Psychotherapy Services
Therapy Outdoors, Nature-Based Therapy, Walk and Talk Therapy
Nature-based therapy is an emerging approach to healing. Growing research indicates that simply being in the presence of nature has positive effects on our physiological and psychological well-being. Beyond this, the outdoors abound with opportunities to apply techniques typically used across psychotherapy approaches (please see the list below) to a powerfully healing setting. Local green spaces provide places to meet for sessions. Opportunities for physically active sessions include walking or hiking, as sometimes it is easier to speak your mind when you are moving your body. Calmer sessions can involve sitting quietly and mindfully observing your surroundings or simply picking a comfortable spot outside in which to hold the session. Sessions can be all "talk therapy" and/or they can involve more "hands-on" activities, depending on your needs and treatment goals. Research also shows that physical activity can, in some cases, be as beneficial as medications at relieving depressive symptoms.
While traditional therapy techniques are used, outdoor therapy also offers something new:
Direct benefits to your physical health
More time spent outside when you might otherwise be cooped up indoors all day
Learning new ways to take advantage of the benefits of the natural environment
If you're looking for, or are open to trying, psychotherapy in an outdoor setting, this unique approach is likely to be a good fit for you. Just click on the link below.
Likewise, if you have any questions or are concerned about privacy issues during an outdoor session, please feel free to contact me to discuss your concerns.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a modern form of psychotherapy emphasizing the connection between one's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and environment. CBT helps clients who have gotten "stuck" develop an awareness of these factors and create a change in unhealthy patterns they may have developed. Clients feel empowered to alter thinking patterns to be more realistic, resulting in more positive feelings and courses of action in one's life. CBT is a progressive approach as it involves openly identifying goals to work towards, understanding and resolving obstacles that get in the one's way, frequently checking progress, and modifying treatment directions along the way. CBT can be a very hands-on approach, wich works well with outdoor activities, as well as via telehealth.
Mindfulness and Relaxation
Stress reduction techniques lend themselves easily to the outdoors and help you live in the moment, shedding troubling thoughts and worries that follow and weigh you down throughout the day. Deep breathing exercises and guided imagery using the outdoors, for example, combine the power of mindfulness techniques to reduce psychological stress and the natural benefits to your heart and immune system of breathing in fresh air and scents from surrounding plants. These powerful techniques can be learned readily both outdoors and via telehealth for you to take with you anywhere.
Positive Psychotherapy
A positive outlook on life may come naturally to some and for others, optimism can be learned. A positive psychology approach to therapy teaches the use of tools to help you become more resilient in the face of life's inevitable challenges and live a happier, more fulfilling life. Research shows that people who can think positively, tend to have better psychological and physical health. Combined with nature's power to do the same, therapy through both positive psychology and the outdoors easily go hand in hand.
Psychodynamic Therapy
This approach is often generally referred to as "insight-oriented therapy" and is the oldest form of "talk" therapy. Variations of psychodynamic therapy work well for short or long term concerns. A brief approach focuses on increasing awareness of the impact of one's social relationships on one's well being and ability to function. Both past and present relationships with others, as well as one's roles within these contexts, are explored and new ways of engaging in relationships emerge. The outdoor setting can provide an additional means of exploring and bringing into awareness thoughts and feelings that one might be unaware of.
Play Therapy
Well researched and effective, the play therapy approach is used to help children overcome the challenges of anxiety, depression, trauma reactions, and a variety of other mental health issues. Communication between child and therapist happens through the child's play, whereby the therapist helps the child problem-solve, learn skills to manage their feelings, behaviors, and thoughts, and work out new solutions to their challenges. Nature-based play can be doubly healing for youth- research supports the benefits of nature as an unstructured environment in which the child is most free to use his or her imagination in order to lead the play.
Fees for Services
The following applies to both in person and telehealth sessions. Therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes long. I currently accept payment from select in-network insurance plans and offer fee-for-service payment options. I also accept self-pay and work with you to provide documentation for reimbursement by most out-of-network insurance plans.
Telethealth (aka videoconference) is likely covered in some capacity by your insurance plan but this is subject to change. Please check with your insurance provider for reimbursement details.
Accepted Insurance Plans: Blue Cross Blue Shiled (includes Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Maine)*
Diagnostic Initial Session(s): $ 235-255
Individual Psychotherapy Sessions (about 45 or 55 minutes): $ 165 or $180
Couple and Family Therapy Sessions: $ 200
Other services are available and carry their respective fees (e.g. consultation, participation in meetings, certain documentation, etc.)
* Please contact your insurance provider to find out if your specific plan covers the cost of psychotherapy with me. I am listed as either Outdoor Psychology, LLC or Annmarie Mica Lageroos.
Past nature-based groups:
in Conjunction with Camp Ketcha of Scarborough, ME
