The Nature of Mental Health

The Final Episode:

Will reflects on nine months of conversations about healing in nature, highlighting key insights from guests and emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with the natural world for mental health and community resilience.

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

In this episode, we explore how fly fishing serves as a therapeutic tool for recovery from substance use disorders, highlighting the inspiring stories of Becca Sue Klein, and discussing the deep connection between nature, healing, and community.

As Education Program Coordinator for Reeling in Serenity, this episode is important to me and I want to be vulnerable for a minute. I was so nervous recording this that I initially forgot to hit record. We were able to piece together a great episode full of important information and powerful moments, and, thankfully, I had a couple of suportive and wonderful guests that know me and could be that for me. I'm being vulnerable as a reminder, to myself and others, that we don't get it right all the time and when we need help, it is usually there waiting on us, just like it was for me when we recorded this.

In addition, please remember that your bids in the Reeling in Serenity online auction help support Reeling in Serenity’s mission to celebrate life free from addiction by embracing nature and the spiritual connection that fly fishing has brought so many. As a 100% volunteer organization, all auction proceeds go directly to the retreats in support of those who have chosen to live their personal truth.. We also serve as a safe space and resource for the sober fly angler who is doing the work one day at a time.

Guest Information:

• Guest Names: Board member Jason Causey and volunteer staff member Robery Schulze
• Links:

Website: reelinginserenity.org

Instagram: @reelinginserenity

Facebook: Reeling in Serenity

2026 National Recovery Month Online Auction: https://reelinginserenity.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/RIS-2026-Auction

Becca Sue Klein's All Kids Fish: https://chattahoochee.org/allkidsfish/

iFishIBelong: https://ifishibelong.org/

Key Topics:

• The role of fly fishing in mental health and recovery
• Becca Klein's passion and legacy in fly fishing and healing
• Rob Schulze's personal journey with addiction and fly fishing
• The therapeutic attributes of fly fishing: mindfulness, observation, patience
• The importance of connection to nature and loved ones through fishing
• The creation and growth of Reeling and Serenity as a nonprofit
• The spiritual and emotional significance of water and fly fishing
• The mental health benefits of mindfulness and moving meditation in nature

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

In this episode, William Henry interviews Tom Cramer, Director of Operations for Fishing the Good Fight, about the transformative power of fly fishing and community in supporting men's mental health. They explore the origins, structure, and impact of retreats that combine nature, therapy, and peer support to foster healing and connection.

Guest Information

• Guest Name: Tom Cramer
• Bio: From a life-changing start at YMCA Camp Minikani in Milwaukee, WI, Tom has dedicated his career to creating transformative experiences. His path has included serving as an AmeriCorps member at Playworks-Wisconsin and leadership roles at YMCA Camp Minikani and Northwest Catholic School. Driven by a passion for equity, he co-founded and led Project Kindred for seven years, fostering community and leadership among diverse youth. Now, as Director of Operations at Fishing the Good Fight, Tom applies his firsthand knowledge of experiential learning and community to expand the program’s impact on men’s well-being.

Links:

Website: fishingthegoodfight.org

Instagram: @fishingthegoodfight

Facebook: Fishing The Good Fight

Key Topics

• Origins of Fishing the Good Fight
• The three-pronged approach: fly fishing, community, and therapy
• Barriers and stigma faced by men in seeking mental health support
• The impact of community and vulnerability in healing
• The structure and experience of retreats
• Psychological benefits of fly fishing and nature
• Maintaining community beyond retreats
• How retreats foster safety and vulnerability
• Volunteer and participant experiences and stories

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

In a world where adventure and healing seem reserved for the young, Brad Ryan's story defies expectations. His journey with his grandmother, Grandma Joy, who at 85 had never seen a mountain or ocean, took them through all 63 U.S. national parks over eight years. Their travels not only reshaped their relationship but also challenged societal views on aging and mental health. In this episode, we explore the remarkable insights from Brad's book, Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time, and uncover the profound lessons that nature can teach us about life, family, and resilience.

Guest Information

• Guest Name: Brad Ryan
• Bio: Brad Ryan is a veterinarian, wildlife conservationist, social media influencer, and writer from southeastern Ohio. He earned his BA from Miami University in Ohio, an MSc in mammalian biology from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and a DVM/MPH combined degree from The Ohio State University, specializing in wildlife medicine and veterinary public health. For Brad, storytelling is a vehicle for healing—rooted in empathy, inspired by nature, and driven by a desire to help others feel seen and connected. As a keynote speaker, he champions LGBTQ+ inclusion in the outdoors, eliminating stigma around mental health, and the protection of wildlife and public lands.

