Frequently Asked Questions

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.  

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. 

Sessions will take place mostly outdoors in natural spaces in or near Minneapolis. or St. Paul (see Therapy pages 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.  

Good question. Kari has lived and worked her whole adult life in Minneapolis, so when she decided to start this practice in 2021 it felt right to locate it solidly in this city and its green spaces that she knows and loves.. Then when some other therapists joined who live and work in St. Paul we wanted to support them to offer therapy in Como Park, a place that they know and love and want to share with clients. By including city names in describing our practices we want to make it clear that we embrace the  beautiful diversity of these vibrant urban areas, and that this is not the kind of nature therapy that requires field trips out into the wilderness; nature is right outside whatever doors we live and work and study behind.  

But to answer the question, it doesn't matter where you live, as long as you can get to the locations where we offer sessions.  

This will be explored on a case by case basis. Many times siblings can be included in the sessions. This will look different depending on what the treatment goals are. For example, if a 3-year-old is struggling with a new baby in the family, we might settle the parent and baby in a comfortable spot under a tree while therapist helps the older child experience a pattern of exploring at a safe distance while staying connected to the parent (with an “invisible string”), then bringing back treasures to show the parent. The parent will be working on using their attention and voice to help the child feel connected from a distance, and welcoming them back with great pleasure. In cases with two older siblings, we can work directly and experientially on cooperation and problem solving.

With younger children (ages 6 and under), an adult will always have to be a part of the session. For older children, we may consider a combination of family and individual sessions. Some work with parents without their children present is always a part of therapy, especially at the beginning as we are learning about your family and history. And in some cases, ongoing individual work with parents or other caregivers is the best intervention to help the child.