A workshop for therapists, counsellors and group leaders
Tues May 17 – Wed May 18: Hazel Hill Wood, near Salisbury
We can see that the climate crisis is worsening, and we need new ways to respond to rising climate distress. This experiential workshop is designed for therapists, counsellors, facilitators and other professionals, offering you a chance to explore and learn how Nature immersion can be part of your approach, both with individuals and groups, drawing on many years of this work by the facilitators and at this unique venue. It’s also a chance to nourish yourself in this beautiful wood in bluebell time!
We will shape the content to the interests of participants, and provide space for everyone to share their experience on this topic. This event positively welcomes people from any racial, gender, religious, age and other backgrounds. We actively encourage you to enquire about concessions if you are interested but cannot afford the workshop: we have two lower fee places for unwaged or low-waged participants. This event is sponsored by the Climate Psychology Alliance (CPA), but all participants are welcome, whether they are CPA members or not. The approaches we aim to explore include:
- How Nature immersion can enable specific climate response processes, such as The Work that Reconnects (deep ecology) and Deep Adaptation.
- Methods of Nature immersion, including forest bathing, micro-quests, tree connection, symbol walks, reality shifts (campfires, night walks, etc), Alan Heeks’ ecosystem model for human resilience, and rewilding.
- How immersive Nature processes can help people with traumatic responses to the climate crisis to find a post-traumatic growth approach.
- Ways to tailor nature immersion to a range of clients, including one-to-one therapy, young people, high-stress professionals such as doctors, and special needs groups.
- How to work with nature intelligence and tune an outdoor setting so it becomes an active contributor to your process.
- How to use Nature immersion in the urban outdoors, online, and for indoor groups.
Facilitators
Alan Heeks: has used nature contact in facilitating groups and individual coaching for 25 years. He set up the retreat centre at Hazel Hill, and has pioneered many groups and processes here, often using his Natural Happiness model of ecosystems as a guide to human resilience. He co-developed the Nature Resilience Immersion groups for doctors. See more at www.naturalhappiness.net and www.seedingourfuture.org.uk. Deeply involved in climate responses, member of CPA, and of the Deep Adaptation Holding Group.
Marcos Frangos: Marcos works as a counsellor, constellations coach and group facilitator, with wide experience in nature immersions including many groups at Hazel Hill. He was General Manager of Hazel Hill Trust 2015-2019, and has worked with Alan on Nature Resilience Immersions and other events. See www.wellspringchange.com.
Hazel Hill Wood: Hazel Hill is a magical 70-acre conservation woodland and retreat centre, 7 miles from Salisbury, which has evolved since 1993 as a place for catalytic connections between people of many kinds and the natural world. It has a wide range of woodland habitats, open spaces, a pond, and a campfire amid beech trees in the heart of the wood. It has simple, yet beautifully crafted off-grid wooden buildings with lovely indoor and outdoor group spaces, basic accommodation in bedrooms and sleeping lofts (or camping), good hot showers and compost loos. Please note there are deer ticks at the wood which can carry Lyme disease: we will brief you on precautions in the joining instructions. See more about the wood at www.hazelhill.org.uk.
Timings: From 11.30am on Tuesday May 17 to 3.30pm on Wednesday May 18.
Cost: £280, including single room accommodation, food and facilitation. Two concessionary places available at £94, please apply via Alan. If you are coming with a friend or family member, and are happy to share a twin room with them, we can offer each of you a reduced price of £240 per person.
Covid precautions: Covid precautions will include: 1-metre distancing when indoors, all single bedrooms, holding group sessions outdoors where possible.
Bookings and enquiries: Please contact Alan Heeks via or 07976 602787. Group size limited to 14 participants.