Portland Hiking Therapy

09/12/2026

Grateful to share a few thoughts about Jimothy with the The New York Times

A hunchbacked raccoon captivated the internet, and sent this Seattle resident out looking.

08/05/2026

Today there are 35 active wildfires in Oregon. My partner and I keep refreshing live wildfire maps, hoping that our beloved Mount Hood isn't engulfed in flames. There is smoke in the air and a deep heaviness in my heart as I see the places that have meant so much to me highlighted in red. Here, I share a bit of my personal experience interwoven with what I've learned as an ecotherapist. How are you doing with all of this?
Psychology Today

As climate change alters the places we love, we face a painful paradox: The landscapes that help us heal can also become places we grieve.

07/24/2026

Have you been following Jimothy in the news? Here are a few of my thoughts on the phenomenon with Psychology Today: Why millions became captivated by one wild raccoon and what his unexpected popularity reveals about our deep psychological need for wonder, connection, and belonging.

Why millions became captivated by one wild raccoon and what his unexpected popularity reveals about our deep psychological need for wonder, connection, and belonging.

07/04/2026

Thank you for the share Psychology Today. I enjoyed talking with long distance thru hikers to write this article. Does this resonate for you?

For many long-distance hikers, the trail provides more than just a walk. For those who have experienced trauma, time on the trail may offer meaningful therapeutic healing. Here's how: psychologytoday.com/us/blog/move-the-body-heal-the-mind/202606/can-long-distance-hiking-support-trauma-recovery

05/12/2026

As more therapists take their practices outdoors, people may find themselves wondering if walk and talk therapy is a good fit for them. Not everybody does their best processing in the office.

Not everybody processes best in the office. Walk-and-talk therapy can benefit people who enjoy nature, process best with movement, and prefer reduced eye contact.

03/02/2026

New Class Offering: I am looking forward to teaching this experiential class with Portland Underground Grad School in April and you are invited to join us. Nature as Medicine is all about exploring your relationship with nature as a way to reduce stress, regulate the nervous system, and connect with something larger. For most of human history, we lived within tightly knit natural ecosystems, sustained by the rhythms of nature. We were closely attuned to our environments—the air, water, land, plants, and animals—and we existed in reciprocity with the living world around us.

Today, most of us live largely disconnected from nature, and we feel it. On a psychological level (the focus of this course), this disconnection shows up as stress, anxiety, chronic overstimulation, and a diminished sense of identity and belonging. On a systemic level, it has contributed to the commodification of the natural world and the climate crisis we now face.

This course is an experiential journey into the relationship between the natural world and the human mind. Drawing on ecotherapy and environmental psychology, we'll explore what it means to have a nature-based identity, and how reclaiming that identity can transform your well-being.

Through guided reflections and embodied practices, held both indoors and outdoors, you'll discover how time in nature supports resilience, reduces stress, and opens space for creative renewal. This course is ideal for anyone who loves spending time outdoors, is drawn to psychology and well-being, or is simply curious about how nature can support their mental and emotional health. Come open to sharing your thoughts and experiences and ready to step outside.

How to Reduce Stress, Calm Your Nervous System, and Reconnect to Something Larger by Deepening Your Relationship to the Outside World

12/02/2025

Announcing: A winter community therapy group to support connection, energy, and mood. Winters in Oregon are especially dreary, and it’s common for the dark, short, rainy days to impact our energy, social connectedness, and mood. Join us as we gather weekly in community and solidarity, online during the lunch hour- bring your food! We will check in, learn about behavior activation to support mood and energy levels, and navigate the rainy winter months alongside one another.

11/06/2025

Grateful to have my latest blog post shared by Psychology Today, where I reflect on how bringing sessions out of the office and to the trail impacts the therapy practice. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Taking therapy sessions outdoors offers unexpected benefits. Learn how walking ecotherapy sessions may benefit your work.

10/15/2025

I'm happy to share my first Psychology Today blog post! Check it out here:

Hiking through the forests provides different mental health benefits than moving through mountains or near water. Learn how to hack your hike to support mental health.

10/03/2025

The APA just published this great article by Zara Abrams about integrating walk and talk into practice. This is a HUGE win to have the APA's recognition (it's like the equivalent of winning the Superbowl for walk and talk!). The article shares the research behind the value of time in nature on mental health and steps for integration. I was honored to contribute a few thoughts alongside other leaders in the walk and talk field. Check it out- I would love to hear your thoughts!

Walk-and-talk therapy can help people feel connected with nature and more comfortable in therapy.