The Healing power of nature therapy

What is nature therapy?

My first experience with nature therapy came in the form of running barefoot around our family farm in the Western Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Eventually, I began to explore the mountain trails behind the farm with my siblings. Even now, memories flood back—discovering deer or elk tracks, daring to touch a cactus just to see how much it hurt, hearing the unmistakable calls of magpies overhead, breathing in the sharp, nostalgic scent of sagebrush and juniper, and tasting the cold, metallic water from an old canteen.

Without knowing it, I was engaging all five senses—sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste—and those senses anchored me to the moment. Nature had a calming effect on me long before I understood why.

As a child, I struggled with anger—anger about everything. It made me feel out of control. Now, as an adult and a therapist, I’ve done the work to understand where that anger came from. Underneath it all was sadness. I had internalized the message that being emotional made me “too much”—too sensitive, too dramatic, too needy. Sadness didn’t feel safe. Anger did. So, I wore it like armor.

But outside, in nature, I felt different. I felt free. The sadness lifted. So did the anger and the armor. In those moments, I was free to play, to explore, and to feel a deep sense of belonging within myself. I now know that what I experienced as a child was emotional regulation.

Regulation doesn’t always mean being calm. It means being able to feel your emotions, recognize what your body is telling you, and know how to respond in a healthy way. Nature gave me that space.

I remember one time, around the age of seven, I was so angry that I screamed I was going to run away. I didn’t make it far—just to our barn. Then I wandered up to my favorite mossy rock on a knoll and sat there, watching frogs leap across the pond, touching the cool, bumpy lichen, listening to the wind rustle through the cattails and the distant clucks of our chickens. I inhaled the crisp mountain air. Within minutes, I felt grounded again. I went home, and thankfully, my family welcomed me back with open arms.

Now, as the owner of my own counseling practice, I continue to live in the beautiful Colorado mountains. I’m grateful to incorporate nature therapy into my work through something I call Hike & Heal Sessions.

What is a Hike & Heal Session?

It’s a two-hour nature therapy experience held on easy to moderate trails in the Denver-metro area. Each session is held in a small group (six participants max) to maintain a sense of intimacy and reflection. Every session has a theme—like “Forest Bathing” or “Mindful Movement.” We begin with a grounding reading before starting our walk.

Sometimes we walk in silence; other times we talk. About halfway through, we pause for rest and reflection. I guide the group through a journaling prompt, a short discussion or guided meditation, while we sip on lavender lemonade or iced tea and share a light snack. We finish the session at the end of the trail with a one-word reflection or action step from each participant.

These sessions are designed to help you reconnect—with yourself, with others, and with nature.

Interested in joining a Hike & Heal Session this June or July?
Check out the upcoming schedule here. Feel free to share this with someone who could also benefit.

For more info or to schedule a free 15-minute consultation, reach out at:
📞 (303) 847-5224
📧 wildstrengththerapy@gmail.com
📷 @wildstrengththerapy