Therapy in the Great Outdoors: The Business & Practice of Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy – Details, episodes & analysis

Lauren MacLean is a teacher, podcaster, author, and owner of Teach Outdoors in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. She has years of experience teaching children outdoors and is joining me today to talk about how we can integrate sit spot practices into our work as nature-based pediatric therapists. Lauren shares her valuable insights from 17 years of teaching, her work with nature schools, and authorship of children's books. We dive into practical strategies for therapists and educators to help children connect with nature, including tips on balancing structure and freedom, managing boundaries, and adapting practices for children with different needs such as ADHD and autism. You'll learn how to model positive behavior, use language effectively, and integrate play and learning in the great outdoors.   00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy   00:58 Meet Lauren MacLean: Educator and Author   04:37 Understanding Sit Spots   08:12 Implementing Sit Spots in Therapy   12:18 Balancing Structure and Freedom in Outdoor Learning   21:43 Adapting Outdoor Activities for Diverse Needs   28:23 Sports Psychology and Coaching Challenges   28:49 Safety Reminders for Outdoor Activities   29:26 Pre-Teaching and Classroom Management   30:06 Classroom Book Projects and Environmental Awareness   32:03 Children's Picture Books and Their Impact   36:50 Balancing Technology and Outdoor Play   42:30 Risky Play and Child Development   49:10 Final Thoughts and Contact Information   51:25 Enrollment for ConTiGO Nature-Based Therapy Program   Connect with Lauren online at teachoutdoors.ca or on Instagram @teachoutdoors.ca   The ConTiGO Approach Nature-Based Pediatric Therapist or Therapy Assistant Certification Program is now open for enrollment till Jan 31, 2025 at 5pm CST. Go to contigoapproach.com to get more information.

Here's my annual last-year-in-review episode where YOU get to peek inside my businesses' metrics from 2024 and learn from my mistakes (as usual!) 😆   You'll learn: -What I'm NOT doing anymore this year -Why reviewing your profit-loss statement is critical -How $60,000+ in your business bank account may NOT mean you were highly profitable -Ways to assess market demand for your services -How my business is structured now to be in a position for growth -Strategies for maintaining business growth and fostering a supportive team -The value of slowing down and honoring your own energy/feelings   Enrollment will open January 24-31 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 the waitlist. We'll send you an email when doors are open!   Timestamped Outline: 00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy 00:58 Podcast Episode: Learn from My Mistakes 01:31 Business Metrics and Mistakes of 2024 02:51 Overview of Therapy in the Great Outdoors (TGO) 04:08 Financial Challenges and Reflections 11:31 Future Plans for TGO 15:13 Financial Overview of Outdoor Kids OT 15:59 Business Budgeting and Profit First 20:06 Challenges of Running a Therapy Business 22:00 Setting Financial Goals for the Year 23:11 Team Expansion and Role Delegation 25:09 Annual Planning and Market Research 28:41 Balancing Transparency and Discretion 35:17 Reflections on Leadership and Personal Growth 42:33 ConTiGO Certification Program Announcement

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

As you grow your nature-based practice, you’ll find that there are 4 main stages of business that you encounter. There is no endpoint and your journey will take you from stage to stage, and as you evolve you will face new challenges and opportunities.

In this episode, I’m sharing what you should focus on and the mistakes to avoid as you go through each stage of your business, You’ll hear insight from my own business as a nature-based pediatric therapist as well as the knowledge that I’ve accumulated over my years of group coaching and observing other practices and how they manage their companies. 

We’ll discuss:

• My takeaways from the Umbrella Review from Harper, Fernee and Gabrielsen
• The 4 stages of nature-based practice
• My tips for what to focus on in each stage of your practice
• Mistakes to avoid during each business phase
• Why I recommend investing in mentoring or coaching

Resources from this episode:

Nature's Role in Outdoor Therapies: An Umbrella Review (Harper, Fernee, & Gabrielsen, 2021)

The ConTiGO Approach Online Course

Nature-Based Practice Roadmap

Small Business Administration

Nolo

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Trello

Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community

Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.

Are you a pediatric therapist who wants to take your work with children outdoors into nature? As a nature-based pediatric therapist & entrepreneur, I’ve spent years finding the balance between the practice of nature-based therapy and improving my business.

