Welcome!

Minneapolis Nature-Based Therapy was started in December, 2020 by Kari Kleven, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who had spent her career working in community mental health with young children and families, as a therapist and supervisor, in offices and homes. The pandemic pushed her to pursue a long-time interest in nature-based therapy. In her research she found examples of nature-based therapy in other places but nothing yet in the Twin Cities. She started small, trying it out with just a few (brave ) clients and learning with every session. Now as of Fall 2022 she and colleague Xavier have had close to 1,000 sessions outside! They are finding that people of all ages are experiencing the benefits of taking the therapeutic process beyond the limitations of the office walls, to interact with the natural living world around us.

In April, 2022 Xavier Schmitz joined Minneapolis Nature-Based Therapy. Xavier brings 16 years of experience working with individual, couples and families, including extensive experience working with transgender and LGBQ+ communities. In September, 2022 Annie Bunio joined the practice as a master's level clinical intern with years of experience working with individuals, groups, and families of various backgrounds to make the outdoors more approachable.

The benefits of spending time in nature are increasingly well documented across disciplines: public health researchers describe a multitude of health related evidence related to nature-based activities; a growing number of doctors are prescribing nature for their patients; occupational therapists are offering nature-based outdoor play groups and camps; news outlets run stories about how workers are less stressed and more motivated when they are surrounded by plants, water and other natural elements; nature-based preschools are thriving; counselors are offering "walk and talk" therapy here in our city and around the country.

Nature-based therapy fits into this picture as part of a diverse range of ecotherapy practices that involve partnering with nature for the joint purposes of promoting healing for both humans and the earth. We are entering this emerging field with excitement, as both learners and as experienced clinicians. We offer high-quality clinical interventions. And by engaging with nature as a therapeutic partner -- bringing therapy outside in client-centered, intentional ways -- we can enrich those interventions and have access to additional, powerful resources to help clients address their goals, increase emotional and physical well-being, promote healing and resilience, and expand the scope of possibilities for truly vital engagement with the world.

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 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