been on a "tour" travelling to social work conferences advocating for bringing nature into social work practice. We hope you enjoy the fun episode!

For those interested in painting there office like Zoe's, here you go: Laurel Tree Behr Paint

Useful Links

Social Work Outside

Zoe's New Book

Center for Nature Informed Therapy

Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan

Zoe's Instagram

Center for Nature Informed Therapy Instagram

Gary describes himself as "happily retired," so we knew it was time to rope him in for a fun discussion about his productive and meaningful career as both a social worker and leading contributor to adventure therapy knowledge. Gary is the co-author of many impactful adventure therapy articles and numerous books, including the recent Adventure Group Psychotherapy.

Useful Links

⁠Adventure Group Psychotherapy⁠

⁠Power of One: Using Adventure and Experiential Activities within One on One Counseling Sessions⁠

⁠Power of Family⁠

⁠Musings on Adventure Therapy⁠

⁠Gary's AEE Member Spotlight⁠

Before we begin, everyone should head to this link and get professionally connected with Max!

Max joins the podcast to share how his international experience in the United States, Scotland, and Spain - as well as many other adventures - informs his work with adolescents in the outdoors. The group talks about field siestas, Camino de Santiago routes, and running individualized expeditions. Max is a representative for Adventure Therapy Europe and brings experience from outdoor education, wilderness therapy in the United States, and residential care to his current practice. Together with Daniel and Will, Max discusses how every day with clients is an adventure.

Useful Links

Adventure Therapy Europe Roundtable Representatives

Madrid Outdoor Education

Here is Max's LinkedIn Account...Again

Today we talk with Dr Scott D Miller, the co-founder of the International Center for Clinical Excellence and a leading voice in understanding what works in therapy and how practitioners can get better at doing it. As a practicing psychologist, Scott often provides pro bono services to the financially underprivileged. In this podcast, we discuss Will's average outcomes, how psychotherapy lost its magic, and the role of deliberate practice in highly effective practitioners. Scott provides his views on psychotherapy evidence and why practice-based evidence will always trump evidence-based practice. We will provide links and announcements shortly for the free training in March with Scott Miller (and Will and Dan just kind of hanging out in the background). 

Contact Us to Join the ATOM 

Complete the Adventure Therapy Education Survey

Useful Links