A reflection on the Association for Outdoor Therapy conference 2025

What an experience that was!

As I write this blog the conference was a few weeks past and yet I still feel the positive effects it has left on me. For me the conference was an opportunity to connect with fellow practitioners and likeminded individuals. What set this conference apart was the sense of community which was felt almost immediately and grew throughout.

The committee organising the event offered an range of workshops to inspire those in attendance. This of course is nothing new in the way of conferences but what they skilfully managed was bringing in a variety of practitioners whose work utilised the outdoors but was also grounded in other areas of practice such as family therapy or dialectic behavioural approaches. This provided a broad scope in which to see nature-based therapies and practice.

I was one of the professionals delivering a workshop - The Micro-Adventure Approach to Wellbeing and whilst I was nervous delivering to my peers (who wouldn't be?) the committee where always happy to help and were on hand to support. I was able to set up what I needed and hold up my end of the bargain and in return met some very interesting folk and I hope, lifelong connections.

So would I recommend the conference to others. Absolutely, if your a seasoned professional or just getting started in outdoor therapy then this is the conference to attend. You will find plenty of inspiration, connection and new ideas to take away with you.