Nature-Based Training for Psychiatrists and GPs
This two day course, tailored to Psychiatrists, has been developed in collaboration with the EcoCAMHS group within the Royal College of Psychiatrists. It will provide you with core skills to take your practice into the natural environment. You may be new to the field of nature-based practice, interested in exploring your own nature connection and/or looking to influence psychiatry’s service provision.
Why take this course?
Nature connection is a powerful therapeutic tool for treating a wide range of mental health conditions. This experiential training brings together best practice and theory from nature connection, forest skills, eco-psychology, embodiment, resilience, mental health and neuroscience to enable working with individuals and groups of all ages.
You’ll learn through experience, reflexive practice and doing and gain the skills to minimise risks associated with taking groups in your care outdoors.
You will learn a therapeutic nature-based model that meets your clients’ whole health: their mind, body, social and environmental relationships.
Dates and how to book
This course takes place at our stunning woodland site located at Mill Woods, near Laughton, East Sussex, BN8 6BP
May 2025 Course:
Dates: 22nd & 23rd May 2025
Time: 9.30am – 5.00pm
Cost: £360 per person.
Four or more places booked – £320 per person.
Price includes refreshments and a light lunch. All participants receive a Certificate of Attendance.
September 2025 Course:
Dates: 20th & 21st September 2025
Time: 9.30am – 5.00pm
Cost: £360 per person.
Four or more places booked – £320 per person.
Price includes refreshments and a light lunch. All participants receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Training Content
- Nature connection and neuroscience
- Storying with nature
- Sensory experience and nature immersion
- Cooking outdoors and wild food
- Crafting & working with hand tools
- Health and Safety outdoors
- Green Social Prescribing
- Restore and rekindle your nature connection
Testimonials
The range of activities was excellent. There was a good balance of theory to practical, and plenty of opportunity to discuss our role as psychiatrists in nature based practice. The individual activities themselves were very enjoyable, and there is nothing like such first hand experience to demonstrate how important this kind of work is for mental wellbeing.
This course was an amazing demonstration of how to run nature-based workshops, with fantastic sensory and body-based exercises, engendered great sense of nature-connectedness, plenty of opportunity to bond with group members, amazing framework of culture/history/poetry/neuroscience all intertwined.
Excellent facilitation, well held, great experiential and skills learning sessions. It was very heartening to be among a group of such inspiring professionals! A great opportunity to really experience and engage with the kinds of nature-based woodland activities that clients might be referred to, in a connected and embodied way. Really enjoyed learning new skills!
The trainers made a really fun and engaging introduction to the concepts of nature based work for mental health. It felt like a truly authentic and heartfelt delivery of ideas that the instructors were so passionate about.
You created a beautifully nourishing, creative, open, non judgemental atmosphere, that felt completely different and more impactful than other learning environments. You helped everyone connect with their bodies and the woods and each other in a very restorative way. You shared deep experience and skills and the wisdom you shared about people, land and mental health offered a fresh and different perspective. Thank you
Your Nature-based training team
Course Director & Lead Facilitator: Marina Robb (MS, MSc, PGCE, Author)
Marina is a national expert in nature-based educational and therapeutic interventions. Marina also has extensive experience in the development of the Forest School movement, and is an endorsed trainer for the Forest School Association. Read more.
Elsewhere, Marina co-authored the popular, ‘Learning with Nature: A how-to guide to inspiring children through outdoor games and activities’ and ‘The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy’ (with Jon Cree)
Co Lead Facilitator: Jon Cree
Jon’s passion is reconnecting people of all ages to the natural world with a view to facilitating more compassionate relationships in communities. As Jon often likes to quote – the brain feels before it thinks and he feels this is key to building relationships. Jon has been training educators from many different backgrounds in outdoor and nature based learning for at least 35 years and has been an earth education trainer with the international Institute for Earth Education since 1992. Read more.
Our Track Record
Since 2009 CLR has offered green care programmes to a wide range of service users.
We have pioneered green interventions working in partnership with NHS departments – CAMHS, FISS CAMHS, Early Psychosis, Dementia, LACAMHS and more.
Find out more about our green interventions work.
Since 2004, we’ve raised over £500,000 to support groups to access nature freely.
As a team we have worked within education since 1980.
Why learn with Circle of Life Rediscovery?
Circle of Life Rediscovery is a multi-award-winning company, transforming education, health and family and supporting people to reach their potential through nature. This course is run by recognised experienced practitioners. We have pioneered green interventions while working with NHS departments – CAMHS, FISS CAMHS, Early Psychosis, Dementia, LACAMHS and more.
Since 2009 CLR has taught teachers, health professionals and outdoor practitioners skills to take educational and therapeutic programmes outdoors. At the same time, we provide nature-centred learning and therapeutic experiences for young people, adults and families in our stunning Sussex woodland site.