Nature Therapy Developing a Framework for Practice Thesis ...

Berger, R. (2008). Nature Therapy – Developing a Framework for Practice. A Ph.D.School of Health and Social Sciences. University of Abertay, Dundee136environment and process issues that are also connected to the person theychose to meet.The overall aim of these non-facilitated encounters was to support thetransition from the training-therapeutic-group setting into the every day environment,helping participants turn their insights and learning into concrete actions and living.Group contractA group contract was offered and agreed upon prior to the training, due to theexperiential mode of the training in which personal experience was one of the mainvehicles for learning. The contract acknowledged the benefits that a safe, playful andtrustful group environment could have upon such process. It included the followingelements:1. Participants were asked to keep confidential any personal material sharedwithin the training.2. As the workshop took place at night, participants were asked not todistance themselves from the group without informing the facilitator.3. In case one of the participants was aware of any chronic illness, in general,and sensitivity to insects stings, asthma, or diabetes, in particular, he/shewas asked to inform the group facilitator about it prior to the beginning ofthe training.4. In addition, the structure of the two 'non-facilitated meetings' wassuggested but not compulsory (without any obligation of sharing itsoutcome with the group and facilitator).ParticipantsThe group was composed of nine therapists and group counselors and onenature photographer and nature guide: four men and six women, aged between theearly thirties and middle fifties. All of the therapists were interested in expanding their'clinical' modes of working and add skills and techniques that would help themdevelop a Nature Therapy-oriented practice. The photographer (who is also a natureguide) came wanting to experience another mode of working with groups in natureand also for his own process. Most participants had had deep experiences in nature