• Therapy in the Great Outdoors: The Business & Practice of Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

  • By: Dr. Laura Park Figueroa
  • Podcast

Therapy in the Great Outdoors: The Business & Practice of Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

By: Dr. Laura Park Figueroa
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  • Summary

  • This podcast is about the business & practice of nature-based pediatric therapy of all kinds. If you are an outdoor-loving practitioner in the field of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, behavioral health, mental health counseling, or outdoor education THIS is for you! You'll learn how you can take your work with children outdoors into nature. We'll cover exactly what it takes to run a successful and profitable nature-based practice that changes children's lives (and yours!) forever. On this show, you'll get answers to questions like: What does nature-based therapy look like? What types of activities work well in outdoor therapy sessions? How can nature-based therapy be a profitable business? What evidence is there for nature-based pediatric therapy? What does research say about getting children out into nature? What kinds of different business models exist for offering nature-based services for children? How can I ensure the success of my nature-based outdoor business? What systems do I need to grow a nature-based practice? Your host, Dr. Laura Park Figueroa, PhD, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist who is a published expert in nature-based pediatric therapy and a highly-acclaimed business coach for nature-based entrepreneurs. You can learn more about her and get loads of free resources to support your nature-based work at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com
    © 2025 Laura Park Figueroa
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Economics Leadership
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Episodes
  • 102: How to Add Sit Spots to Your Therapy Sessions - with Lauren MacLean

    102: How to Add Sit Spots to Your Therapy Sessions - with Lauren MacLean
    Jan 27 2025
    Lauren MacLean is a teacher, podcaster, author, and owner of Teach Outdoors in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. She has years of experience teaching children outdoors and is joining me today to talk about how we can integrate sit spot practices into our work as nature-based pediatric therapists. Lauren shares her valuable insights from 17 years of teaching, her work with nature schools, and authorship of children's books. We dive into practical strategies for therapists and educators to help children connect with nature, including tips on balancing structure and freedom, managing boundaries, and adapting practices for children with different needs such as ADHD and autism. You'll learn how to model positive behavior, use language effectively, and integrate play and learning in the great outdoors. 00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy 00:58 Meet Lauren MacLean: Educator and Author 04:37 Understanding Sit Spots 08:12 Implementing Sit Spots in Therapy 12:18 Balancing Structure and Freedom in Outdoor Learning 21:43 Adapting Outdoor Activities for Diverse Needs 28:23 Sports Psychology and Coaching Challenges 28:49 Safety Reminders for Outdoor Activities 29:26 Pre-Teaching and Classroom Management 30:06 Classroom Book Projects and Environmental Awareness 32:03 Children's Picture Books and Their Impact 36:50 Balancing Technology and Outdoor Play 42:30 Risky Play and Child Development 49:10 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 51:25 Enrollment for ConTiGO Nature-Based Therapy Program Connect with Lauren online at teachoutdoors.ca or on Instagram @teachoutdoors.ca The ConTiGO Approach Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant Certification Program is now open for enrollment till Jan 31, 2025 at 5pm CST. Go to contigoapproach.com to get more information.
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    53 mins
  • 101: Learn From My Mistakes! (Yearly Business Review of 2024)

    101: Learn From My Mistakes! (Yearly Business Review of 2024)
    Jan 20 2025
    Here's my annual last-year-in-review episode where YOU get to peek inside my businesses' metrics from 2024 and learn from my mistakes (as usual!) 😆 You'll learn: -What I'm NOT doing anymore this year -Why reviewing your profit-loss statement is critical -How $60,000+ in your business bank account may NOT mean you were highly profitable -Ways to assess market demand for your services -How my business is structured now to be in a position for growth -Strategies for maintaining business growth and fostering a supportive team -The value of slowing down and honoring your own energy/feelings Enrollment will open January 24-31 for you to become a Certified Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant in the ConTiGO Approach. Go to contigoapproach.com to get all the details and join the waitlist. We'll send you an email when doors are open! Timestamped Outline: 00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy 00:58 Podcast Episode: Learn from My Mistakes 01:31 Business Metrics and Mistakes of 2024 02:51 Overview of Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) 04:08 Financial Challenges and Reflections 11:31 Future Plans for TGO 15:13 Financial Overview of Outdoor Kids OT 15:59 Business Budgeting and Profit First 20:06 Challenges of Running a Therapy Business 22:00 Setting Financial Goals for the Year 23:11 Team Expansion and Role Delegation 25:09 Annual Planning and Market Research 28:41 Balancing Transparency and Discretion 35:17 Reflections on Leadership and Personal Growth 42:33 ConTiGO Certification Program Announcement
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    43 mins
  • 100: Listener Q & A for Our 100th Episode Celebration!

    100: Listener Q & A for Our 100th Episode Celebration!
    Jan 13 2025
    THANK YOU for being a TGO podcast listener! To celebrate our 100th episode of Therapy in the Great Outodors, this week I answer YOUR questions about: - How to start and run a nature-based camp (3:20) - Evaluation methods for both group and individual therapy (13:40) - Choosing the right website hosting platform (26:30) - Balancing business growth with family life (31:10) - Handling extreme weather conditions in your nature-based practice (41:40) - Navigating permits and waivers for public parks (46:00) Join me as we dive deep into these listener questions and help you take steps towards creating your dream practice. And if you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving a review to help our podcast grow! 00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors 00:58 Celebrating Episode 100 with Listener Q&A 03:09 Starting and Running a Nature-Based Camp 09:04 Nature-Based Evaluations for Group and Individual Therapy 14:54 Rules and Regulations for Providing Services Outdoors 15:57 Website Hosting and Business Planning Tips 25:12 Managing a Nature-Based Practice in Extreme Weather 27:48 Waivers, Permits, and Liability Insurance 31:01 Conclusion and Call to Action Want free resources to support your nature-based practice? Go to https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com
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    33 mins

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