Minneapolis Nature-Based Therapy

Welcome!

Whether you are looking for therapy for yourself or your child or someone you care about, whether you’ve heard about nature-based therapy and already know you want to do therapy outside or whether you just stumbled here and are uncertain but curious, we are glad you are here.

We offer therapy for people of all ages and abilities and are in network with most major insurance companies. We know that doing therapy outside is not for everyone, but we are now in our second year and are finding that many clients are seeing great benefits. And we love it! Please explore the site and reach out to any of us if you have questions.

Therapists

Kari Kleven (she/her), MSW, LICSW

Xavier Schmitz (he/him), MSW, LICSW

Kari sees children and families of all ages as well as individual adults. Se habla Español.

More about Kari

Xavier Schmitz (he/him), MSW, LICSW

Xavier sees adults of all ages.

More about Xavier

Annie Bunio (she/her), MA

Xavier Schmitz (he/him), MSW, LICSW

Annie Bunio (she/her), MA

Annie sees children and families of all ages as well as individual adults

More about Annie

What does nature-based therapy look like?

In Nature-Based Therapy, the “office” is the outdoors. After an assessment of you or your family’s needs, strengths and barriers we will create a treatment plan that will guide our work as we move into working, playing and learning together in nature. This will look different with children or adults, of course. With kids there is lots of movement and play: climbing in the woods, playing in the sand or in the creek. We will often follow your child’s lead, building trust and gaining insight into their inner world and needs. We may do activities or games designed to strengthen the parent-child attachment, enhance attention, support regulation or increase confidence: play hide and seek in the woods, figure out how to cross streams on slippery rocks, build forts, listen quietly to crickets, rock in hammocks, go sledding together.

With adults there are many options. The outdoors provides space for whatever kind of movement is helpful for you in therapy: walking, stretching, or for some even more vigorous activities such as hiking or skating. Some people find it really helpful to walk and talk most of the session. Others prefer to walk to a private spot to sit together; a bench overlooking the creek, the sand by the river or a blanket under a big white pine. We can do guided meditations, working to support mindfulness practices in the moment. We may engage with nature to support processing of difficult memories using Brainspotting or other somatic interventions. All along we will be focused on issues of importance to you. You are in charge of your therapy and we will collaborate to figure out what works best for you.

Do we have to be outdoors type people or have special gear?

You do NOT have to be into nature (yet!) or have fancy jackets or boots to participate in nature-based therapy. You DO have to be willing to commit to doing sessions outdoors year-round. If you aren’t used to this you may feel uncomfortable at times. But this is part of therapy — moving to the edges of our comfort zones, with support, in order to grow. Your family’s culture and your history with the outdoors will be part of our assessment and will guide how we work together and you will always get to decide what feels okay for you. Outdoor gear for wet or cold weather will be available to loan as needed.

Where will the therapy take place?

Sessions will take place mostly outdoors in natural spaces in or near Minneapolis. (See the link below for current locations.)

Working outside is really great most of the year. We get to watch spring arrive, find lovely shady spots to do therapy in the summer, breathe in those beautiful fall days. During the winter it is more challenging, of course, and the weather will be our guide. Sometimes we will bundle up and meet outside and walk and talk or stay warm by a fire. During the coldest weeks we will meet over video.

Find out more