Introduction to Ecotherapy | Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 9:00 am – 1:30 pm | San Geronimo Valley, Marin County, CA | with Jan Edl Stein, MFT
EcoTherapy is a modality of psychotherapy that involves engaging with the natural world as a “co-therapist” to facilitate deeper awareness, recover from trauma and stress in a non-verbal process, and cultivate creativity and liminal states of awareness that facilitate emotional healing. This brief workshop is a “hands on” introduction to eco-therapy.
We will be meeting in an outdoor space where the actual program flow reflects the common process in ecotherapy. We will review basic clinical and logistical considerations as one moves their regular psychotherapy practice to an outdoor setting AND brings in elements of ecotherapy practices. EcoTherapy differs from simply moving the clinical container outdoors in that it employs specific practices and processes that support an engagement with nature and self-reflection based on that engagement. This workshop will teach these practices while also offering participants a personal experience along with a reflection of the theory/clinical concepts behind the processes.
While this is a brief introduction to the process, you will leave with a solid sense of the ecotherapy process along with some specific interventions and approaches that may be used to deepen one’s practice. This is great program to try out an ecotherapy process yourself and to begin to consider how you might bring this into your own clinical practice in a safe and carefully thought through manner.
This program is geared specifically for licensed and pre-licensed therapists or students of clinical psychology or social work. However, it is open to anyone working in a healing capacity who is interested in acquiring some new, eco-based skills.
THE PROGRAM
We will meet in a lovely wide, open space in the San Geronimo Valley of West Marin County where the walking is easy.
After introductions, we will stroll the grounds stopping at various points to talk about an overview of outdoor clinical practices and some of the basic interventions of ecotherapy. We will be trying out a few of the 12 “Practice that Deepen Connection” that Jan has developed as a tool for facilitating the clinical process. There will be some time for personal experience, and reflection as an illustration of the process. We will close with a questions and answer period and a summary of the experience.
INSTRUCTOR
Holos Institute has been a pioneer in the field of ecopsychology and ecotherapy since 1990, hosting many ecopsychology conferences that bring together some of the top leaders in the field. Jan Edl Stein, MFT has been clinically investigating applied ecopsychology, teaching and writing on the topic since 2004 when she became the director of Holos Institute. Jan brings over 35 years of clinical practice and supervision experience to her teaching. She has deeply studied the relationship of psyche to environment and is passionate about finding ways that the natural world may be engaged as a powerful ally in psychotherapy. She has lectured and taught widely on EcoTherapy and ecopsychology topics including UCLA Medical School, the Bioneers Conference, Esalen, and the California Institute of Integral Studies. For more information please visit www.janedl.com
LOGISTICS
Upon registration you will receive an email with details including directions to the workshop site, and how to best prepare. We will be walking at a leisurely pace on mostly level walking trails and about no more than 2 - 3 miles in total. However, the site cannot accommodate people with mobility needs.
REGISTRATION & FEES
REGULAR FEE: $135 Licensed therapists and other professionals
DISCOUNTED FEE: $105 Pre-licensed therapists and students
CEU Certificate (additional) $15
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
This course meets the qualifications for 4 hours of continuing educational credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs as require by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Holos Institute is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs. Holos maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Holos Institute is a CAMFT Approved CE Provider (#90905)
CE participants will be required to complete an online survey after this course before receiving their certificate of attendance and CE credits. This will require about 10 – 15 minutes more time beyond the in-person session.
In all of our continuing education programs, some activities within the course or program are not offered for continuing education credit. These activities include meal times, breaks and personal explorations not related to client care. This particular course will operate with only one 15 minute break and all but 20 minutes of program time will be eligible for credit.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this program, participants will:
Be able to describe the general orientation of an ecopsychological viewpoint and explain how ecotherapy fits into this.
Be able to list at least 3 important clinical considerations before moving a session outdoors
Be able to describe a 3 phase model of an ecotherapy session.
Be able to list and describe in detail at least 3 of the 12 basic ecotherapy interventions.
CANCELLATION POLICY
The fee is fully refundable minus a $20 processing fee if written notice (i.e., via email to “info@holosinstitute.net”) is received at least 2 weeks in advance of the program. ALL registrations fees are non-refundable with no exceptions on or after April 6, 2024.
SPECIAL CONCERNS/GRIEVANCES
If you have any special needs or issues attending this program please contact Jan directly via email (“jan@holosinstitute.net”) to work out any possible accommodations at least 2 weeks in advance of the program.
If you have any concerns, questions or grievances, please contact us via email at “info@holosinstitute.net” and you will get a response within 3 business days. We aim to resolve any issue swiftly from a best intentions on both sides approach.