Therapy in the Great Outdoors: The Business & Practice of Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

How are you feeling in your nature-based practice or business right now? In this episode, you'll hear about my current feelings about both of my nature-based businesses, my therapy practice (Outdoor Kids OT) and my online business (Therapy in the Great Outdoors - which produces this podcast for you!).

You'll learn:

-That you are NORMAL if your emotions ebb and flow over the course of your practice/business!

-Tips for choosing the right niche

-Why it is important to think long-term about your work and life

-The importance of knowing how you come to your best ideas/decisions (and how I come to mine.)

-How YOU can give feedback to guide the offerings of Therapy in the Great Outdoors next year in 2025!

Here's the link to the TGO 2024 End-of-Year Survey! Please share your thoughts. All replies are anonymous! https://forms.gle/9o64NtPVeGsA75yg9

In this episode, I share my recent travel experiences in Nepal and Indonesia and reflections I had along the way. This trip was MUCH more challenging than I anticipated it would be! In many ways, it was just like being an entrepreneur: super rewarding and ALSO very hard. You'll hear what I observed about children in these different cultures and how that impacted my own thinking about nature-based therapy service provision and life here in the US.

00:00 Introduction

00:58 Personal Travel Reflections: Nepal and Indonesia (an overview of the trip and what we did)

09:10 Challenges and Hardships of the Journey

15:32 Cultural Observations of Children

27:16 My Existential Crisis and Reflections on Nature-Based Therapy Service Provision

33:30 ConTiGO announcement

Enrollment is open till Dec 31 at 5pm CST for you to become a Certified Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant in the ConTiGO Approach™. Go to contigoapproach.com to get all the details and join us before the price goes up in 2025 for the first time in 5 years!

Thanks to Layna Lovelady for posting the question that inspired this episode in the TGO community!

In this episode, I share my top 12 favorite gift ideas for outdoorsy kids. Plus a few embarrassing/funny stories from my own childhood and young parenting days... :)

1. Morakniv Pocket Knife - fixed blade (not folding) with ledge for protecting hand.

2. Wooden sling shots

3. Bow and arrow from Two Bros Bows

4. Waldorf sack doll

5. Hearthsong outdoor swings

6. Ribbon sticks or playsilks from Sarah's Silks (Or Dharma blank silks that you can dye yourself.)

7. Tegu blocks (expensive but truly an heirloom quality toy- I still have my kids' from when they were little and pull them out every time we have young kids over to our home)

8. Wood play food/dishes or mini-kitchen from Etsy (also pricey but beautiful quality)

9. Any book from the Living Books list I made a while back (ep 68). Get the list at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/list

10. Potholder Loom

11. River rock blocks

12. Nightbuddy beanie headlamp

13. Bonus family gift idea: This firewood splitter is SO FUN to use. Would be a great family gift for an outdoorsy family who lives in a place with cold winters where fires are commonly built during the season. (Make sure to include a mallet or sledgehammer with it!)

Announcement:

We'll be opening the ConTiGO Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist Certification for the final time at 2024 prices for our February 2025 cohort. The price will go UP in 2025. Get on the waitlist to be notified! contigoapproach.com. Last 2024 enrollment will close December 31 at 5pm.

We're diving back into research after a long break! In this episode, we explore the article titled Theory of Affordances to Understand Environment Play Transactions: Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features- A Scoping Review by Morgenthaler, Lynch, Loebach, Pentland, and Schultz, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy in 2024.

This article examines how various outdoor environmental characteristics influence children's outdoor play. The authors developed a taxonomy (a HUGE chart!) that allows practitioners to evaluate the "affordances" of outdoor play spaces...in other words: what do different types of features of the outdoor environment invite children to DO in that environment?

The Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features categorizes physical environments, their functional qualities, and the play activities they support. This helps us as occupational, physical, and speech therapists, social workers or mental health professionals, to:

🌳 Consider ways we may change the environment to support different types of play in sessions

👀 Discover types of play that may be absent or happening infrequently in our sessions and consider ways to increase the variety of play experiences for children we see in therapy.

