Rewild In Nature

As we go into the New Year, it’s time to get outdoors, reconnect with nature and slow down

The past 20 months have forced many of us outside, enjoying the benefits of fresh air, exercise and experiencing our natural surroundings, but for some it has also brought increasing mental health issues.

Having experienced the mind-altering benefits of being outdoors, Stacey McKenna-Seed has worked hard to bring together her experience as a person-centred counsellor with her deep connection to nature and her love of the outdoors to provide opportunities for others to do the same and enhance their wellbeing and mental health.

Stacey originally worked in safeguarding for 15 years, as a specialist in child exploitation and it was during this time she trained as a counsellor. She felt inspired to combine her therapy and counselling skills with everything she loves – the outdoors, adventure and creativity: “I love being outside in nature and have experienced how it can be therapeutic,” says Stacey who is a keen trail runner, walker and wild swimmer.

“Those who come to me for counselling be it through walk and talk or running therapy, feel so much more connected, more alive and vital. Having therapy in the outdoors can alter their perspective – they realise they are a tiny part of something much larger.”

Stacey loves being in the hills and mountains and has travelled extensively to gain experience: “I don’t give advice. It’s about people finding their own solutions and being in the outdoors helps to clarify things in an open space.

“I give people the tools to help them find their balance and centre. There is proven scientific research that being outdoors in nature benefits the mind and body. Combined with movement, it can help build resilience and it has a massive physical impact too, stimulating the brain to release ‘happy chemicals’. It can also reduce blood pressure and wild swimming can even have an anti-inflammatory effect on joints.

“When we are outside we are at one with nature, it grounds you – we are not separate from nature we are part of it.”

As co-founder of Women’s Vision Collective, a group of like-minded 300 plus women across the Ribble Valley and further afield, Stacey facilitates meetings throughout the year for members: “We meet at various locations in the Ribble Valley to provide women with the opportunity to connect with themselves, each other and nature.”

The most recent event was a ‘wintering’ event in October near Cromwell’s Bridge: “We explored the theme of hibernation and how we take care of ourselves over the winter. As part of this I led a forest bathing walk followed by a dip in the beautiful River Hodder.”

Stacey, who lives in the Ribble Valley, advises that ‘rewilding’ and connecting with nature is not about fitness. Many people say they have no time to exercise but that’s not what it’s about. It’s elemental stuff – we are reconnecting with our body. In the world we live in we don’t give ourselves time. When we are outside in nature, we slow down, we breath, we listen, we open our eyes.

“From a wellbeing point of view, after Christmas I think we are all ready to get out into the countryside and into the fresh air and just slow down.”

rewildingoutdoortherapy.co.uk
facebook/Women’s Vision Collective

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