“Nature is within us all”

Founding father of Fern Counselling Louise Allen joins Happiful’s podcast to speak about out of doors remedy, how working with nature may be so useful, the function of Loss of life Cafes and connecting to nature wherever you’re

Nature has performed such an enormous function in our collective wellbeing because the pandemic started. When our typical routines and life as we knew it got here to a grinding halt, the pure world round us continued enterprise as typical. As we contemplated methods to reside in our new and everchanging regular, the birds sang, the seasons modified and bushes grew and shed their leaves, and started the method yet again.

Nature is throughout us in various levels, wherever we’re and, as Integrative Counsellor Louise Allen reminds us, we’re all a part of nature. It’s inside us – not a separate entity.

Sharing her ideas on working with nature as a co-therapist and drawing upon the cycles inside nature, Louise expands upon her practise and its advantages.

The advantages of out of doors remedy

All of us have a special relationship with nature, perceptions and our personal psychological well being, so remedy settings that work for one particular person might not work for one more. What out of doors remedy provides, Louise shares, is an excellent flexibility for every particular person.

“One of many stunning issues about this method and the truth that it may be open to everyone, is that we transfer within the house in the way in which that works for you. So, when you battle with strolling for lengthy distances, we’ll discover a route that’s comfy and permits you to sit for some time, or we are able to interchange periods in order that they’re on the telephone one week, then sitting, or strolling the subsequent. When you use a wheelchair, we are able to work with that – nature finds a method, so we’ll discover a method too!”

Who would possibly profit?

• Louise believes that everyone can profit however out of doors remedy would possibly particularly enchantment to individuals who dislike the concept of sitting in a room, speaking nose to nose with others, with constant eye contact.

• Strolling facet by facet may be very equalising. So, when you’d wish to enter a therapeutic relationship the place your counsellor is bodily alongside you, then out of doors remedy may be nice for this.

• When you’re feeling caught in your life, having out of doors remedy may be great, as you’re really shifting and contemplating your ideas, as you journey. This will actually assist you to to realize a special perspective.

Understanding demise and loss by way of nature

“Loss of life and dying is a extremely vital a part of life,” Louise says. “And we see it in all places in an accepting, typically unforgiving method, in nature. It’s not all the time sunshine and flowers, there’s decay and violence as nicely. It’s all a part of life, and our ecosystem.

“So, after we’re navigating transistions in life, whether or not that’s bereavement, terminal sickness or separation, working with a nature-inspired method and dealing with life cycles can be actually useful.”

Louise is especially captivated with opening up conversations round our mortality and addressing a few of the concern and stigma related to demise and dying, and commonly facilitates a Loss of life Cafe.

“Loss of life is one among life’s best paradoxes and dilemmas. There’s this inner drive to outlive, to reside and develop and, but, we all know we’re going to die,” Louise notes. “Loss of life cafes are casual gatherings, to speak about demise and dying with everybody who’s going to die, and that’s all of us.

“Loss of life Cafes occur everywhere in the world. They’re open to everyone, you don’t should have a terminal sickness or have been bereaved, anyone can be a part of. They’re usually actually comforting areas.”

Regardless of the sombre picture the title would possibly initially conjur up, Louise shares that Loss of life Cafes can deliver a couple of sense of launch and lightness. “We get suggestions from individuals who have gone away from the cafe feeling actually liberated and comforted. It doesn’t essentially make folks really feel joyful, however it might do, as a result of we’re speaking about one thing that we’d concern discussing, as a result of we concern feeling upset and uncontrolled.

“Speaking about demise and dying can actually assist to ease a few of the nervousness round it. It doesn’t cease it from hurting emotionally, however it might assist us really feel much less scared.”

Connecting with nature, wherever you’re

Louise explains that not everyone has equal entry to nature, and that being and dealing with nature as a co-therapist comes with privilege and the flexibility to pay for that.

Nonetheless, she believes that we are able to entry the therapeutic advantages of nature by adjusting the way in which we method our view of what it’s. “Nature is there, it is round all of us,” Louise says. “Even when we reside in a tower block, and within the interior metropolis. The sky is there, you’ll have a bunch of flowers or a stem of broccoli that’s beginning to flower in your fridge.

“There’s nature in all places. You don’t have to have the ability to get out to the woods, mountains or the seaside to attach with nature.”

The way to work with nature

• To reconnect – Attempt to be current once you’re taking a look at nature. Lookup on the clouds and and see what’s, somewhat than what you assume they could appear to be. Observing and drawing can actually assist you to join with nature – and it doesn’t should be good!

• When you’re feeling trapped in your head – Getting out and shifting can open up your thoughts. When you haven’t bought entry to a inexperienced house, go for a stroll down your road. Are there daisies pushing up by way of the cracks within the pavement? See what you may see.

• Expertise nature at a special time of day – When you’re capable of, and it is secure for you to take action, strive taking a stroll at a special time of day. Perhaps very early within the morning earlier than the world has actually began to get up. This may give you a really completely different view of the place you reside in and it may be a magical time of day.

Upcoming Occasion – Figuring out The place We Are

Louise is internet hosting a collection of occasions with fellow therapist Nick Langley, over the approaching months.

Figuring out the place we’re might be a collection of workshops of nature-based exploration into being, connection and goal. You’ll spend the day outdoor in a secluded out of doors classroom and native woodland, utilizing the pure surroundings to discover how all of us relate and connect with the world round us, ourselves, others, and to our hopes and goals.

Find out more and book here.

Loss of life Cafes

Discover out extra about Death Cafes, together with the Faversham Death Cafe that Louise facilitates.

Hearken to Louise’s episode of I am. I have
Discover out extra about Louise’s work and Fern Counselling and observe her on Instagram.

To seek out the best therapist on your wants, go to Counselling Directory.