✅ Evaluate outdoor play spaces when providing consultation for schools and local governments

Find episode 94 of Therapy in the Great Outdoors wherever you get your podcast fix! And tell me: do you think you'll use this taxonomy in your work?

00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

01:00 Research Review Episode Introduction

02:37 Understanding the Theory of Affordances

03:49 Developing the Environmental Taxonomy

09:02 Applications and Implications for Therapy

22:36 Practical Takeaways and Conclusion

28:34 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Today on the podcast, I interviewed John Arbuckle, a passionate regenerative agriculture farmer and owner of Singing Pastures. He shared his inspiring journey from conventional to regenerative farming, how regenerative animal farming can offer significant environmental benefits, and the crucial role of grazing animals in nurturing healthy ecosystems. Our conversation also dove into the impact of our food choices on ecological health.

Follow Singing Pastures on Instagram and Facebook @singingpastures or check out singingpastures.com. Use code Wilderness20 to get 20% off your first order!

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

Joel Salatin's website and books: polyfacefarms.com Watch the Sacred Cow documentary here: Amazon Get the Sacred Cow book here: sacredcow.info/book

00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

00:59 Interview with Farmer John Arbuckle

04:13 John's Journey to Regenerative Agriculture

07:02 The Philosophy and Practice of Regenerative Farming

10:51 The Role of Animals in Regenerative Agriculture

20:55 The Impact of Regenerative Farming on Wildlife and Ecosystems

22:49 Introduction to Sacred Cow

24:15 The Importance of Hoofed Animals

25:14 Personal Dietary Choices and Health

26:42 The Role of Grazing Animals in Ecosystems

28:39 Photosynthesis and Carbon Sequestration

30:17 Grazing Practices and Soil Health

35:14 Supporting Local Farmers

37:27 Singing Pastures: Products and Philosophy

39:03 Upcoming Travel Adventures

42:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Hello, friends! Welcome to the final episode of our series on money and pricing. Today, I'm sharing three easy strategies to help you raise your prices so you can make more with the same amount of effort and work!

Offer installment payments. If your service costs $1,000, break it into smaller payments to make it more manageable for clients.

Add upsells. Offer additional services that enhance your primary offering. For instance, if you offer therapy visits, an optional monthly parent consultation call could be a valuable upsell that increases your revenue per client.

Use package pricing. This involves bundling services into a flat monthly rate, which helps clients understand the value they're receiving and gives you more control over your time. Many of my coaching clients have successfully transitioned to this model, allowing them to work smarter, not harder.

Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more updates!

00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors

01:00 Series Finale: Money and Pricing

01:09 Three Easy Ways to Raise Your Prices

01:51 First Strategy: Offer Installment Payments

03:22 Second Strategy: Add Upsells

04:05 Third Strategy: Package Pricing

07:39 Recap and Final Thoughts

08:44 Upcoming Episode Preview

09:00 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Welcome back to our series on money and pricing! Today, we'll dive into the psychology of pricing—a topic that fascinates me!

Key Takeaways from this episode:

Understanding Pricing Psychology:

Pricing psychology is about presenting your prices in a way that's most appealing to potential customers, increasing the likelihood of them purchasing your services. For instance, have you ever noticed prices often end in .99 instead of rounding up to a whole number, like $2.00? This is because our brains anchor to the leftmost digit; $1.99 feels much cheaper than $2.00. NOTE: this isn't about "tricking" customers, but is simply understanding how the human brain perceives prices so you can present your prices in a way that is most psychologically pleasing to a potential customer. (Check out Nick Kolenda's website at Kolenda.io for extensive resources on pricing psychology.)

Payment Timing Matters:

It can be psychologically easier for clients if they don't pay at the time of service. Think about structuring your payment systems so clients pay upfront or at a different time than their service. By doing this, you can ease the sense of loss associated with paying, allowing clients to focus on the value they are receiving at the time of your service.

