No, we encourage guests to leave their phones behind. This allows for a deeper connection with nature and helps participants unplug from technology, reducing stress and enhancing mindfulness during the experience. After a little resistance, participants are often amazed at the relief!

We’ve got you covered! The facilitator will take key photos during the journey, or some experiences may have a professional nature photographer who has an excellent skill for discrete and non-intrusive photography with great results and memories for the home or office wall! Your job? To lose yourself to find yourself in nature!

Nature will always meet us where we are at, and so will Alive Eco-Journeys. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned explorer, we'll work together to find the right journey for you. Let’s discuss your comfort levels and preferences to create a meaningful experience.

Yes, our Eco-Journeys are designed to be inclusive and adaptable, making them accessible for participants of all ages and fitness levels. We range from game drives to sitting in beautiful spaces to adventurous hikes in mountains and dives in the ocean.

Alive Eco-Journeys can occur in a variety of natural spaces, including urban parks, rugged mountains, calming forests, the open ocean, and vibrant bushland. Additionally, we can design an Eco-Journey in a natural space close to where teams are holding their conference, ensuring convenience and a meaningful experience.

Yes, we can incorporate key skills from traditional workshops into our Eco-Journeys, including communication, teamwork, and stress regulation. Engaging with nature improves emotional well-being and enhances learning, making the skills more impactful and memorable.

Here are some essential skills that can be taught during Eco-Journeys:

1. Mindfulness and Stress Management: Techniques for being present in the moment can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being.

2. Teamwork and Communication: Group activities foster collaboration and enhance interpersonal skills, which are vital for effective teamwork.

3. Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Participants can engage in challenges that require critical thinking and innovative solutions in a natural setting.

4. Leadership Skills: Opportunities to take the lead in activities help individuals develop confidence and guide others effectively.

5. Conflict Resolution: Navigating group dynamics in outdoor settings can teach valuable conflict resolution strategies.

6. Resilience and Adaptability: Experiencing nature’s unpredictability helps participants learn to adapt to changing circumstances and overcome challenges.

7. Environmental Awareness: Understanding ecological principles and conservation efforts promotes a sense of responsibility toward the environment.

8. Physical Skills: Activities like hiking, canoeing, or rock climbing build physical fitness and outdoor skills.

9. Creative Thinking: Engaging with nature stimulates creativity, allowing participants to think outside the box and explore new ideas.

10. Self-Awareness and Personal Growth: Reflective practices in a natural setting encourage individuals to explore personal values and growth areas.

These skills can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals or teams and can significantly enhance personal and professional development.Here’s how you can present the distinction between Alive Eco-Journeys and retreats on your website

No, there is a fundamental difference between Alive Eco-Journeys (AEJ) and traditional retreats. While many retreats focus on escaping (retreating) from daily life into nature, AEJ emphasizes reconnecting with the natural world to come alive in life. Our approach is about immersing ourselves in nature, activating the ecological self, and exploring how this connection can lead to personal breakthroughs.

Unlike typical retreats that often start with introspection, AEJ encourages participants to look outside themselves. We believe that by fully engaging with nature—rather than using it merely as a backdrop—we can access deeper insights and foster a more profound sense of connection with both ourselves and the world around us.

Alive Eco-Journeys (AEJ) stands out due to our unique blend of over 20 years of experience in mental health (of teams and individuals) and our deep commitment to nature as a therapeutic force. In addition to nature immersion experiences, AEJ prioritizes the integration of practical and robust life skills within the adventure.

Each AEJ experience is facilitated by trained mental health professionals who are also passionate about nature. This ensures that every journey is tailored to the specific dynamics of the group and the natural environment, making each adventure truly unique. As nature unfolds its gifts, your guides draw from their extensive toolkit of skills and techniques, responding to what emerges in the moment.

AEJ draws inspiration from skills taught in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). While it is not a formal DBT therapeutic skills group, the skills taught are inspired by this approach, providing practical tools around distress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, and mindfulness. Additionally, we incorporate nature connection techniques based on the principles of Ecopsychology.

Remember, we want to see you come alive—not only in nature but in your everyday life, too!

Alive Eco-therapy will foster better mental focus & clarity so that you can make the best decisions when it comes to your health, wealth and relationships.

I am a Counseling Psychologist and certified Ecotherapy Nature Connection Practitioner offering individual sessions focused on nature connection and mental health. If you're feeling overwhelmed and disconnected in your workplace, relationship or life, or seeking a deeper sense of purpose I would like to work with you.

I work with a diverse range of clients, from busy executives seeking to navigate work-life harmony and enhance their creativity and innovation to individuals dealing with mental health diagnoses. In a consulting context, I support you in achieving your professional and personal goals. For those facing mental health challenges, I provide a therapeutic environment to equip you with skills to generate both coping and healing.

My therapeutic orientation is eclectic and draws from Nature Connection guiding, Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills development, and Brain Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT) as needed. I therefore also receive referrals from other therapists and doctors to foster deeper mindfulness and dialectical behavior therapy skills alongside their interventions.

Based on our discussion, I will craft a tailored plan that draws from these therapeutic strategies. Each session will be structured to ensure a supportive space to reflect and grow towards your defined outcomes. The first session will take place online for one hour, allowing us to discuss your goals and create a personalized approach. Following that, we'll engage with the natural environment through activities such as a walk in the park, engaging with the ocean through diving or snorkeling, going for a hike, or simply sitting in a natural space.

Rather than the traditional talk therapy format where we face each other, we’ll walk alongside one another, allowing discussions to unfold naturally. I will use my mental health expertise to guide our conversations, blending practical mental health skills and processing with the healing aspects of nature as a co-therapist.

At Alive Eco-Journeys, my approach starts with going outward rather than inward. By reconnecting with nature, we open ourselves to insights and possibilities that can guide us. I believe that to truly come alive, we need to engage with our wild selves and embrace the principle of reciprocity—understanding our interconnectedness with the environment and community around us. This awareness is key to overcoming feelings of isolation and fostering a genuine sense of belonging.

Payment for sessions is required upfront prior to the scheduled appointment. Due to the unique arrangements and logistics involved in organizing these outdoor sessions, cancellations must be made at least two days in advance to defer the booking to a later date. Cancellations made with less than two days' notice will incur a fee, with half of the payment retained and the remainder refunded. Please note that no-shows will not be reimbursed.

For each session booked, we will discuss you comfort levels around weather, and potential weather-related alternatives, ensuring we always have a backup plan. Sessions can last anywhere from 90 minutes to 4 hours, and the activities will be tailored based on your comfort levels, with proposed pricing adjusted accordingly.

For those with a savings plan on medical aid, please note that my fees are above standard medical aid rates. However, I am registered with the Board of Healthcare Funds, and you will receive a receipt of payment that can be submitted for partial reimbursement to your medical aid.

Be invited to have an exploratory call with me.

You are so welcome to set up a 20 minute exploratory call where we can see my practice is for you! I am happy to both meet you and answer any questions that you may have.