Life Adventures Counseling

08/21/2026

Some mornings it only takes the view to remind me why I do this work. Healing doesn’t always happen in an office. Sometimes it happens in the quiet moment between the palm fronds and the horizon. Take a breath. You’re exactly where you need to be.

This was my office this morning. What’s yours?

08/01/2026

Yup! . Get outside today!

Susan Abookire, a Harvard Medical School forest therapy guide, explains what a daily dose of nature does for the body.

06/24/2026

When was the last time you picked up a pen and actually wrote something by hand? Research says it matters more than you might think. A 2024 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that handwriting creates widespread brain connectivity in ways that typing on a keyboard simply doesn't. Our brains come alive when we write by hand.

This is one of the reasons journaling is such a powerful mental health tool. When you put pen to paper, you're not just recording your thoughts, you're processing emotions, reducing stress, gaining clarity, and strengthening your sense of self. It's one of the most accessible, low-cost practices you can add to your mental wellness routine.

In a world where we're typing, scrolling, and swiping almost constantly, there's something deeply grounding about slowing down and handwriting your feelings.

Give it a try! This week, gift yourself just 5–10 minutes of free journaling before bed. No rules, no pressure, just you and the page.

Van der Weel & Van der Meer (2024). Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219945

Do you journal? Drop a comment below if you're going to give it a try!

03/18/2026

We love our walk and talks - and here is more evidence of how walking helps our mental health!!

Yes, that little time is all you need.

01/26/2026

Go beyond the "buzzword" and experience how different mindfulness practices can enhance your overall well being and peace of mind. This 4 part workshop series, hosted by Mary Blazier of Life Adventures Counseling, will help participants learn about the science and benefits of mindfulness, practice various techniques, and strengthen their skills. Each workshop will contain education as well as "hands on" practice and will be 45 minutes plus an optional 15 minutes of Q&A/reflection. Workshops can be attended as a series or stand alone events. This event is virtual and beginner-friendly. No prior mindfulness experience is required. Dates and Titles ($20/session):

Wednesday 2/4 1PM: Intro to Mindfulness and the "Window of Tolerance"
Wednesday 2/11 1PM: Mindfulness and the Wise Mind
Wednesday 2/18 1PM: "What If I Don't Like What I Notice?"
Wednesday 2/25 1PM: Mindfulness In Everyday

Here is the registration links:

Go beyond the "buzzword" and experience how different mindfulness practices can enhance your overall wellbeing and peace of mind.

01/13/2026

Yay! Another collaboration with some of my favorite practitioners and co-authors (Dr. Bobbi Beale, Dr. Christine Norton, and Dr. Anita Tucker). We wrote the adventure therapy chapter in the new textbook, Introduction to Trauma Counseling: Inclusive Approaches (Cognella). It is now available for adoption and review.

This text:

➡️ Highlights thoughtful and culturally aware ways to understand, identify, and evaluate trauma in a wide range of client groups.
➡️ Integrates several well-supported approaches to trauma treatment, encouraging students to think critically about how to match interventions to each person’s circumstances.
➡ Includes practical case illustrations, background context, intervention tools, and teaching supports created for graduate learners preparing for advanced work in trauma-focused practice.
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🧡 Faculty colleagues interested in strengthening trauma training in their programs can learn more about the book and request a digital review copy through Cognella: https://lnkd.in/eCGfuUAi.

12/10/2025

Take a few minutes (3.5 minutes to be exact) to check out this beautiful video presentation from EDS student Hannah Dennis who explains, “Blue space” is defined as any outdoor place where water is a central figure. Human beings come from water, are sustained by water, and return to water. It remains a fundamental truth of existence that human beings share a relationship with water and therefore, it is logical that water can naturally be an agent of our healing and overall wellbeing. Studies show that water-based interventions can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, difficulties with self-confidence and esteem, autism spectrum disorder, acquired brain injuries, cognitive impairments, and physical and psychosocial disabilities. Blue space interventions and water-based exercise improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals. It’s time to come home. Song credit- Tomorrow-Miner.

“Blue space” is defined as any outdoor place where water is a central figure. Human beings come from water, are sustained by water, and return to water. It r...

10/12/2025

Our fiscal sponsor is being honored!

💚 2025 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award Announcement 💚

This year’s Heart of Adventure Therapy Award goes to someone who has embodied the spirit of our field long before there was ever an award to honor it — Dr. Terry Williams.

From founding The Children Are Our Future, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to empowering professionals through mentorship, coaching, and sponsorship, to teaching Adventure and Eco Therapy nationwide, Terry’s impact runs deep. Her influence can be seen in the countless practitioners and programs she’s helped launch — all centered around connection, compassion, and justice.

Whether she’s planning regional conferences, supporting a colleague’s workshop, or offering a hug and a high five to anyone in her orbit, Terry leads with heart. She has spent her life advocating for JEDI-B principles, uplifting others, and modeling what it means to truly live adventure therapy.

As one nominator shared: “Terry has had the heart of adventure therapy long before there was an award. She’ll say she doesn’t deserve it — that she was just doing what was right, what was needed, what was good. But we know the truth: Terry is the heart of adventure therapy.”

Join us at this year's social + awards night on day one of the Pre-Conference, Tuesday, November 4th. Details to follow.