Introduction to Eco-Psychotherapy
7-Day IN-PERSON Intensive Workshop
with
Sean O'Carroll & Caroline Dale
This training introduces counsellors, psychologists and other mental health professionals to the emerging field of eco-psychotherapy.
Next Delivery:
IN-PERSON & ONLINE - VICTORIA, MARCH 2025
7-Day Residential - VIC - (CAMPING & Catered):
Saturday 15th March (10am) - Friday 21st March (3pm)Pre-Residential Evening #1 (online):
Thursday 27th February - 6:30pm - 9:00pm (Recorded)Post-Residential Evening #1 (online):
Thursday 3rd April - 6:30pm - 9:00pm (Recorded)Want to apply? See next steps below…
“Info Night” Video - Note: Ignore the old dates described in this video
What is it?
This training introduces counsellors, psychologists and other mental health professionals to the emerging field of eco-psychotherapy.
This training includes 2x 3-hour online sessions and a 7-day retreat. It also includes reading, writing and reflection.
The training is equal parts theoretical, experiential and practical.
TESTIMONIALS
“One of the most profound Healing retreats I’ve done.”
Birdy O’Sheedy, Clinical Psychologist
*
“This was a transformative course that not only provided the opportunity to learn about eco psychotherapy but to experience the transformative power of nature as co-therapist. It was a time to discover deep truths about oneself and the environment we inhabit, highly recommend.”
Jen Thompson, Gestalt Psychotherapist
*
This course left me feeling nourished, inspired and alive. I came seeking knowledge both as an individual and a therapist, and I came away with a sense of synergy: that what I love and find healing as a person can be integrated beautifully into what I offer my clients. I can't overstate the richness of this course!
Caroline Dale, Clinical Psychologist
*
“The intro to eco psychotherapy training gave me permission to move into this work. With a good mix of experiential practice and connection with colleagues, I feel like a giant door has opened in front of me. I'm looking forward to continuing to integrate eco-psychotherapy with my client work and see where this path might take me.
Ellen, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
*
“What a wonderful experience, not only for my clients but also as a great gift to myself.”
Daisy Grodzki, Social Worker/Adventure Therapist
*
Past blog posts relating to eco-psychotherapy:
Introduction to Eco-Psychotherapy
COURSE CONTENT
___
PART I - BEING IN NATURE
PART II - BEING WITH NATURE
PART III - ENGAGING WITH NATURE
PART IV - NATURE AS Therapeutic Ally
PART V - Nature-based Interventions
PART VI - Eco-psychotherapy in Practice
It is assumed that all participants have a solid grasp of basic psychotherapeutic practice and theory. As such, the focus of the training is on how to integrate nature-connection (our own and that of our clients) with a therapeutic practice.
Working as an eco-psychotherapist requires us to bring together two quite distinct capacities:
Our psychotherapeutic skills developed through training and practice.
Our own ongoing and well-developed relationship with the natural world.
“Other therapies seek to heal the alienation between person and person, person and family, person and society. Eco-psychology seeks to heal the more fundamental alienation between the person and the natural environment.”
What will you learn?
Combining psychotherapeutic skills and nature connection in service to our clients and the wider earth community throws up significant opportunities and challenges. At the completion of this introductory course you will have:
re-examined and deepened your own relationship to the natural world.
gained a basic understanding of the philosophical and historical underpinnings of eco-psychology.
experienced working outdoors as a therapist, helping your “client” to deepen and explore their relationship with the natural world.
gained an understanding of the many ways in which the natural world can inform a therapeutic practice.
explored a number of therapeutic interventions that you may wish to employ with clients.
explored the ways in which the realities of climate change and environmental degradation invite us to re-examine the goals and values that underpin therapeutic practice.
connected with a number of like-minded practitioners similarly seeking ways to work with nature
What IS NOT COVERED?
I have opted not to try to cover the bureaucratic/paperwork aspect of eco-psychotherapy, such as various insurance issues, relevant regulations, use of public spaces, and how to run a business etc. This is based on past experience and the variability in practitioner’s personal disposition, contexts and professional associations. I am however happy to share about my personal experiences in relation to these questions.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the course - including submission of a written case study - you will be issued with a certificate: Introduction to Eco-Psychotherapy from the Wild Mind Institute.
Who is running the training?
Lead Trainer - Sean O’Carroll
Sean O'Carroll is currently a head of psychotherapy at Clarion Clinics (Australia’s first purpose-built psychedelic clinic), and a lead therapist and trainer at the Monash University Psychedelics Lab in Melbourne, Australia. Sean’s first love in the field of psychotherapy was nature based therapy. Sean has worked as a psychotherapist and academic - lecturing in transpersonal psychology, psychotherapy, and eco-psychotherapy - for over ten years. In 2017 he completed three years of qualitative research, culminating in his MA (research) thesis entitled "An Inquiry Into the Experience of Being Alone with Nature".
