133: Natalia Ruiz de Cortázar Gracia : Psychologist and General Director of Experientia in Spain
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Release Date: 07/13/2021
142: Financial Help for Wilderness Therapy Treatment, Part 1
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
The cost of wilderness therapy treatment is expensive, yet several organizations will help. In this episode, we hear stories from leaders of non-profit organizations that help families by providing funds to help pay for wilderness therapy treatment. We talk with Debbie Roelands from Skys the Limit Fund, Brad Matheson from Choose Mental Health, and Miriam Miller from Charles N Miller Scholarship fund. They will share the history of the organizations, how to apply for funds and other resources for families.
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141: Philip Stallard, Founder of New Wave Wild Project in Ireland
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Phil Stallard is the founder of the New Wave Wild Project in Ireland. Philip is the first person outside of the U.S. to become a Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist. Philip's journey into the field was filled was paved with the intention of legitimizing the Adventure Therapy profession in Ireland. He shares his story of how he became interested in the field and why he choose to become a clinical social worker. He goes into the evolution of New Wave and why he was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year.
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140: Harpa Erlendsdottir: Manager of the Icelandic Adventure Therapy Association.
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Harpa Erlendsdottir is a clinical occupational therapist and the General Manager of the Icelandic Adventure Therapy Association. Growing up in the majestic beauty of Iceland inspired Harpa to become involved in the field. She shares her story of being involved in Scouting and learning about Experiential Education. She would travel to the U.S. to take a course at Project Adventure to learn more. She shares stories about her experiences in the field and the Gathering of Adventure Therapists in Europe.
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139: Andy Hardie: Clinical Manager at Venture Trust in the United Kingdom
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Andy Hardie is the Clinical Manager of Venture Trust in the United Kingdom. Andy shares his journey into the field, which began when heading to the only university that accepted him to study Outdoor Leadership. He would go onto work at the original Outward Bound school. Andy shares how Venture Trust began as a 21-day “boot camp” style wilderness therapy program and has evolved to be a social change agent, including providing Outdoor Therapy for free to young people age 16-25 and ex-service members.
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138: Cindy Ross, author of "Walking Toward Peace-Veterans Healing on America's Trails"
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Cindy Ross is the author of the new book, "Walking Toward Peace- Veterans Healing on America's Trails," which profiles combat veterans who found healing through the outdoors as well as long-distance expeditions. She shares her journey of writing the book and what she learned from veterans.
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137: Jorge Venceslau, Co-founder of Age of Discoveries in Portugal.
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Jorge Venceslau is the program director and co-founder of Age of Discoveries, located in Portugal. Jorge's journey into the field began in his early 20's when he struggled with several issues and found wilderness to be a place of healing. He would become a recovery coach and worked in programs worldwide, including The Crossroads Center in Antigua. He always dreamed of starting his own program, and in this episode, he shares the joys and challenges of creating the first adventure therapy program in Portugal
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136: Dr. Virginie Gargano, Founder of Dehors and Professor of Social Work
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Dr. Virginie Gargano is the founder of Dehors an adventure therapy training program located in Quebec, Canada. She is also a professor of Social Work at Université Laval and is a researcher, teacher, and practitioner of adventure therapy. Virginie shares her journey from being a guide at a program that worked with adjudicated youth in the outdoors to going on to get her Masters and Doctorate in Social Work. Virginie also shares her involvement in the International Adventure Therapy Conference and much more
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135: Graham Pringle, Program Director of Youth Flourish Outdoors in Australia
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Graham Pringle is the program director at Youth Flourish Outdoors (YFO) in Australia. Graham shares his story of how he became involved in outdoor therapy after a stint in the military and why it is referred to as Bush Adventure Therapy. Graham compares the similarities and differences in how outdoor therapies are practiced in his country versus the US. He shares how YFO works with traumatized youth in outdoor adventure settings as well as how the organization functions with little government support.
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134: Ray Burke: Founder and CEO of Active Connections in Ireland
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Ray Burke is the founder of Active Connections in Ireland. Ray shares his story of growing up in Dublin and finding solace in the woods from the challenges of the city. He would venture to the US to work at summer camps and Outward Bound in Oregon. He learned about wilderness therapy at Catherine Freer Wilderness and returned to Ireland for more education so he could bring adventure therapy home. Ray tells the story of starting Active Connections over a decade ago to help transform lives through adventure.
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133: Natalia Ruiz de Cortázar Gracia : Psychologist and General Director of Experientia in Spain
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy
Natalia Ruiz de Cortázar Gracia is a psychologist and general director of Experientia located in Spain. Natalia shares how she first heard about wilderness therapy when she was a graduate student in the U.S. and describes how she worked at Wingate and Anasazi. After two years she returned to Spain to work at Experientia. Natalia describes how Experientia is helping young people with mental health challenges with outdoor treatment as well as differences and similarities between the U.S. and Spanish models.
info_outlineNatalia Ruiz de Cortázar Gracia is a psychologist and general director of Experientia located in Spain. Natalia shares how she first heard about wilderness therapy when she was a graduate student in the U.S. and describes how she worked at Wingate and Anasazi. After two years she returned to Spain to work at Experientia. Natalia describes how Experientia is helping young people with mental health challenges with outdoor treatment as well as differences and similarities between the U.S. and Spanish models.
Bio from Experientia:
I was born and raised in Santiago de Compostela. From a very young age I learned to live and function in the mountains thanks to my belonging to the scouts, where I acquired values such as companionship, commitment and respect that are still part of me today. As a teenager, it was in nature where I learned to connect with myself and discovered in myself potentialities that school and other environments did not allow me at that time. As an adult, I was a volunteer monitor for several years, an experience that gave me the opportunity to continue growing and acquiring skills such as teamwork and assertiveness.
I travel a lot, although it never seems enough to me. I like the sun and the sea, appreciate the details in the great things and find solutions to the little discomforts in life (and the big ones too). I am creative and resourceful, and I try to make the world a better place.
I graduated in Psychology and did postgraduate studies as an Expert in Family Intervention. I had the opportunity to enjoy a scholarship that allowed me to study a master's degree in "Mental Health Counseling" (Counseling in Mental Health) in New York, USA, for a year and a half. This training deeply enriched me on a personal, academic and professional level.
My professional experience, both in Spain and in the US, revolves around the field of family therapy and mental health counseling, until I heard for the first time the magic words: "Wilderness Therapy". Even without knowing very well what this type of therapy consisted of, at that moment I knew that it was the combination of my two passions: psychology and nature.
I worked for a year in two “Wilderness Therapy” rehabilitation programs in the US, as an educator / mentor and as a family psychologist. For many months, my job consisted of living with a group of troubled youth in the Utah desert. The profound transformation that this experience led to in me, both personally and professionally, makes Experientia a personal project. What I had already learned since I was a little girl in the humid Galician forests through my experiences in the scouts, were confirmed in the arid places of the west: the therapeutic power of the natural environment and the connection with oneself through nature .
If I have learned anything from these experiences, it is that "there is no growth within the comfort zone, and no comfort within the growth zone."
My connection with Experientia arises from my determination to be able to implement Therapy through adventure in Spain. As the association's technical coordinator and secretary, I give training and participate in the design and implementation of our projects with enthusiasm and a team of great professionals and better people.