Ava McBride, MSW, CSW
“I truly believe I have one of the greatest jobs”, was my exact thought while swinging in a hammock between my sessions at the local park. When I began my social work career, my dream job was to be an adventure-based counselor, one who combined the benefits of talk therapy and the great outdoors. As someone who has always felt the most at peace and in tune with myself in nature, adventure based or nature therapy made the most sense. Finding a boss who appreciates the therapeutic benefits of being present in nature as much as I do was a pipedream I wasn’t expecting to be fulfilled while residing in the Bluegrass state. Don’t get me wrong, Kentucky is home to some of the most stunning scenery, but the mental health field has been slow to take advantage of this priceless and abundant tool. With that being said, when I found a boss who leaves forest bathing books on my desk and supports my desire to intertwine my services with nature, I had to pinch myself.
I know I am lucky and recognize for some, the walk to the car from the home or office is the only fresh air one may experience in their entire day. If you think about it, less than a century ago most of the human population spent a good portion of their time outdoors. When new technology arrived that reduced the need for people to leave their home to socialize and explore new experiences, the desire to get out and connect with those people and live those experiences personally, diminished. Little is left to the imagination because it can all be broadcast from our phones in an instant. This is not putting down technology. Rather, this is an examination of how easy technology has made it to trust the information we have at our fingertips instead of our own gut or personal dreams. If you aren’t feeling like yourself for an extended period of time, see if you are acting on your own desires or the desire to be liked and accepted by others. Spend time in nature with the intention to leave behind anything that isn’t serving you and nourish what needs to grow.
My feet are still calloused from childhood when the only time I agreed to put on shoes was when I attended church and school. I would spend hours in the creek and test my bravery by trying to reach a new all-time high branch in the tree in the front yard. I was so confident and full of energy. As I grew older and found myself in jobs where I was indoors all day and then too tired pursue hobbies at home, I felt my confidence fade. When we become separated from the beauty and acceptance of nature, it is easy to become detached from our authentic selves. When we spend time in nature, there are no expectations for us to look or act a certain way. The sun warms the face of anyone present and the birds sing for whoever is listening, no matter the mistakes that were made or dwelled upon earlier that day. How often do we offer the same warmth and acceptance for ourselves?
Did you know we offer nature and outdoor therapy services, including forest bathing and sessions outdoors? To learn more, visit https://www.amandapatrickmft.com/nature-and-outdoor-therapy. For more information on scheduling, contact us at 270-943-7818 or via email [email protected]. You can also learn more about our services by clicking here: https://www.amandapatrickmft.com/services