Therapy in the Great Outdoors: The Business & Practice of Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

Dr. Laura Park Figueroa
Therapy in the Great Outdoors: The Business & Practice of Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

This podcast is about the business & practice of nature-based pediatric therapy of all kinds. If you are an outdoor-loving practitioner in the field of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, behavioral health, mental health counseling, or outdoor education THIS is for you! You'll learn how you can take your work with children outdoors into nature. We'll cover exactly what it takes to run a successful and profitable nature-based practice that changes children's lives (and yours!) forever. On this show, you'll get answers to questions like: What does nature-based therapy look like? What types of activities work well in outdoor therapy sessions? How can nature-based therapy be a profitable business? What evidence is there for nature-based pediatric therapy? What does research say about getting children out into nature? What kinds of different business models exist for offering nature-based services for children? How can I ensure the success of my nature-based outdoor business? What systems do I need to grow a nature-based practice? Your host, Dr. Laura Park Figueroa, PhD, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist who is a published expert in nature-based pediatric therapy and a highly-acclaimed business coach for nature-based entrepreneurs. You can learn more about her and get loads of free resources to support your nature-based work at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com

  1. 12/30/2024

    98: The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO) - Part 1

    In this episode, I discuss the article The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO): A New Typology for Capturing Children's Play Behaviors in Outdoor Environments by Loebach & Cox. You'll learn how this tool was developed and tested, and hear about the 9 categories of outdoor play and their subtypes included on this tool. This episode will help you hone your observation skills of children's play and consider ways to inspire different kinds of play in your outdoor therapy sessions. Next week (in part 2) we'll talk about implications for nature-based therapists and how you can use the TOPO tool in your practice to become a more skilled facilitator of play in your nature-based sessions.   00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy 00:59 Personal Reflections 02:18 Introduction to the TOPO Tool 03:13 Abstract and Relevance of the TOPO Tool 05:38 Development Phases of the TOPO Tool 09:17 Nine Types of Outdoor Play 10:43 Physical Play and Its Subtypes 12:31 Exploratory Play and Its Subtypes 13:32 Imaginative Play and Its Subtypes 15:15 Play with Rules and Its Subtypes 17:32 Expressive Play and Its Subtypes 20:15 Bio Play and Its Subtypes 21:20 Restorative Play and Its Subtypes 23:45 Digital Play and Non-Play Categories 26:28 Conclusion and Certification Information Enrollment is open till Dec 31 at 5pm CST for you to become a Certified Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant in the ConTiGO Approach. Go to contigoapproach.com to get all the details and join us before the price goes up in 2025 for the first time in 5 years!

    28 min
  2. 95: Holiday Gift Guide - My Top 12 Favorite Toys for Outdoorsy Kids

    12/09/2024

    95: Holiday Gift Guide - My Top 12 Favorite Toys for Outdoorsy Kids

    Thanks to Layna Lovelady for posting the question that inspired this episode in the TGO community! In this episode, I share my top 12 favorite gift ideas for outdoorsy kids. Plus a few embarrassing/funny stories from my own childhood and young parenting days... :) 1. Morakniv Pocket Knife - fixed blade (not folding) with ledge for protecting hand. 2. Wooden sling shots 3. Bow and arrow from Two Bros Bows 4. Waldorf sack doll 5. Hearthsong outdoor swings 6. Ribbon sticks or playsilks from Sarah’s Silks (Or Dharma blank silks that you can dye yourself.) 7. Tegu blocks (expensive but truly an heirloom quality toy- I still have my kids’ from when they were little and pull them out every time we have young kids over to our home) 8. Wood play food/dishes or mini-kitchen from Etsy (also pricey but beautiful quality) 9. Any book from the Living Books list I made a while back (ep 68). Get the list at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/list 10. Potholder Loom  11. River rock blocks 12. Nightbuddy beanie headlamp 13. Bonus family gift idea: This firewood splitter is SO FUN to use. Would be a great family gift for an outdoorsy family who lives in a place with cold winters where fires are commonly built during the season. (Make sure to include a mallet or sledgehammer with it!) Announcement: We'll be opening the ConTiGO Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist Certification for the final time at 2024 prices for our February 2025 cohort. The price will go UP in 2025. Get on the waitlist to be notified! contigoapproach.com. Last 2024 enrollment will close December 31 at 5pm.

