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We empower professionals and communities to heal and thrive by restoring their relationship with the natural world.

About the Center for
Nature Informed Therapy

Human · Nature · Healing

A Mountain Born Mission

Growing up in Bavaria’s Alps, our founder learned early that nature is healer, mentor, and friend. Her clinical work exposed a paradox: Although therapists relied on nature to support their own well-being, they seldom incorporated it into their clinical practice. Determined to bridge science and practice, Heidi completed groundbreaking research on nature’s impact on resilience and mental well being—and launched CNIT to share those findings with the world.

Mission. Vision. Values

Mission

Advancing evidence-based training, experiences, and research that integrate nature into mental health care — where healing is reciprocal: as we restore well-being in people, we cultivate stewardship of the natural world that sustains us.

Vision

A future where a reciprocal relationship with nature will restore the mental health of all people and create deeper connection to self, others and our spirituality.

Values

  • Evidence

  • Accessibility

  • Reciprocity 

  • Inclusion

  • Stewardship

501(c)(3) Determined by the IRS—All Gifts Are Fully Tax-Deductible.

Nature-Informed Well-Being Model

Nature fosters awe, connection, and meaning—supporting emotional balance, resilience, and inner harmony.

Infographic with four colored arrows (numbered 01–04) pointing toward a central circle labeled ‘Nature Informed Biopsychosocial‑Spiritual Wellbeing.’ Icons on the arrows depict biology (leaf, gear, DNA), social connection (people network), psychological health (head with heart), and psycho‑spiritual awe (eye within triangle), illustrating CNIT’s holistic nature‑informed wellness model.

Impact at a Glance

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Professionals
Trained

$0

Training Scholarship Awarded

0

Public Program Participants

$0

Public Scholarship Awarded

* As of the end of 2025

Trusted Collaborators

Through research, customized training, and community wellness projects, our partners help us extend nature’s healing reach.

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Our People

CNIT is powered by a visionary board, an agile ‘Campfire Circle’ working group, passionate staff, and dedicated volunteers. Meet the people who make nature-informed healing possible.”

Board of Directors

Barney "Water Man" Wilson, Ph.D., Director

Barney Wilson

Director

Catherine Witt

Secretary

Jennifer Richards, Psy.D., Director

Jennifer Richards

Director

Patty Klein

Director

Beverly Gorman

Vice Chair

Chi-Wei Chang, M.A., Director

Chi-Wei Chang

Director

Michael Quinn, Secretary

Michael Quinn

Chair

Brain Harrison

Director

Heidi Schreiber-Pan, Ph.D., LCPC, Board Chair & Executive Director.

Heidi Schreiber-Pan

Director

Morrison Pan, Treasure & Director of Finance and Operation

Morrison Pan

Treasurer

Staffand Volunteers

Beverly Gorman

RN

Marie Burgess

LCPC, C-NIT

Senior Training Staff

Tim Coury, Marketing Coordinator

Tim Coury

Marketing Coordinator

Oliver Lippy

M.A.

Clinical Intern

Audrey Costa

Training Consultant

Mary Sue McCarthy

LCPC, C-NIT

Course Instructor

Rachel Oppenheimer

LCPC, C-NIT

Training Consultant

Tania Lanning

M.S, LCPC, LMT, RYT

Training Consultant

Catherine Witt

Meagan Hughes

LPMT

Program Operations Manager

Julia Forchheimer, Marketing Intern

Julia Forchheimer

Marketing Intern

Tee Tomlinson

LCMFT, C-NIT

Lead Facilitator, MHFA

Courtney Glickman

Ph.D., lCPC, C-NIT

Training Consultant

Nathalie Savell

LCPC, C-NIT

Training Consultant

Renee Vanderstelt

LCPC, LCPAT, C-NIT

Training Consultant

Tim Ayd

LCPC, C-NIT

Training Consultant

Heidi Schreiber-Pan, Ph.D., LCPC, Board Chair & Executive Director.

Heidi Schreiber-Pan

Ph.D., LCPC, C-NIT

Founder, Executive Director

Phillip McKnight

C-NIP

Course Instructor

Morrison Pan, Treasure & Director of Finance and Operation

Morrison Pan

Director of Finance & Operation

Audra Howard Ferguson

LGPC, C-NIT

Program Facilitator

Gina Strauss

M.A., LCPC, C-NIT

Training Consultant

Patty Klein

LGPC, C-NIT

Course Instructor

Sarah Boone

LCPC, C-NIT

Venture Trails Consultant

Zoe Jack

MBA, LCSW-C, C-NIT

Course Instructor

Inspired by our mission?

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