Therapy in the Great Outdoors
Resources, training, & community to help pediatric therapists grow successful and life-changing nature-based therapy practices.
Maybe you want to work outdoors in nature with children, but you're not sure where to begin?
You’re an excellent pediatric therapist, but…
… working outdoors in nature feels filled with unknowns
… you feel overwhelmed by all the things to do and don’t know where to start
… & you feel alone in trying something different in your profession.
Or maybe you already work outdoors in nature with children, but you're...
…over-delivering for your families and not paying yourself
…stressed out running your nature-based business or program
... & you feel alone when you face hard challenges in nature-based practice.
You CAN grow a sustainable nature-based practice that has huge impact in your community.
Imagine...
...fresh air, moving your body, and connecting authentically with children in unexpected ways
...thinking creatively and never running out of ideas for therapy sessions
...never feeling alone again when you hit obstacles in your practice
...getting paid well to do what you LOVE
...& best of all: feeling JOY & FREEDOM in your work!
Why Nature-Based Pediatric Practice?
Children are disconnected from nature.
Screen time, sedentarism, less recess time, urbanization, and risk-averse parenting are all causing modern day kids to miss out on critical experiences outdoors.
Children's lifelong health and well-being are at stake.
Nature-based therapy practice is supported by evidence.
Research suggests nature supports children's social-emotional development, physical health, motivation, engagement, and creative play.
But nature is completely missing from most therapy practitioners' "bag of tricks".
Pediatric therapists desperately need nature, too.
Burnout is REAL in most pediatric therapy settings. We give, give, give and are often working with limited resources and time.
Nature-based practice can revive your love of your work again!
Join the FREE Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community today!
You'll get access to these spaces in the FREE TGO Community:
- Discussion Forum all about nature-based pediatric practice.
- Jobs & Volunteers Board to find or post job openings or student projects.
- Member Directory so you can connect with other nature-loving therapists in your area (or on the other side of the globe)!
Have we met yet?
I'm Dr. Laura Park Figueroa.
Mama of 3 & nature-loving pediatric occupational therapist for 20+ years...
CEO of a profitable multi-state nature-based pediatric therapy practice...
Ph.D. in nature-based occupational therapy...
& an ever-honest business coach who keeps it 100% real.
Obsessed with growth mindset, rainbow colors, and helping YOU succeed in your nature-based practice! 🌈
I get your struggles cause I have BEEN THERE!
When I started my nature-based practice back in 2015, I felt SO overwhelmed and out of my comfort zone.
But the changes I saw in children and my renewed love of my work kept me going.
Early on, I learned I LOVED entrepreneurship. I created systems and strategies that save LOADS of time and energy when growing a nature-based pediatric practice.
And because of those systems, my practice has been profitable every single year since we started in 2015. (Yep. Even during the pandemic!)
Best of all, I work PART-TIME running the business, thanks to those systems!
Over the years, I've helped dozens of pediatric therapists start profitable & LIFE-CHANGING outdoor practices through my nature-based therapy course and business coaching.
But I didn't stop with learning about business. I wanted to truly understand the evidence for nature-based practice. I spent 5 years studying and finally graduated in May 2023 with my PhD. My dissertation research developed a theory - The Ecology of Change in Outdoor Therapy (ECO-Therapy) Model - which explains mechanisms of change at work in outdoor pediatric occupational therapy.
All that I've learned as a pediatric practitioner, an entrepreneur, and in my PhD are poured into the offerings here at Therapy in the Great Outdoors, to support YOU in the BUSINESS & PRACTICE of nature-based pediatric therapy.
