The Ecotherapist

I never find this easy but here goes….    I am Laura Darvell - The ND specialist Ecotherapist working with children, young people and adults who are Neurodiverse. I also support parents and carers of neurodiverse children.  I feel this is important as I have a neurodiverse child and find that support or being listened too helps immensely.  I will provide my professional background to show how I have reached this point.  I have a BSc in Psychology with Criminology, MSc in Criminology and Criminal Psychology and a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.  I am studying an MSc in Autism and Neurodivergence.  I have gained 7 years’ experience working with children and young people in educational settings which has allowed myself to gain a great insight of communication, behaviours, and patterns. 

I am someone who loves being outdoors and this was apparent from a very young age.  Throughout the years I have spent a huge amount of time camping and now that I have my own family we do the same, spending time cooking on an open fire.  Nature, being outdoors has always paved a way for my own mental wellbeing and how I look after myself when life takes unexpected turns.  I found very early on in my counselling training that I had the passion of taking my practice outdoors.  I never felt comfortable being based in a room for training or my own personal therapy and thought I must not be the only one that feels this way.  This has allowed me to create a private practice that offers a unique service within the South Hams specialising in ecotherapy.  

I am more than a walk and talk therapist.  I am creative and this underpins the sessions where it is felt to be essential.  We spend time sitting, listening, and feeling nature through our soul.  Within our sessions we utilise nature as it is intended, to explore and allow our thoughts and feelings to flow freely and deepen the connection within ourselves and the environment surrounding us.  Nature is utilised at the end of each session to ground ourselves, this could be by putting your feet in the sea, walking bare foot on mud, or feeling the stones between your toes.