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Incorporating Nature as a Co-Therapist - Experiential Therapy

Tracks
Mossman Ballroom
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Mossman Ballroom

Overview

Barbara Gilmore, B Gilmore Counselling


Presenter

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Barbara Gilmore
Private Practice Clinical Counsellor
B Gilmore Counselling

Incorporating Nature as a Co-Therapist - Experiential Therapy

Abstract

Like other therapies, your narrative (or story), your perspective, and your relationships are all structures that offer understanding and meaning. Metaphors can be magic!

Clients coming to therapy with issues related to relationships; anxiety; understanding their world, including trauma and loss; transitions; grief; neurodivergent struggles; and/or personality acceptances such as HSP, SPS (highly sensitive & sensory processing sensitivities); are opportunities for a co-therapist... Trees, breeze, and teachings of nature.

The sessions involve one or more nature-based pathway:

The 5 Senses Pathway of meditative present mindfulness and the opportunity it brings for your senses to slowly explore how you see, feel, smell, taste, and hear nature’s detail and precision.

The Gratitude Pathway of being a part of the beauty, design and connection that nature offers.

The Symbolism and Metaphorical Pathway to solve and resolve human issues and needs, such as ‘becoming unstuck; deciding or choosing; making meaning with life and death, loss, and great change; learning and teaching.

The Tree Pathway to bend and not break; to hold and nurture a human; and to heal emotionally and physically.

The Sea Pathway to manage power, patience, change, expectations, and connection to healing.

Three Key Learnings:

1. You will LEARN that Nature is your partner and co-therapist to assist with significant issues. You will NOT simply be having your counselling sessions outside.
2. You will start to USE 5 potential pathways to creatively introduce and focus the therapy and goals.
3. You will PRACTICE and take with your skills gained within your small group to structure and see results in a nature based clinical sessions.

Biography

Barbara Gilmore currently lives and works on Vancouver Island, Canada. She loves being a clinical counsellor in private practice; facilitator/ instructor; and being outside in nature. Registration designation is Master Practitioner Clinical Counselling, CPCA Educational background includes a master's degree from the University of Southern Queensland 2009; Clinical Therapies / Counsellor Diploma, AIPC 2012; diplomas & certificates from Australia and Canada in mental illness; adult learning; Nature therapy; HSP; and Suicide Intervention. Notably, while Barbara lived in Yorkey’s Knob, QLD, her work in mental wellness, education, and suicide awareness programs with rural communities was most significant in life.

Host

Lise Saunders
Event Coordinator
AST Management

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Justine White
Event Manager
AST Management

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