There’s so much to learn–from groundbreaking research on the therapy side to new marketing strategies on the business side–and I’m here to help you make sense of all of it, all while staying true to the core of your work.

In this first episode, I’m sharing my journey to becoming a nature-based pediatric therapist and what led me to help other professionals expand and improve their own businesses. I’m explaining why I pivoted from my old show to this one and what you can expect from upcoming episodes.

We’ll discuss:

• How nature-based practice might help you reignite your love of your work as a pediatric therapist
• How the ConTiGO (Connection & Transformation in the Great Outdoors) Approach was created 
• A story about fear when starting something new & "putting yourself out there"
• Why I started this podcast and ended my old one (which had 100k+ downloads and 75 episodes!)
• What you can expect from upcoming episodes...how THIS podcast will be similar to my old one AND different.

There IS an irony to this episode! Did you notice it?

Since it is episode #1, I felt I needed to give a little intro and my history for new listeners. Then right after that, I'm telling you to STOP talking about yourself in your marketing and talk about what's in it for your customers! 😁 So...I just want to reassure you that future episodes will be jam-packed with helpful content for you and I will NOT be talking about myself as much! haha! 😆

Resources from this episode:

 Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? Visit www.contigoapproach.com to join the waitlist for the ConTiGO Approach Online Course.

While you're waiting for the course, join our FREE Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community. We have treatment activities, research, training, a job & volunteer board, and a discussion forum where like-minded therapists are all gathered together to help you take your therapy work with children into the great outdoors! Did I mention it's FREE? Go to therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com to join today!

Welcome back to our series on money and pricing! Today, we’ll dive into the psychology of pricing—a topic that fascinates me!

 

Key Takeaways from this episode:

 

Understanding Pricing Psychology:

Pricing psychology is about presenting your prices in a way that’s most appealing to potential customers, increasing the likelihood of them purchasing your services. For instance, have you ever noticed prices often end in .99 instead of rounding up to a whole number, like $2.00? This is because our brains anchor to the leftmost digit; $1.99 feels much cheaper than $2.00. NOTE: this isn’t about "tricking" customers, but is simply understanding how the human brain perceives prices so you can present your prices in a way that is most psychologically pleasing to a potential customer. (Check out Nick Kolenda's website at Kolenda.io for extensive resources on pricing psychology.)

 

Payment Timing Matters:

It can be psychologically easier for clients if they don’t pay at the time of service. Think about structuring your payment systems so clients pay upfront or at a different time than their service. By doing this, you can ease the sense of loss associated with paying, allowing clients to focus on the value they are receiving at the time of your service.

 

Combatting Buyer’s Remorse:

After a client commits financially, it’s vital to reassure them that they made the right decision. This can be as simple as sending a follow-up email filled with valuable information that excites them about the upcoming service. In my nature-based practice, we send a welcome packet shortly after families sign up their child for services. This welcome packet includes essential details about what to expect and introduces their therapist, helping clients perceive value from our upcoming services and feel good about their investment right from the start.

 

TL;DR:

Check out Kolenda.io for more on marketing and pricing psychology, consider structuring your payment processes to ease the psychological burden on clients, and always aim to reassure and provide value immediately after clients pay for services.

 

Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more resources!

 

00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors   00:59 Series on Money and Pricing   01:37 The Psychology of Pricing   06:21 Practical Tips for Pricing   10:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Are you charging enough for your services? In this week's podcast, I'm sharing the mindset shift you need to confidently raise your prices.

 

You need to move away from the traditional per-hour thinking that often limits our earning potential.

 

Instead, focus on the true value you're providing to your clients and the expertise you bring to the table.

 

Then, communicate that value clearly and get comfortable discussing money with potential clients.

 

Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for a while, this episode provides valuable tips to help you embrace your worth and take those necessary steps toward raising your rates.

 

Repeat after me: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING MONEY WHILE HELPING PEOPLE!!!!!

 

My nature-based business coaching program, the Business Hive, will open in January. If you're ready to set your nature-based business up for success, join us in the Hive, where we’ll focus on creating systems that allow you to work less and make more while your business grows.

https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/hive

 

Connect with me on Instagram @lauraparkfig or visit therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com for more resources and to stay updated!

