Welcome to ‘In Our Nature.’
Hi to all. I’m Russ and I’m excited to finally introduce you to my new venture. It’s been a long time in the making. People that know me will have heard me talk about my ideas for some time now, and now rather than thinking, I’m doing.
I’ve been working within the field of mental health for nearly two decades now. Firstly as a registered mental health nurse, and now as an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. I decided to use my experience and the intuition that has come with it to create a therapeutic project that feels very personal to me and my journey.
A journey into the outdoors:
As well as a mental health professional I am also a nature enthusiast. I grew up in rural Lincolnshire and in my childhood I felt an intuitive connection with the natural world. Whilst my appreciation for nature has never faltered, my connection with it has waxed and waned through my life. City living and a hectic work life meant that this part of myself had been neglected, often for long periods of time.
I’ve always been one of those hiking sorts, even when living in the city I made various trips to the Lakes, or the Scottish Highlands. On reflection, I always felt so much better on my return.
It was in 2016 that I truly acknowledged that healing power of being outdoors. At the time, I was working as a mental health nurse in a busy crisis service. Staffing problems and restructuring of the service had led me to feel exhausted and disconnected. I remember on one occasion being close to panic whilst sitting in my car outside my workplace prior to my shift. I’ve no idea how I got through that day. In retrospect I can see that I was experiencing burnout. It’s funny how mental health professions can ignore the signs in themselves.
I knew I needed to take some time away from work in order to heal and I was lucky to have friends living on the edge of Snowdonia who invited me to stay with them. I took them up on this opportunity and spent a few days trekking around the area. I decided to embark on a solo hike of the Glyderau range. It was when I was at the top of Glyder Fawr, looking back at the path that had led me to the summit, that something shifted. The raw, wild beauty of the mountains, the wind taking my breath away, the sense of awe that I was experiencing. I was in the moment and I was connected with the world around me. It was a powerful reset that enabled me to return to work and actually prioritise my self-care. This would inevitably include making sure I got my dose of green! The phrase ‘I need green’ has become a frequent one spoken between myself and my wife.
This experience, amongst others, ignited a new path for me. I’ve become a fierce advocate for the healing power of nature ever since.
My plan:
In setting up a business I hope to share my experience in the mental health field with others.
For those who prefer a more traditional setting, I will be offering 1:1 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, an evidence-based approach for the treatment of problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, low self-esteem, perfectionism etc.
I will also be offering nature-informed therapy. This will include bespoke 1:1 interventions and therapeutic groups. I am a certified Outdoor Therapist, trained to adapt therapy to include nature as an active partner in sessions. My approach combines principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) with the theory of Nature Connectedness to harness the restorative effects of nature. I’m currently undergoing training to become a Lowland Leader, once qualified I will also include longer day hikes, with a therapeutic leaning, into my practice.
Additionally, I will work with small and medium sized business clients to help improve workplace wellbeing. I will provide flexible workshop options focussed principally on stress management and building resilience in the workplace. These session can be adapted to take place in traditional settings, or the outdoors, depending on the needs of the organisation.
In short:
I hope to use my years of experience and my personal passion to help you find your own path to feeling better. Whether that's in a chair, or out among the trees, I’m here to walk with you.
Russ