• Links:

Website: doctorbradyan.com

Instagram: @grandmajoysroadtrip

Facebook: Grandma Joy's Road Trip

Key Topics:

• The journey of visiting all 63 US national parks with Grandma Joy
• The role of nature in healing mental health and trauma
• The importance of vulnerability and authenticity in relationships
• The concept of awe and wonder as a connection to something larger
• The impact of shared experiences across generations
• The significance of fire as a symbol of life and transformation
• The influence of nature on self-perception and aging
• The importance of disconnection from technology to reconnect with nature and self

Resources:

• The Global Protagonists
• Bookshop.org
• Curio Room

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

In this episode, Dr. Jon Gorman discusses the psychological impacts of climate change, the importance of reconnecting with nature and community, and practical ways to cope with climate anxiety. His insights offer a pathway to resilience and purpose amidst environmental crises.

Guest Information

• Guest Name: Jon Gorman, PsyD
• Bio: Dr. Gorman is a licensed clinical psychologist and owner of Towson Therapy Group, a group psychotherapy practice in Towson, Maryland. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Gorman’s professional focus is the psychological impacts of climate change and what to do about it. He is an active member of Climate Psychology Alliance of North America and Healthy Climate Maryland, and he is listed on the Climate Aware Therapist Directory. Dr. Gorman has testified in front of the Maryland General Assembly in support of climate legislation and has presented on the topic to legislators around the United States. In addition, he taught Loyola University’s first course on the Psychology of the Climate Crisis.

Website: Towson Therapy Group

Key Topics:

• Climate-related mental health challenges
• The importance of emotional awareness and expression
• Strategies for reconnecting with nature and community
• The role of individual actions and collective advocacy
• The concept of islands of sanity amidst environmental chaos

Resources:

• Climate Psychology Alliance of North America
• Healthy Climate Maryland
• Climate Aware Therapist Directory
• Bookshop.org
• Curio Room

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

In this episode, Ally-Anne Rigoli-Redd shares her journey into nature-based therapy, exploring eco-somatic practices, ancestral animism, and the power of ritual in healing. Discover how reconnecting with nature and embodied rhythms can transform mental health and foster deep presence

Guest Information

• Guest Name: Ally-Anne Rigoli-Redd
• Bio: Ally-Anne is an ecosomatic nature-based therapist, yoga teacher, writer, and hedgewitch. She works with folks experiencing an array of mental health challenges to reweave the ecological self and find healing through relationship with nature. She specializes in integrating ancestral embodied animism, which involves the return to the seasonal rhythm, earthen ritual and spirituality, and the wisdom of plants. In her down time, she can be found reading and canoodling one of her 6 cats or dog.

Links:

YouTube: @theferaltherapist

Instagram: @theferaltherapist_

TikTok: @theferaltherapist_

Substack: @allytheferaltherapist

Key Topics

• Eco-somatic therapy and its role in mental health
• The concept of the ecological self and embodied connection
• The practice of ritual and rhythm in healing
• The significance of bioregion and land in personal well-being
• The role of ancestral traditions and animism in modern therapy

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

In this episode, William Henry and Lali Herrera explore the profound connection between nature, mental health, and personal growth during the summer solstice. They discuss practical ways to align with seasonal rhythms, the importance of unstructured play, and how to harness the energy of the longest day of the year for self-expansion.

Guest Information

• Guest Name: Citlali "Lali" Herrera, LCSW
• Bio: Citlali Herrera is a licensed psychotherapist and founder of Inner Worlds Psychotherapy, a private practice based in Westchester, NY, serving clients across New York and New Jersey. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to be seen and to live a fully authentic life. In her practice, she primarily works with adult daughters of emotionally immature parents—people-pleasers, perfectionists, and hyper-independent women—helping them reconnect with their bodies, boundaries, and needs through nature-based healing. She integrates ecotherapy, somatic and psychodynamic approaches, hypnotherapy, psychedelic integration, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, helping clients reconnect not just with themselves, but with nature as a regulating, remembering force. Her work invites healing that is relational, embodied, and deeply rooted in the natural world.

Links:

Autumn Equinox Hypnosis Event (Sept 22): innerworldspsychotherapy.com

Website: https://www.innerworldspsychotherapy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerworldspsychotherapy/

Key Topics:

• Seasonal rhythms and their impact on mental health
• The significance of the summer solstice as a time for visibility and expansion
• The importance of unstructured play for children and adults
• Practices for connecting with nature, such as earthing and gardening
• Using the elements of fire and wind as metaphors for personal empowerment and reflection
• The role of discomfort and pushing edges for growth
• Shedding and letting go during the fall equinox as a metaphor for personal transformation

Takeaways:

• The summer solstice is a time for visibility and expanding into your true self.
• Connecting with nature through gardening, earthing, and outdoor activities enhances wellbeing.
• Being present with the elements, like wind and fire, can serve as powerful metaphors and tools for growth.
• Unstructured play is essential for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience.
• Pushing comfort zones and embracing discomfort are vital for personal expansion.
• Shedding limiting beliefs and behaviors prepares us for new growth during seasonal transitions.

