Back to Our RoOTs

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss how outdoor play has changed over the past few decades. We’ll break down why we’ve seen this shift and talk through the implications it has had on mental and physical wellbeing. In the second half of the episode, we’ll hear from Margie Benge, OTR/L, HPCS, a non-traditional occupational therapist from Ohio who has over 35 years of clinical experience working with a diverse range of patients and demographics.

To learn more about Triangle Therapy Services:

http://www.triangletherapyservices.com/home.html

To advocate for equal access to outdoor spaces:

wilderness.org/takeaction

References:

Archambault, M. (2019). Play Culture Over Five Decades. Academic Excellence Showcase Proceedings, 157. https://doi.org/https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1181&context=aes

Clements, R. (2004). An investigation of the status of outdoor play. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 5(1), 68–80. https://doi.org/10.2304/ciec.2004.5.1.10

Cohen, D. (2021, September 21). Why kids need to spend time in nature. Child Mind Institute. Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/

Hanscom, A. J. (2016). Balanced and barefoot: How unrestricted outdoor play makes for strong, confident, and capable children. New Harbinger Publications.

National Recreation and Park Association. (2013). Children in nature improving health by reconnecting youth with the outdoors. National Recreation and Park Association. https://doi.org/https://www.nrpa.org/uploadedFiles/nrpa.org/Advocacy/Children-in-Nature.pdf

Outdoor Foundation. (2021). 2021 outdoor participation trends report. Outdoor Foundation. https://doi.org/https://outdoorindustry.org/resource/2021-outdoor-participation-trends-report/

Schulz, K., & Benge, M. (2022, January 31). Nature-Based Occupational Therapy. Personal.

Voices of Play. (2017). 2017 survey on play. IPEMA - Voice of Play. Retrieved February 2022, from https://voiceofplay.org/2017-survey-play/

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

This is the third of a series of short episodes that each include an "outdoor play tip of the day" from therapists at The Therapy SP/OT in Saint Paul, Minnesota! In today’s episode, I am joined by Laura Skalitzky, COTA/L, and Alexandra Kuch, CCC-SLP.

To learn more about The Therapy SP/OT:

https://www.thetherapyspotmn.com/

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Podcast Produced with Anchor

Today we’ll hear from Laura Park Figueroa, a nature-based occupational therapist from the Bay Area of California who has an incredible amount of practical and research experience in the field. She’s helped many therapists start their own practices and in 2015, she founded Outdoor Kids OT, a nature-based practice that provides small-group OT services for children in the great outdoors.

To learn more about Outdoor Kids OT:

https://www.outdoorkidsot.com/

References:

Schulz, K., & Park Figueroa, L. (2022, February 4th). Nature-Based Occupational Therapy. Personal.

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

Several hypotheses, now backed by current research, have informed many nature-based practices. So, to better understand why the outdoor environment is so conducive to OT, we'll break down the theories and research that support the use of nature as a treatment modality.

The Ecopsychology Research Hub:

https://www.ecopsychology.info/ecopsychology-research-hub

References:

Aspinall, P., Mavros, P., Coyne, R., & Roe, J. (2013). The urban brain: Analysing outdoor physical activity with mobile EEG. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(4), 272–276. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091877

Berget, B., Ekeberg, Ø., Pedersen, I., & Braastad, B. O. (2011). Animal-assisted therapy with farm animals for persons with psychiatric disorders: Effects on anxiety and depression, a randomized controlled trial. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 27(1), 50–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212x.2011.543641

Bragg, R. (2014). Nature-based interventions for mental wellbeing and  sustainable behaviour: the potential for green care in the UK. School of Biological Sciences University of Essex. https://doi.org/ https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.635893

Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., & Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.005

Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567–8572. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1510459112

Ecopsychology Research Hub. International Centre for Ecopsychology. (2022). Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.ecopsychology.info/ecopsychology-research-hub

Lee, J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Takayama, N., Park, B.-J., Li, Q., Song, C., Komatsu, M., Ikei, H., Tyrväinen, L., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2014). Influence of forest therapy on cardiovascular relaxation in young adults. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/834360

Oh, K. H., Shin, W. S., Khil, T. G., & Kim, D. J. (2020). Six-step model of nature-based therapy process. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 685. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030685

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

This is the second of a series of short episodes that each include an "outdoor play tip of the day!"

