Wildernew Outdoor Therapy

8 years ago today, Wildernew’s founder—Amanda Talley—graduated with a master’s degree in counseling. It was just the beginning of a wonderful journey to become a licensed professional counselor and launch Wildernew 5 years later. What a milestone to celebrate and look back on!

The Eastern Screech Owl at Arbor Hills has been more random in making an appearance but it’s always a treat to see him. This shot was taken on Earth Day.

Did you know that spending time in nature promotes prosocial behavior? We tend to be more oriented toward helping, cooperation, comforting, & nurturing. When we feel connected and cared for (which we often do in nature), we tend to pass it on. 💚

A scissor-tailed flycatcher greeted me at Arbor Hills this morning 💚

Happy from featuring Mt. Rainer as seen from Crystal Mountain• what a beautiful world we live in. 🌎 💚

We need to stop complimenting weight loss. Here's what to say instead

We need to stop complimenting weight loss. Here's what to say instead Compliments about weight loss are often well-meaning but can have negative consequences. Here's why they're problematic, and what to say instead.

Things one may see while in in North Texas…

Happy Easter! Grateful for the way Spring flowers remind us new life is possible and beautiful.

When it’s the best season and you have the best job 🤍 Wishing you all a peaceful Easter weekend.

If only you could smell them 🤍

Something a little different for your • we fact checked this and found it’s true! 😀

The plum blossom (our best guess) finally opened at Arbor Hills— three weeks later than last year. As far as I’ve seen so far, it’s the only one like it in the park. Silver, mostly smooth bark with these gorgeous pink blooms visible only for a short time before they begin to produce fruit. You may notice the pits or stones scattered along the Coyote Ridge trail before stumbling upon this beauty. PS: we have no idea if the fruit is edible for humans.

Need a mood boost? Inspiration? Perspective? For a double dose, change up your routine AND - both can improve mood, creativity and help us problem solve more effectively. So, while you’re at it, grab a friend and enjoy the beautiful day. ☀️🚲

Did you know there is something especially calming about green and blue together? So, if you’re in the Dallas area, take advantage of this beautiful day to get your and don’t forget to look up! ☀️💚💙

When seasons collide… nature provides us with such beautiful metaphors to make sense of our own specific experiences and circumstances. Take time to observe and reflect.

💚 just a little reminder to take some time to do something life-giving today, something that makes your heart sing

Wildernew Outdoor Therapy updated their business hours.

Wildernew Outdoor Therapy updated their business hours.

Bonus post (playing catch up)

and a couple of photo journals up on the website today under the Journal section. www.Wildernew.com

‎The Backpacking Introvert: Conscious Bites with Amanda Talley, LPC on Apple Podcasts

We were recently interviewed by The Backpacking Introvert on the topic of food and body image. You can listen here (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conscious-bites-with-amanda-talley-lpc/id1522958008?i=1000554728088

‎The Backpacking Introvert: Conscious Bites with Amanda Talley, LPC on Apple Podcasts ‎Show The Backpacking Introvert, Ep Conscious Bites with Amanda Talley, LPC - Mar 21, 2022

Photo Journal: Cameron Park -Waco — Wildernew

And now a photo journal of a Winter hike -- Cameron Park in Waco-- is up on the website. https://www.wildernew.com/journal/cameronparkwaco

Photo Journal: Cameron Park -Waco — Wildernew Photo Journal of Cameron Park (Waco)

Photo Journal: Beavers Bend State Park (Oklahoma) — Wildernew

While it's officially Spring, we finally posted a photo journal of a camping/hiking trip to Beavers Bend State Park in Oklahoma last Fall.... https://www.wildernew.com/journal/beaversbendok

Photo Journal: Beavers Bend State Park (Oklahoma) — Wildernew Photo Journal of Beavers Bend State Park — Oklahoma

Happy (happy) first day of Spring! 🌱🌷

We co-host a local monthly networking meeting for Christian Therapists in North Texas. If you are a clinician who is interested in knowing more or attending a future event, please let us know! Here are a few snapshots of our recent meeting at @txinstitutepsych Scholar Shop.

Wildernew is big on celebrating growth and progress as well as using nature as a metaphor for our own growth process. Recently that meant planting some native Texas wildflower seeds to tend to and watch grow. Much like our own process, it requires us to check in very regularly, take care, make small adjustments, be kind, patient, and flexible! Plus, the beauty—in process and in bloom—can serve as a reminder of our own hard work and growth! 🌱🌻

➡️ look at all that growth! The path to recovery and healing can be bleak, winding, grey, difficult, nonlinear… and it’s common to question your process. But a trained eye can see the growth, just like seeing these first signs of Spring amongst what otherwise looks like a regular old North Texas Winter day. 🌱

💚 one of our favorite places locally!

Thursdays have become Themed Thursdays. Each week on Thursday, we will share some fun facts about flora and fauna found at the Nature Center. We will talk about alligators for the month of March.

Many folks are often surprised to hear that alligators are found at the Nature Center. The earliest recorded alligator sighting in Fort Worth records show that scouts for U.S. Army Brevet Maj. Ripley Arnold, the city founder, pulled a 14 –footer from beneath what is now the downtown bluff in the 1850’s. That means these reptiles have been part of the area's ecosystem for a while.

Alligators prefer this area for many reasons including the many bodies of water, abundance of food, hot summers, and mild winters. In the summer you can see them sun bathing along the water's edge at the Marty Leonard Lotus March Boardwalk or the Riverbottom Trail.

Let us see your photos of alligators found at the Nature Center.

Check back next week to learn more about the American Alligator.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Cox

We are nearing the end of Texas winter… so here’s one of our favorite Winter shots. A world of color amidst the brown. 💚 Nature has a very tender way of reminding us things change and there is hope, even in our dark days.

Cameron Park in Waco is well worth the drive from DFW… miles of trails, elevation change, variable scenery and nice views. And the bamboo forest is magical in color and sound as you climb a steep incline through it. Happy adventuring! 💚

A change of scenery and an adventure is so good for the soul. 💚

Doctors in Canada can now prescribe national park passes to patients

"There's almost no medical condition that nature doesn't make better," said Melissa Lem, a family physician and director of the PaRx initiative

https://news.yahoo.com/doctors-canada-now-prescribe-national-002120688.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb&tsrc=fb

Doctors in Canada can now prescribe national park passes to patients A trip to the doctor can yield any number of recommendations, from bed rest to medicine. But as of late January, Canadian patients can be sent home with more novel note: a prescription for a national parks pass. "There's almost no medical condition that nature doesn't make better," said Melissa Lem,...

“No blooms graced the stalks, but even the ghosts of flowers appealed to her.” - Quote from Haven Point, a novel by Virginia Hume.