Have you ever heard of wilderness therapy? Why is wilderness therapy often more impactful and positive for highly sensitive people? What can highly sensitive people enjoy about partaking in a retreat?
In this podcast episode, Lisa Lewis speaks about how wilderness therapy helps highly sensitive people connect to the natural world with Alyssa Nelson.
MEET ALYSSA NELSON
Alyssa Nelson is a licensed mental health counselor and substance use disorder professional in the state of WA who is trained in wilderness therapy, trauma-informed care, yoga, and mindfulness. She owns the business, The Aspen Connection, where she offers individual therapy, group yoga therapy, retreats, and backpacking journeys.
Alyssa is also an adjunct professor at Antioch University in Seattle and teaches trauma and animal-assisted therapy courses. She is a passionate nature and animal lover and so on her off days she is likely out doing something adventurous with her loved ones and pets!
Visit the Aspen Connection and connect on Instagram.
FREEBIE: Get 10% off coupon for the upcoming Helping Professionals Retreat! Schedule a call with Alyssa and mention this podcast! Contact Alyssa through email: alyssa.aspenconnection@gmail.com
IN THIS PODCAST:
- What is wilderness therapy?
- The right client for wilderness therapy
- How would wilderness therapy benefit a HSP?
- The benefits of a retreat
What is wilderness therapy?
[Wilderness therapy] allows us to become more embodied, more connected to our sense of self and to others, and the world around us.
Alyssa Nelson
Wilderness therapy and ecotherapy share the same foundation.
Every element has a connection to the natural world which could be through backpacking, rock climbing, working with plants or animals, and spending quality, conscious time in nature.
The right client for wilderness therapy
You don’t have to be incredibly fit or strong to partake in wilderness therapy.
On the contrary, the therapy is suited to your needs, desires, and level of participation.
Alyssa also offers traditional-style therapy in a therapeutic retreat that is focused on nature, in a natural setting, with outdoor activities incorporated into the therapeutic modalities.
The experience that you have as an individual isn’t really important because there’s so much choice in what’s offered, and also the ability for [the therapist] to tailor that experience to the needs of the group or you as an individual.
Alyssa Nelson
With wilderness therapy, you are also in control. You can set the boundaries on how far or intense you would like any physical activity to be, within the limitations that you want to set, or however much you want to try to push yourself.
How would wilderness therapy benefit a HSP?
One of the main aspects of wilderness therapy is to focus on nervous system regulation, which is a huge help, and often stumbling block, for highly sensitive people.
Because HSPs feel the world around them so intensely, their nervous systems become triggered, leading them to feel anxious, depressed, or resentful.
It is vital for HSPs to learn how to self-regulate so that they can let go of what doesn’t belong to them, and bring themselves back to a state of neutrality, and peace.
For a lot of us that are highly sensitive, I think that it’s almost more important to get outside more often, because … any sort of movement [practice] … is such a beautiful way for regulating the nervous system, and add[ing] movement outside that’s intentional and meaningful … you allow this opportunity for your nervous system to regulate even more deeply.
Alyssa Nelson
The benefits of a retreat
A retreat is a place for you to relax, process, and explore.
However, another often overlooked aspect of a retreat is that it offers you the perfect opportunity to engage in solitude while still having access to a community, should you want to connect with someone.
A lot of us that want solitude don’t necessarily want to be alone. We want solitude and quiet and space to not be so overwhelmingly overstimulated, and so a retreat’s a great place to actually give yourself that gift of solitude while still also having space for connection and processing when things start to come up.
Alyssa Nelson
For highly sensitive people who may prefer extended periods of quiet solitude, this is especially helpful. They can engage with others once they feel that they want to, and not because they should or they have to.
RESOURCES MENTIONED AND USEFUL LINKS
Find Out More About Sensitive in Nature
Visit the Aspen Connection and connect on Instagram.
Practice of the Practice Network
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CONNECT WITH ME
Email me: lisa@amiokpodcast.com
ABOUT THE AM I OK? PODCAST
So you’ve been told that you’re “too sensitive” and perhaps you replay situations in your head. Wondering if you said something wrong? You’re like a sponge, taking in every word, reading all situations. Internalizing different energies, but you’re not sure what to do with all of this information. You’re also not the only one asking yourself, “am I ok?” Lisa Lewis is here to tell you, “It’s totally ok to feel this way.”
Join Lisa, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as she hosts her, Am I Ok? Podcast. With over 20 years of education, training, and life experience, she specializes in helping individuals with issues related to being an empath and a highly sensitive person.
Society, and possibly your own experiences, may have turned your thinking of yourself as being a highly sensitive person into something negative. Yet, in reality, it is something that you can – and should – take ownership of. It’s the sixth sense to fully embrace, which you can harness to make positive changes in your life and in the lives of others.
This may all sound somewhat abstract, but on the Am I Ok? Podcast, Lisa shares practical tips and advice you can easily apply to your own life. Lisa has worked with adults from various backgrounds and different kinds of empaths, and she’s excited to help you better connect with yourself. Are you ready to start your journey?