Bring Nature into the Clinical Work of Treating Anxiety

Anxiety can show up as physical activation, self-criticism, attachment concerns, or protective patterns that are difficult to change through insight alone. This intensive brings together Heidi's six-step curriculum, Nature-Informed Therapy, and an introduction to IFS.

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You will explore nervous system regulation, bottom-up approaches, self-compassion, attachment anxiety, inner child work, and resilience. In outdoor practicums, you will examine how sensory attention, relationship with place, and natural metaphors can support a therapeutic goal.

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The IFS workshops introduce parts and Self, then explore how nature can support parts awareness and compassionate engagement. You will finish by developing and presenting a practical application for your own work.

• Arrival: Wednesday, May 26, 2027

• Training: Thursday–Saturday, May 27–29

• Departure: Sunday, May 30

  
  

Practice with Nature as A Therapeutic Partner

The outdoor sessions connect directly to the clinical material. As you learn about regulation, compassion, and parts, you will practice ways to work with the natural environment intentionally and consider how to adapt those approaches for clients.

The residential format gives you time to move between instruction, practice, and discussion. Heidi brings the anxiety curriculum and her work as a clinician and nature-informed educator. Jennifer brings clinical experience using IFS and Nature-Informed Therapy. Together, they guide a small group through learning that can carry into everyday practice.

WHO THIS TRAINING IS FOR

This training is designed for counselors, social workers, psychotherapists, and other mental health professionals interested in integrating nature into anxiety treatment and parts work.

CNIT graduates can use the intensive to deepen their application of NIT. Clinicians newer to nature-informed work will encounter introductory concepts alongside experiential practice. The IFS component introduces the model and its nature-informed applications.

This is a professional education program. Participants should apply what they learn within their professional role, training, and scope of practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

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• Describe the six-step anxiety curriculum and identify applications for clinical work.

• Demonstrate a bottom-up regulation practice using sensory attention to the natural environment.

• Explain how self-compassion and attachment patterns inform work with anxiety.

• Describe foundational IFS concepts, including parts and Self.

• Practice a nature-informed parts-awareness exercise and discuss considerations for client readiness and pacing.

• Develop a nature-informed intervention plan that addresses client goals, consent, cultural context, and outdoor safety.