Combatting Buyer's Remorse:

After a client commits financially, it's vital to reassure them that they made the right decision. This can be as simple as sending a follow-up email filled with valuable information that excites them about the upcoming service. In my nature-based practice, we send a welcome packet shortly after families sign up their child for services. This welcome packet includes essential details about what to expect and introduces their therapist, helping clients perceive value from our upcoming services and feel good about their investment right from the start.

TL;DR:

Check out Kolenda.io for more on marketing and pricing psychology, consider structuring your payment processes to ease the psychological burden on clients, and always aim to reassure and provide value immediately after clients pay for services.

Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more resources!

Are you charging enough for your services? In this week's podcast, I'm sharing the mindset shift you need to confidently raise your prices.

You need to move away from the traditional per-hour thinking that often limits our earning potential.

Instead, focus on the true value you're providing to your clients and the expertise you bring to the table.

Then, communicate that value clearly and get comfortable discussing money with potential clients.

Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for a while, this episode provides valuable tips to help you embrace your worth and take those necessary steps toward raising your rates.

Repeat after me: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING MONEY WHILE HELPING PEOPLE!!!!!

My nature-based business coaching program, the Business Hive, will open in January. If you're ready to set your nature-based business up for success, join us in the Hive, where we'll focus on creating systems that allow you to work less and make more while your business grows.

https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/hive

Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more resources and to stay updated!

00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors

00:59 Excitement for Upcoming Retreat and Travel Plans

02:46 Mini-Series on Business Topics

07:43 Mindset Shift for Raising Prices

08:45 Practical Tips for Pricing and Value

15:10 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode, we kick off a mini-series on pricing your nature-based therapy services.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. Research what is average for your area and charge a similar amount for your services. Don't set your prices too high or too low at the start because either can be detrimental to your business.
2. Try not to over-explain when telling people what you charge. Say your price and SHUT UP and wait for them to respond.
3. If you are a cash pay business, you can offer scholarships for families to expand the reach of your services to lower-income clients. Always have a system in place before offering scholarships.
4. Raise your prices for new clients after you have a established a proven concept and have raving testimonials from previous clients.
5. Think about VALUE. Offer add-ons that add value for families so they see why they are paying versus going to a standard non-nature-based provider (for example: a weekly update, progress notes, consult minutes, on-call PRN services, home programs, etc.).

Stay tuned for more episodes in this series on pricing, and consider joining my Business Hive group coaching program, opening for enrollment in January, to help you build a successful nature-based practice! You can join the waitlist at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/hive 00:00 Introduction and Series Announcement 00:52 My Upcoming Trip to Nepal and Indonesia 02:18 Gratitude and Life Reflections 04:35 Introduction to Pricing Your Services 05:46 Setting Initial Prices for Your Services 07:02 Understanding the Value of Pricing 07:24 The Importance of Silence After Stating Your Price 07:48 Handling Objections and Offering Scholarships 08:47 Investing in Yourself and Your Business 09:59 Researching Funding Options 11:07 Adjusting Prices Based on Cost of Living 12:27 Adding Value Through Additional Services 13:50 Final Thoughts on Pricing and Valuing Your Services

In this episode, we dive into how to make your first $1,000 as a nature-based pediatric therapist. I share actionable strategies and business insights to help you hit this milestone, from focusing on one key service to pricing your offerings effectively. Whether you're offering outdoor enrichment groups, creating multi-month therapy packages, or thinking outside the box with retainer fees, there's a method that fits your style and your market.

I also introduce my Business Hive group coaching program for nature-based practitioners, which opens for enrollment in January. Join me for a deep dive into business success and get ready to start building meaningful income in your practice!

00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

01:00 Making Your First $1,000 as a Nature-Based Therapist

02:13 Business Coaching and Community Support

04:28 Key Advice for Starting Your Practice

05:24 Market Research and Pricing Strategies 06:04 Low-Cost Offer for Group Sessions

07:03 Multi-Month Therapy Packages

08:06 High Monthly Retainer Fee

08:54 Upcoming Episode on Pricing Services

09:29 Enrollment for Business Hive Program

09:58 Free Big Huge List of Nature-Based Activities