Training Opportunities

Professional Development

Adventure Therapy Aotearoa supports and encourages the professional development of people working in adventure therapy in Aotearoa. Below are some ways we can support you in engaging in professional growth within the field. 

Online Gathering 31st May 7pm

How we engage respectfully with Te Ao Māori with Vicky Totoro

Vicky Totoro will be holding our second online hui on Wednesday 31st May from 7:00pm to 8:00pm/8:30pm. This will be an opportunity for us to come together and discuss How we Engage Respectfully with Te Ao Māori

Everyone is welcome (both members and nonmembers) here is the zoom link 

Meeting ID: 818 1533 0529
Passcode: 970137

Pre-Conference Workshops

May 5th 2023, Ōtautahi/Christchurch 

9am – 4pm

Facilitating Therapeutic Adventure Experiences

Delivered by Claire Wyatt, Steff Revell, Helen Jeffery, and Kelly O’Hagan

 

Image Coming Soon

Design & Delivery: Essential Elements

This is an action-orientated workshop designed to allow you to learn and experience elements of adventure therapy group work including an introduction to theories that underpin adventure and nature-based therapy.

Content will include current understandings of what Adventure Therapy is and of what commonly fits into Adventure Therapy practices. The practices and strategies covered will be explored through a relational and trauma-informed lens. You will have the opportunity to link and explore the concepts to your own practice and to where you stand on the continuum between therapist and outdoor facilitator.

By the end of the workshop, you will have had the opportunity to develop an appreciation of how adventure and nature-based theories can be implemented in practice, and how you can integrate your usual development or therapy strategies into adventure therapy experiences.

Facilitators:

Claire Wyatt (Left image)

Steff Revell (Image coming soon)

Helen Jeffery (2nd from right)

Kelly O’Hagan (Right image)

The four facilitators come from a therapy background (counselling, social work, and occupational therapy) and all have experience of using adventure therapy in their work. Claire and Kelly currently work in the field, Helen and Steff are currently working as lecturers within Te Pūkenga and facilitate learning related to this field.

Where:

218 Bamfords Road, Allandale, RDI Lyttelton 8971

Ph +64 3 329 9788  |  info@livingsprings.co.nz

When:

Friday 5th May 2023 (9am to 3pm)

Cost: $110

What to bring:

  • Your curiosity!
  • Water bottle
  • Comfy clothing for moving around outside
  • Notebook and pen
  • Anything you need for your comfort through the day – food is provided and included in the price

Register Here!

Risk Assessment and Management in Adventure Therapy

By Ian Mann, Paul Yeoman, Amy Horn, and Anneke Beardsley

Image Coming Soon

Image Coming Soon 

Design and Delivery: Psychological and Physical Safety

This is a practical workshop mainly designed for people who are new to or considering delivering therapeutic services outside. It would also be beneficial for anyone who wants to check in about the safety aspect of their adventure therapy services.  

This workshop will have three parts. 

1. Firstly we will look at the safe delivery of therapeutic services outside.  This will include mental health risk assessment, managing mental health crises outside, and creating a safe group culture in outdoor settings. 

2. Next, we will look at outdoor activity risk management.  This will involve understanding the New Zealand Adventure Activities Regulations and requirements.  We will consider what activities people might facilitate themselves and when it would be appropriate to partner with an outdoor provider. 

3. Finally, we will look at paperwork and safety management systems that sit behind face-to-face delivery.  We will examine the essential components and some different options for how to go about writing one for yourself. This will be an opportunity to bring what you currently are using and share ideas with others etc. 

By the end of the workshop, you should have a good idea of the considerations around safety for Adventure Therapy services, both in delivering the programmes and the background paperwork systems behind it.  We hope that this workshop will give you the confidence and knowledge to get out and about with your therapy services confident you are running a safe programme. 

Content will include :

  • Mental Health Risk Management in an Outdoor Setting
  • Outdoor Pursuit Risk Management
  • Safety Management System design

Facilitators:

  • Ian Mann (Image coming soon)
  • Paul Yeoman (Image coming soon)
  • Amy Horn (2nd from right)
  • Anneke Beardsley (Right image)

The four facilitators come from a therapy (counselling, social work, and occupational therapy) and outdoor instructing background and all have experience of using adventure therapy in their work. There is a wide range of experience from DHB services, community outdoor provider and community mental health support. 

Where:

218 Bamfords Road, Allandale, RDI Lyttelton 8971 

Ph +64 3 329 9788  |  info@livingsprings.co.nz

When:

Friday 5th May 2023

9am – 4pm

Cost: $110 

What to bring:

  • Your curiosity!
  • Any Safety Management system paperwork or ideas you already are working with or on. 
  • Water bottle
  • Comfy clothing for moving around outside.
  • Notebook and pen
  • Anything you need for your comfort through the day – food is provided and included in the price.

What we want to know from delegates:

  • Dietaries
  • What brings you to this workshop/ what are you interested in learning the most?
  • Is there anything you would like the facilitators to know?

Register Here!

Communities of Practice

Online Get Together led by Helen Jefferies
21 February 2023, 5pm via Zoom

Kia ora e te whānau,

Massive mihi to all of you who have been impacted in one way or another by Cyclone Gabrielle.

We have our first online get-together scheduled for Tuesday 21st February at 5pm – 6pm. This will be an opportunity for us to come together and connect over a discussion topic. This month Helen Jefferies will lead us in a discussion on Communities of Practice. Follow the link below to tune in. Everyone welcome!

 Kia pai te rā.

Access Zoom Link Here

 Conference

Our mission is to help our members develop their skills and knowledge of adventure therapy. Our flagship event is our annual conference, which is an amazing opportunity to get to know others working in this space and learn from each other. Sign up for our newsletter to be first to hear more about the next one or check out our conference page.

The 2023 Adventure Therapy Aotearoa conference is scheduled for May 5th to 7th in Ōtautahi. Registrations are now open! Please visit our conference page to register.

In 2022, we offered an online training experience with ten workshops delivered by professionals working in adventure therapy. 

Supervision

We have a network of adventure therapy supervisors available for our members here in Aotearoa. If you can offer professional supervision and would like to join our list of supervisors you can complete this form. If you’d like to connect with a supervisor please sign in the members only area to view the supervisors list, or if you would like to sign up as a member, you can do this here.

 

Online workshops

We strive to frequently run online workshops for our members who have unlimited free access to the recordings of these. Contact us for more information and if you would like to become a member, you can do this here.

If you are interested in running a workshop for our members, please get in touch!

The American Association for Experiential Education (AEE)

The AEE offers some excellent training webinars and they are currently available free or for a donation!