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
  • 99: The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO) - Part 2

    99: The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO) - Part 2
    Jan 6 2025

    In this episode, we dive into the 'Tool for Observing Play Outdoors' (TOPO), a new typology for capturing children's play behaviors in outdoor settings by Lobach and Cox. (If you missed part one, be sure to catch up with episode 98 first!) You'll learn:

    • The non-hierarchical framework of TOPO
    • Ways to capture the complexity of play when making observations
    • How the TOPO can help you plan nature-based treatment sessions for children

    00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

    00:58 Exploring the TOPO Tool for Outdoor Play

    04:27 Implications and Applications of the TOPO Tool

    10:53 Using the TOPO Tool for Individual and Place-Based Observations

    17:24 Alternative Uses and Practical Tips for the TOPO Tool

    20:45 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

    Link to the article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7432422/
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    22 mins
  • 98: The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO) - Part 1

    98: The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO) - Part 1
    Dec 30 2024
    In this episode, I discuss the article The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO): A New Typology for Capturing Children's Play Behaviors in Outdoor Environments by Loebach & Cox. You'll learn how this tool was developed and tested, and hear about the 9 categories of outdoor play and their subtypes included on this tool. This episode will help you hone your observation skills of children's play and consider ways to inspire different kinds of play in your outdoor therapy sessions. Next week (in part 2) we'll talk about implications for nature-based therapists and how you can use the TOPO tool in your practice to become a more skilled facilitator of play in your nature-based sessions.

    00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

    00:59 Personal Reflections

    02:18 Introduction to the TOPO Tool

    03:13 Abstract and Relevance of the TOPO Tool

    05:38 Development Phases of the TOPO Tool

    09:17 Nine Types of Outdoor Play

    10:43 Physical Play and Its Subtypes

    12:31 Exploratory Play and Its Subtypes

    13:32 Imaginative Play and Its Subtypes

    15:15 Play with Rules and Its Subtypes

    17:32 Expressive Play and Its Subtypes

    20:15 Bio Play and Its Subtypes

    21:20 Restorative Play and Its Subtypes

    23:45 Digital Play and Non-Play Categories

    26:28 Conclusion and Certification Information

    Enrollment is open till Dec 31 at 5pm CST 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 us before the price goes up in 2025 for the first time in 5 years!
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    28 mins
  • 97: Help Me Help YOU! (Life & Business Updates from Laura - Dec 2024)

    97: Help Me Help YOU! (Life & Business Updates from Laura - Dec 2024)
    Dec 24 2024

    How are you feeling in your nature-based practice or business right now? In this episode, you'll hear about my current feelings about both of my nature-based businesses, my therapy practice (Outdoor Kids OT) and my online business (Therapy in the Great Outdoors - which produces this podcast for you!).

    You'll learn:

    -That you are NORMAL if your emotions ebb and flow over the course of your practice/business!

    -Tips for choosing the right niche

    -Why it is important to think long-term about your work and life

    -The importance of knowing how you come to your best ideas/decisions (and how I come to mine.)

    -How YOU can give feedback to guide the offerings of Therapy in the Great Outdoors next year in 2025!

    Here's the link to the TGO 2024 End-of-Year Survey! Please share your thoughts. All replies are anonymous! https://forms.gle/9o64NtPVeGsA75yg9
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    32 mins
  • 96: Lessons Learned from Nepali & Indonesian Children

    96: Lessons Learned from Nepali & Indonesian Children
    Dec 23 2024

    In this episode, I share my recent travel experiences in Nepal and Indonesia and reflections I had along the way. This trip was MUCH more challenging than I anticipated it would be! In many ways, it was just like being an entrepreneur: super rewarding and ALSO very hard. You'll hear what I observed about children in these different cultures and how that impacted my own thinking about nature-based therapy service provision and life here in the US.

    00:00 Introduction

    00:58 Personal Travel Reflections: Nepal and Indonesia (an overview of the trip and what we did)

    09:10 Challenges and Hardships of the Journey

    15:32 Cultural Observations of Children

    27:16 My Existential Crisis and Reflections on Nature-Based Therapy Service Provision

    33:30 ConTiGO announcement

    Enrollment is open till Dec 31 at 5pm CST 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 us before the price goes up in 2025 for the first time in 5 years!
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    38 mins
  • 95: Holiday Gift Guide - My Top 12 Favorite Toys for Outdoorsy Kids

    95: Holiday Gift Guide - My Top 12 Favorite Toys for Outdoorsy Kids
    Dec 9 2024
    Thanks to Layna Lovelady for posting the question that inspired this episode in the TGO community! In this episode, I share my top 12 favorite gift ideas for outdoorsy kids. Plus a few embarrassing/funny stories from my own childhood and young parenting days... :) 1. Morakniv Pocket Knife - fixed blade (not folding) with ledge for protecting hand. 2. Wooden sling shots 3. Bow and arrow from Two Bros Bows 4. Waldorf sack doll 5. Hearthsong outdoor swings 6. Ribbon sticks or playsilks from Sarah’s Silks (Or Dharma blank silks that you can dye yourself.) 7. Tegu blocks (expensive but truly an heirloom quality toy- I still have my kids’ from when they were little and pull them out every time we have young kids over to our home) 8. Wood play food/dishes or mini-kitchen from Etsy (also pricey but beautiful quality) 9. Any book from the Living Books list I made a while back (ep 68). Get the list at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/list 10. Potholder Loom 11. River rock blocks 12. Nightbuddy beanie headlamp 13. Bonus family gift idea: This firewood splitter is SO FUN to use. Would be a great family gift for an outdoorsy family who lives in a place with cold winters where fires are commonly built during the season. (Make sure to include a mallet or sledgehammer with it!) Announcement: We'll be opening the ConTiGO Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist Certification for the final time at 2024 prices for our February 2025 cohort. The price will go UP in 2025. Get on the waitlist to be notified! contigoapproach.com. Last 2024 enrollment will close December 31 at 5pm.
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    32 mins