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

Join William Henry and Jessica Colón as they explore the transformative power of outdoor movement, community engagement, and nature-based education. Discover how Jessica's journey from Puerto Rico to founding 'For the People and Kids' highlights the importance of accessible green spaces, community partnerships, and fostering a love for nature in children and families.

Guest Information:

• Guest Name: Jessica Colón
• Bio: Jessica M. Colón is the founder of For the People & Kids, a community-centered organization dedicated to connecting children and families with nature, creativity, culture, and hands-on learning experiences. Passionate about accessible education and inclusive community programming, Jessica has helped create bilingual, nature-based programs that bring together local educators, artists, farms, libraries, and wellness practitioners throughout the community.
• Driven by a deep belief in the healing and transformative power of nature, Jessica focuses on creating meaningful opportunities where children can explore, create, move, and grow in welcoming environments. Through For the People & Kids, she continues to build partnerships and programs that make enriching experiences affordable and accessible for all families.

• Links:

Website: www.forthepeopleandkids.org (Gala October 17th)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forthepeopleandkids/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/for-the-people-and-kids/posts/?feedView=all

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forthepeopleandkids

Key Topics

• Jessica's background and journey into community work
• The importance of nature and green spaces in childhood development
• How 'For the People and Kids' was founded and grew
• Community partnerships and accessibility in outdoor education
• Innovative programs like bee hotels, gardens, and art in nature

Resources:

• https://linktr.ee/forthepeopleandkids

The Farm at Cabbage Hill: https://www.cabbagehill.org/

DIG Farm: https://www.digfarm.org/

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

Explore the profound connection between nature, ancestral skills, and personal growth through a conversation with Eric Stone of the Rewilding School. Discover how ancient skills like fire-making and stone tool crafting foster community, resilience, and self-awareness.

• Guest Name: Eric Stone
• Bio: Eric is the Program Director for The Rewilding School. He develops our programs, trains staff, and much, much more. Prior to founding The Rewilding School in 2016, Eric had a decade of teaching environmental summer camps in New York, residential outdoor education in California, ancestral skills in Oregon, and teambuilding in Massachusetts and right here in Westchester. He also founded and directed the Muscoot Naturalist Summer Camp.
• The Rewilding School is a nature-based outdoor education organization that offers year-round programs for children, families, and adults focused on learning through direct interaction with the natural world. It emphasizes curiosity, play, hands-on skills, and connection with the outdoors rather than traditional classroom schooling. They serve preschool age children through adults, and have programs for afterschool, summer camps, as well as programs for BIPOC communities. The Rewilding School is built around the notion that in order to change the results of life, we have to update the spaces and ways that we teach children how to live. And there’s no such thing as “too soon” for that to start.

Links:

Website: https://www.rewildingschool.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewildingschool/

key Topics

• The significance of flint and stone tools in human history
• The role of fire-making in community building and survival
• The importance of nature connection for mental health
• Educational programs for children and adults in nature
• The impact of colonialism on land access and conservation

Resources:

• Book: Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

Join Leah Gozhanski and Gwen Merkin from Wayfinders on the Hudson as they explore the transformative power of outdoor nature programs for children and adults alike. Discover how outdoor education fosters connection, curiosity, and community among young learners and their families.

Today's episode is an experiential one. Please feel free to join us on the trail, in your yard, or in a park as we experience what it is like to be part of a Wayfinders program. If you would like, take your own "WOW walk" and participate in a Wayfinders opening circle.

Guests:

Gwen is a climate and cultural repair activist. In addition to Wayfinders, Gwen consults with individuals and families working to reduce their carbon footprint, and to inspire and transform neighborhoods and communities.

Gwen's experience completing the Wild Earth Apprenticeship & Teacher Training - an in-depth experiential training on nature mentoring, wilderness living skills, & creating connective nature experiences - motivated her to fulfill her long-standing dream of developing Wayfinders.

Leah is a Certified Nature-Informed Therapist who spent fifteen years working As a School Counselor at Ardsley High School and Bard High School Early College in Manhattan. She taught elementary school through Teach for America. Her extensive experience working in schools is complemented by her work in a psychiatric hospital and substance abuse clinic. She currently works as the Program Director of Wayfinders & facilitates walk and talk counseling sessions in the woods with adults.

Leah believes deeply in the mental health benefits of nature connection. She brings a wealth of experience in social-emotional learning, counseling, mindfulness, meditation, reflection, validation, group dynamics, and interpersonal relationships to foster a strong sense of self and a deeper connection to our community and the world around us.

Links:

Website: https://www.wayfindersonthehudson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersonthehudson/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wayfinders.on.the.hudson

Key topics:

• The importance of outdoor nature programs for children
• How outdoor education fosters connection and curiosity
• Building community through outdoor youth programs

Resources:

• David Sobel's Book
• Coyote's Guide to Connecting in Nature
• Wild Earth

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.