Ecotherapy at Metavision

We all know something has gone wrong with our relationship to nature. There is also growing evidence that when we feel connected to nature, our wellbeing improves. We see this improvement across all spheres of our life, as deeper connection to nature positively affects our physical and mental health, as well as supporting our emotional wellbeing. But there is also a deep knowing we all share, at a soul level, that we are meant to feel like we truly belong here. That, in spite of the fact that we often live in urban centres, we remain a part of nature - like we always were.

When we take time to nurture this connection, or even just learn to breathe in a certain way, we can rewire our mind and body, open up our hearts, and live a more spiritually satisfying life in the here and now.

On Wednesday the 3rd of November, from 7 - 8.30pm, Dr Geoff Berry, Australian Representative to the International Ecopsychology Society (IES) and lead faculty at the Metavision Institute, will offer a free presentation on ecotherapy. This will be followed by a three week short course, which will extend this introductory presentation in ways that will deepen your connection to nature in surprising ways.

The introductory talk will outline

• What ecotherapy is
• What ecotherapy can do for us, including improved physical and mental health, emotional intelligence, and embodied spirituality
• How ecotherapy is related to counselling and psychotherapy, as a system of knowledge as well as a set of practices designed to heal and empower
• The role of mindfulness, awareness and indigenous wisdom in nature healing
• And introduce some simple practices to help you deepen your connection to nature, find more peace and put the stress and hustle bustle of everyday life in context!

The free talk and online course are designed for anyone interested in creating or deepening their relationship to nature.

• FREE Public Talk date: Wednesday 3rd November, 7pm - 8.30pm
• Ecotherapy Certificate Course: three sessions on Wednesday evenings 7 - 8.30pm, on the 10th/17th/24th November.
• Cost: Public: $180; Currently enrolled students $150

All Sessions include:

• Acknowledgement of Country
• Welcome to Self
• Co-creating a safe and sacred space for the work
• Working with vulnerability and confidence
• Stories of connection to and relationship with nature
• Nature Meditations (new one each session)

• Finding your place, a special spot to commune with nature daily, so that you can
  • deepen your understanding of yourself as an ecological citizen
  • explore an expanded sense of self in a real way that can be integrated into your everyday life
  • develop mindfulness in nature, learning how to bring a meditative quality to your personal ecotherapy practice

• Deep Listening – to nature and to each other, so that we get
  • beyond the monkey mind, which chatters incessantly within
  • differentiate between ego and spirit, socialised self and the expanded eco-self
  • hear the voice of nature with clarity and confidence

• Learning from the animals and plants we share this planet with, so that you can
  • recognise yourself in relation to your kin
  • explore your totems, guides and spirits
  • develop and deepen your connections to nature within and without, on earth and beyond

Dr Geoffrey Berry achieved his PhD (Monash University 2010) for a thesis that explored the human relationship with nature. He also completed an MA (Deakin University 2005) on dreams and mythology. Geoff is currently lead faculty and Course Coordinator for Metavision’s Postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Holistic Psychotherapy and the Australian Representative to the International Ecopsychology Society. Geoff is also editor of PAN: Philosophy Activism Nature and lectures in Eco-Psychotherapy for the Ikon Institute. Geoff served as Chairperson of the Melbourne Zen Group (2005-2008) and more recently as the inaugural CEO of the South Coast NSW Aboriginal Elders group (2019-2020). He regularly presents and publishes on ecotherapy, depth psychology, myth, symbol and ritual, and blogs at www.naturecalling.org