    32 min
  3. 94: Research Review - The Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features

    12/02/2024

    94: Research Review - The Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features

    We're diving back into research after a long break! In this episode, we explore the article titled Theory of Affordances to Understand Environment Play Transactions: Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features- A Scoping Review by Morgenthaler, Lynch, Loebach, Pentland, and Schultz, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy in 2024.   This article examines how various outdoor environmental characteristics influence children's outdoor play. The authors developed a taxonomy (a HUGE chart!) that allows practitioners to evaluate the "affordances" of outdoor play spaces...in other words: what do different types of features of the outdoor environment invite children to DO in that environment?   The Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features categorizes physical environments, their functional qualities, and the play activities they support. This helps us as occupational, physical, and speech therapists, social workers or mental health professionals, to: 🌳 Consider ways we may change the environment to support different types of play in sessions 👀 Discover types of play that may be absent or happening infrequently in our sessions and consider ways to increase the variety of play experiences for children we see in therapy. ✅ Evaluate outdoor play spaces when providing consultation for schools and local governments Find episode 94 of Therapy in the Great Outdoors wherever you get your podcast fix! And tell me: do you think you'll use this taxonomy in your work?   00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy   01:00 Research Review Episode Introduction   02:37 Understanding the Theory of Affordances   03:49 Developing the Environmental Taxonomy   09:02 Applications and Implications for Therapy   22:36 Practical Takeaways and Conclusion   28:34 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

    29 min
  4. 93: The Magic of Regenerative Agriculture with John Arbuckle

    11/25/2024

    93: The Magic of Regenerative Agriculture with John Arbuckle

    Today on the podcast, I interviewed John Arbuckle, a passionate regenerative agriculture farmer and owner of Singing Pastures. He shared his inspiring journey from conventional to regenerative farming, how regenerative animal farming can offer significant environmental benefits, and the crucial role of grazing animals in nurturing healthy ecosystems. Our conversation also dove into the impact of our food choices on ecological health.   Follow Singing Pastures on Instagram and Facebook @singingpastures or check out singingpastures.com. Use code Wilderness20 to get 20% off your first order!   Other resources mentioned in this episode: Joel Salatin's website and books: polyfacefarms.com Watch the Sacred Cow documentary here: Amazon Get the Sacred Cow book here: sacredcow.info/book   00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy 00:59 Interview with Farmer John Arbuckle 04:13 John's Journey to Regenerative Agriculture 07:02 The Philosophy and Practice of Regenerative Farming 10:51 The Role of Animals in Regenerative Agriculture   20:55 The Impact of Regenerative Farming on Wildlife and Ecosystems   22:49 Introduction to Sacred Cow   24:15 The Importance of Hoofed Animals   25:14 Personal Dietary Choices and Health   26:42 The Role of Grazing Animals in Ecosystems   28:39 Photosynthesis and Carbon Sequestration   30:17 Grazing Practices and Soil Health   35:14 Supporting Local Farmers   37:27 Singing Pastures: Products and Philosophy   39:03 Upcoming Travel Adventures   42:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    44 min
  5. 92: 3 Easy Ways to Raise Your Prices (Without Losing Clients)

    11/18/2024

    92: 3 Easy Ways to Raise Your Prices (Without Losing Clients)

    Hello, friends! Welcome to the final episode of our series on money and pricing. Today, I’m sharing three easy strategies to help you raise your prices so you can make more with the same amount of effort and work!             Offer installment payments. If your service costs $1,000, break it into smaller payments to make it more manageable for clients.             Add upsells. Offer additional services that enhance your primary offering. For instance, if you offer therapy visits, an optional monthly parent consultation call could be a valuable upsell that increases your revenue per client.             Use package pricing. This involves bundling services into a flat monthly rate, which helps clients understand the value they’re receiving and gives you more control over your time. Many of my coaching clients have successfully transitioned to this model, allowing them to work smarter, not harder.   Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more updates!   00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors   01:00 Series Finale: Money and Pricing   01:09 Three Easy Ways to Raise Your Prices   01:51 First Strategy: Offer Installment Payments   03:22 Second Strategy: Add Upsells   04:05 Third Strategy: Package Pricing   07:39 Recap and Final Thoughts   08:44 Upcoming Episode Preview   09:00 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

    10 min
5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

This podcast is about the business & practice of nature-based pediatric therapy of all kinds. If you are an outdoor-loving practitioner in the field of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, behavioral health, mental health counseling, or outdoor education THIS is for you! You'll learn how you can take your work with children outdoors into nature. We'll cover exactly what it takes to run a successful and profitable nature-based practice that changes children's lives (and yours!) forever. On this show, you'll get answers to questions like: What does nature-based therapy look like? What types of activities work well in outdoor therapy sessions? How can nature-based therapy be a profitable business? What evidence is there for nature-based pediatric therapy? What does research say about getting children out into nature? What kinds of different business models exist for offering nature-based services for children? How can I ensure the success of my nature-based outdoor business? What systems do I need to grow a nature-based practice? Your host, Dr. Laura Park Figueroa, PhD, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist who is a published expert in nature-based pediatric therapy and a highly-acclaimed business coach for nature-based entrepreneurs. You can learn more about her and get loads of free resources to support your nature-based work at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com

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