Course Description
Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy blends the skills of mindfulness with the healing power of nature.
Have you ever been camping, hiking or canoeing? Do you enjoy hunting and fishing? If so, you are probably already aware of nature’s power to relax and heal. A large and growing body of research demonstrates that nature is good for the mind as well as the body. Ecopsychology is the study of nature’s ability to heal. Ecotherapy is the application of ecopsychology in a therapeutic setting. Time in nature fosters contemplative practices like mindful meditation. Taken together, the skills of mindfulness and ecotherapy yield increased self-confidence and self-esteem, allowing you to live more fully as the person you were meant to be.
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Course Objectives
After completing this course, the student will be able to:
- Discuss the mindful concept of Mindful Awareness
- Discuss and describe the mindful concept of Radical Acceptance
- Discuss and describe the mindful concepts of Wise Mind and Wise Body
- Discuss and describe the mindful concept of Letting Go
- Discuss and describe the mindful concept of Living in the Now
- Discuss and describe the mindful concept of centering
- Discuss and describe the mindful concept of connecting
- Discuss and describe the ecotherapy concept of Nature as Metaphor
- Discuss and describe the ecotherapy concept of Nature as Teacher
- Discuss and describe the ecotherapy concept of Nature as Nurture
- Discuss and describe the ecotherapy concept of Nature as Healer
- Discuss and describe the concept of Living in True Self
- Be able to successfully facilitate all 12 skills of the Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Program
Course Format
This is a self-directed online introductory course in Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy in Clinical Practice. While this course is a part of the requirements to become a certified Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Facilitator, it is also a stand-alone course that gives the student a good basic grounding in the principles and practices of mindfulness and ecotherapy.
The course materials include a pdf copy of the Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy (MBE) Workbook and several handouts. The handouts also include this list of course objectives and a list of references and citations.
About Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Facilitator Certification
Although this course is part of the requirements to become a Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Certified Facilitator, it is also a stand-alone course. If you are interested in becoming a certified facilitator, the requirements are listed below.
There are five courses that you must complete before applying for facilitator certification. These are:
- Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy in Clinical Practice – 15 hours
- Mindfulness: An Introduction– 6 hours
- Ecotherapy: An Introduction – 6 hours
- Group Process in Mindfulness–Based Ecotherapy – 10 hours
TOTAL HOURS = 37
You may take the courses in any order you wish. All courses must be completed successfully prior to applying for certified facilitator status. Once you have completed all five courses, you will need to write a case presentation using the guidelines below. There is no required length for the presentation; however, it must address the criteria outlined below.
Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Case Presentation
When applying for certified facilitator status you will need to submit your case presentation along with your application. The case presentation should meet the following criteria below.
First, select one of the 12 skills of Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy and practice is with at least one of your clients. Remember to use pseudonyms when writing your case presentation so that your client’s confidentiality and privacy are respected. You may wish to have them sign a disclosure statement giving you permission to use their information anonymously.
Next, write your case presentation based on the outcome of the session in which you taught your client the selected Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy skill. Your presentation should address the following questions:
- Which Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy skill did you choose, and why?
- How did your client respond to learning the skill?
- What is your client’s presenting problem/diagnosis?
- How did the skill relate to the client’s diagnosis?
- How is the skill you chose to use with your client similar or different to your usual therapeutic approach?
- What are your client’s goals for treatment?
- Did the skill you presented help or hinder those goals? How and why?
- Were there any mitigating factors that might have affected the outcome of the session?
- Will you be using more MBE skills with this client in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
- Any other pertinent information you may wish to include on integrating Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy into your practice.
When you have completed all of the course work required for certification as a Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy facilitator, email your case presentation to [email protected]. You may send it in the body of the email or as a pdf attachment to the email. When sending your case presentation, also send the name and email you used on your account when you completed the course work. We need this information so we can verify successful completion of the required courses.
When your case presentation is received, it will be evaluated. Please allow up to two weeks for evaluation. If your evaluation is successful, you will be sent a link to the Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Certified Facilitator Application. Complete the application and pay the application fee and you will receive a Certified Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Program Facilitator in pdf format.
If your case presentation is unsatisfactory for any reason, you will receive an email explaining why and you will be given an opportunity to revise your presentation.
If you have any questions about these changes, please complete the contact form below for further information.