 

00:00 Introduction to Therapy in the Great Outdoors

00:59 Excitement for Upcoming Retreat and Travel Plans

02:46 Mini-Series on Business Topics

07:43 Mindset Shift for Raising Prices

08:45 Practical Tips for Pricing and Value

15:10 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode, we kick off a mini-series on pricing your nature-based therapy services.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. Research what is average for your area and charge a similar amount for your services. Don't set your prices too high or too low at the start because either can be detrimental to your business.
2. Try not to over-explain when telling people what you charge. Say your price and SHUT UP and wait for them to respond.
3. If you are a cash pay business, you can offer scholarships for families to expand the reach of your services to lower-income clients. Always have a system in place before offering scholarships.
4. Raise your prices for new clients after you have a established a proven concept and have raving testimonials from previous clients.
5. Think about VALUE. Offer add-ons that add value for families so they see why they are paying versus going to a standard non-nature-based provider (for example: a weekly update, progress notes, consult minutes, on-call PRN services, home programs, etc.).

  Stay tuned for more episodes in this series on pricing, and consider joining my Business Hive group coaching program, opening for enrollment in January, to help you build a successful nature-based practice! You can join the waitlist at https://www.therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com/hive   00:00 Introduction and Series Announcement 00:52 My Upcoming Trip to Nepal and Indonesia 02:18 Gratitude and Life Reflections 04:35 Introduction to Pricing Your Services 05:46 Setting Initial Prices for Your Services 07:02 Understanding the Value of Pricing 07:24 The Importance of Silence After Stating Your Price 07:48 Handling Objections and Offering Scholarships 08:47 Investing in Yourself and Your Business 09:59 Researching Funding Options 11:07 Adjusting Prices Based on Cost of Living 12:27 Adding Value Through Additional Services 13:50 Final Thoughts on Pricing and Valuing Your Services

In this episode, we dive into how to make your first $1,000 as a nature-based pediatric therapist. I share actionable strategies and business insights to help you hit this milestone, from focusing on one key service to pricing your offerings effectively. Whether you’re offering outdoor enrichment groups, creating multi-month therapy packages, or thinking outside the box with retainer fees, there’s a method that fits your style and your market.

 

I also introduce my Business Hive group coaching program for nature-based practitioners, which opens for enrollment in January. Join me for a deep dive into business success and get ready to start building meaningful income in your practice!

 

00:00 Introduction to Nature-Based Pediatric Therapy

01:00 Making Your First $1,000 as a Nature-Based Therapist

02:13 Business Coaching and Community Support

04:28 Key Advice for Starting Your Practice

05:24 Market Research and Pricing Strategies 06:04 Low-Cost Offer for Group Sessions

07:03 Multi-Month Therapy Packages

08:06 High Monthly Retainer Fee

08:54 Upcoming Episode on Pricing Services

09:29 Enrollment for Business Hive Program

09:58 Free Big Huge List of Nature-Based Activities

Katie Asmus is a licensed psychotherapist with three decades of experience in therapeutic nature-based interventions. She joined me today on the TGO podcast to discuss the essential role of rituals and ceremonies in nature-based therapy, particularly for neurodivergent children. Tune in to hear ways you can help ease transitions, address challenging behaviors, and open and close your group sessions using meaningful rituals to give children a positive experience in your nature-based therapy sessions.  

 

Connect with Katie on IG @somaticnaturetherapy or her website https://www.somaticnaturetherapy.com/

 

00:00 Introduction

01:29 Meet Katie Asmus

01:45 Understanding Rituals and Ceremonies in Therapy

01:57 The Importance of Rituals for Neurodivergent Kids

02:39 Practical Rituals for Therapy Sessions

06:25 Beginning Rituals: Setting the Tone for Therapy

08:28 Engaging Group Activities to Start Sessions

19:23 Closing Rituals: Ending Sessions with Purpose

27:16 Handling Challenging Behaviors with Rituals

31:02 Final Thoughts and Resources

32:03 Bonus: Free Nature-Based Therapy Activities