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

Leah Hiller, OTR/L, founded Hiller Therapy from her backyard in Los Angeles, California. Her practice proves that you don’t need to be lost in the woods to experience the therapeutic power of nature. We'll learn all about Leah and her practice in today's episode!

To learn more about Hiller Therapy:

https://www.hillertherapy.com/

References:

Schulz, K., & Hiller, L. (2022, January 25). Nature-Based Occupational Therapy. personal.

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

In today's episode, we'll discuss how we can reconnect ourselves and our children with the outdoors in therapy or in our own backyards. And we’ll cover how these experiences can greatly benefit sensory integration as well as social, emotional, psychological, and motor development.

References:

Ewert, A. W., McCormick, B. P., & Voight, A. E. (2001). Outdoor experiential therapies: Implications for TR practice. British Columbia Therapeutic Recreation Association. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.bctra.org/wp-content/uploads/tr_journals/1068-4186-1-PB.pdf

Hanscom, A. J. (2016). Balanced and barefoot: How unrestricted outdoor play makes for strong, confident, and capable children. New Harbinger Publications.

Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the Woods. Algonquin Books.

Simó Algado, S., & Ann Townsend, E. (2015). Eco-social occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(3), 182–186. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022614561239

Strife, S., & Downey, L. (2011). Childhood development and access to nature. Organization & Environment, 22(1), 99–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026609333340

Summers, J. K., & Vivian, D. N. (2018). Ecotherapy – a forgotten ecosystem service: A Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01389

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

This is the first of a series of short episodes that will each include an "outdoor play tip of the day" from therapists at The Therapy SP/OT in Saint Paul, Minnesota! In today’s episode, I am joined by Colee Ekegren MOTR/L and Lily Daws COTA/L.

To learn more about The Therapy SP/OT:

https://www.thetherapyspotmn.com/

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

Before we jump into the deep end and explore occupational therapy from a nature-based approach, we have to understand some foundational concepts used within the field. So, in today's episode, we'll brush up on the sensory system, motor development, social-emotional skills, etc. And in the second half of the episode, we'll get a taste of nature-based OT from Lisa Haverly MA OTR/L, an occupational therapist with an outdoor OT practice in Hudson, Wisconsin. 

To learn more about Rainbow Tree Therapies:

https://www.rainbowtreetherapies.com/

The Nature Superhero Network: https://lisarhaverly.podia.com/

References:

Dopko, R. L., Capaldi, C. A., & Zelenski, J. M. (2019). The psychological and social benefits of a nature experience for children: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 63, 134–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.05.002

Hanscom, A. J. (2016). Balanced and barefoot: How unrestricted outdoor play makes for strong, confident, and capable children. New Harbinger Publications.

Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods. Algonquin Books.

NBCOT. (2022). What is Occupational Therapy? National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.nbcot.org/en/Public/Occupational-Therapy

Schulz, K., & Haverly, L. (2021, December 31). Nature-Based Occupational Therapy. personal.

Strife, S., & Downey, L. (2011). Childhood development and access to nature. Organization & Environment, 22(1), 99–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026609333340

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor

Join us for an exclusive sneak peek at Back to Our RoOTs, a podcast all about nature-based occupational therapy. Over the coming episodes, we’ll comb through research that supports the use of nature as a treatment modality and speak with inspiring nature-based occupational therapists from across the country. 

Cover Art Created by Theo Von Weiss

Podcast Produced with Anchor