Sean has been studying and exploring human consciousness for over 25 years. His (2004) BA Hons in philosophy (phenomenological inquiry) explored the relationship between science, subjectivity and the sacred. He trained as a gestalt psychotherapist in 2013/14 and has trained in a number of other psychotherapeutic modalities since 2011. He is a Dancing Freedom instructor (conscious dance), and has a longstanding interest in "shamanic" studies and ceremony.
Sean runs these trainings with ONE assistant trainer…
Caroline Dale - Wild Mind Assistant Trainer
Caroline is a psychotherapist with a rich and diverse background, deeply rooted in her love for the natural world and her commitment to compassionate, client-centered care. Her work integrates eco-psychotherapy, exploring how the disconnection of modern life impacts our well-being and how nature can offer a path back to wholeness. She has extensive experience in grief and bereavement, childhood trauma, and supporting clients through identity shifts, including those navigating late-in-life diagnoses of Autism or ADHD. Guided by deep listening and a belief in the innate wisdom of emotions and the body, Caroline fosters a respectful and validating environment for exploration and growth.
Caroline holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts/Psychology (Honours). She is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc. (AAPi). She is also deeply involved in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, contributing to clinical trials at St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Sydney, where she explores the use of psilocybin and MDMA to treat addiction, treatment-resistant depression, and PTSD. Caroline is a group facilitator for ACER Integration, an international program created by Dr. Ros Watts, supporting clients as they process and integrate psychedelic experiences.
With a foundation in clinical and hospital settings, Caroline brings a relational perspective, exploring how early environments and relationships shape our beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. Her approach celebrates human resilience and the connections—both internal and external—that guide us toward healing.
Sarah Pant - Wild Mind Assistant Trainer
Sarah is a Clinical Psychotherapist with nearly two decades of experience in mental health across Australia and the UK. Her deep curiosity about the connection between the human heart and the world around us has driven her to explore how our relationship with the living world reflects and shapes our sense of self and belonging.
Sarah spent 10 foundational years in the not-for-profit sector, focusing on psycho-social rehabilitation and early intervention programs. She provided support to individuals facing homelessness, those in the justice system, grappling with addiction and complex trauma. Sarah's therapeutic approach is experiential, integrating somatic practices, creative arts, ecopsychotherapy, systems thinking, and process-oriented psychology.
After spending several years in London, Sarah felt a deep yearning for the vast skies and landscapes of Australia. This longing drew her back to Melbourne, where she spent several years as a wilderness therapist, traversing the wilds of Victoria. These programs supported young people with a range of challenges including substance abuse, involvement in the justice system, support after suicide, refugees and asylum seekers. Her journey also led her to the outback of the Northern Territory, where she consulted on programs for Indigenous youth. These years spent in nature, with the wilderness as her co-therapist, profoundly shaped Sarah’s approach to therapy, leaving a lasting imprint on her practice.
In 2020, Sarah joined the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University, where she became a core therapist and trainer in the world’s first Psilocybin for Generalized Anxiety trial. She continues to play a pivotal role as a clinical supervisor and therapist in the lab’s MDMA therapy for PTSD trial.
Sarah’s holistic approach to health and well-being is deeply rooted in fostering human connection, exploring altered states of consciousness, enhancing our connection with nature, and navigating the unique challenges of our time.
LOCATION
Within 2 Hours of Melbourne
The 7-day retreat is fully catered and will take place at a venue on a beautiful and secluded private farm in Gippsland. There is abundant wildlife and a creek and lake for swimming, with over 60 acres to explore.
This is a “close to nature” retreat and all participants will be camping. (We can support you with camping gear if needs be.) Participants must be comfortable camping, being outdoors, using composting toilets and having limited access to showers etc.
This retreat is fully catered. Teaching and exploration will take place in outdoor spaces and rustic indoor spaces. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Costs
IN-PERSON Residential Retreat
2 x 3 Hours Online
Fully Catered 7 Day Residential Training
Extensive Reading Material
Certificate from Wild Mind Institute
Including All Meals
BYO Camping Gear (Note: We can also supply and setup a tent & stretcher for a small fee)
Cost: $3600 + GST
PAYment plan available - “PAY in 3” over 3 months
BOOKING & Cancellation PolicY
Booking fees are taken in full.
If we cancel the retreat for any reason, you will receive a 100% refund.
If you cancel:
More than two months before the training, you will receive a 100% refund.
More than one months before the training, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within a month of the training, you will not receive a refund.
If you have any questions regarding payment, payment plans, or cancellation policy, please get in touch.
How to Apply?
Applications are considered on an individual basis. A minimum requirement is that you have trained in mental health (counselling, art-therapy, psychotherapy or similar), and have experience in working with clients individually. If you are interested in participating in an upcoming training, please get in touch.