CE Hours NBCC | Pike Wellness

Program Description

‘Designing and Using Therapeutic Green Spaces’ empowers counseling and mental health professionals to create, use, and evaluate restorative outdoor environments as safe, inclusive settings that support treatment outcomes and client transitions out of care. This 17‑session continuing education series is grounded in neuroscience, psychosocial development theories, and permaculture design. The program addresses mental health issues related to screen fatigue, sleep and circadian health, nutrition via therapeutic gardening, accessibility and safety outdoors, social justice and cultural attunement, and green group therapy. One certificate issued at end of program.

Program Learning Objectives (7)

Apply neuroscience and psychophysiological evidence to explain how time in nature reduces stress and supports mental health.
Integrate lifespan and multicultural perspectives to adapt outdoor interventions for diverse developmental stages and cultures.
Design safe, accessible, and permaculture-informed therapeutic spaces at residential and community facilities.
Embed green-exposure goals (sleep hygiene, nutrition via gardening, movement) into treatment plans and transitions out of care.
Collaborate with clients to set measurable goals and document outcomes using validated assessments.
Implement risk management for outdoor clinical work (e.g., weather, heat, lightning, boundaries, consent).
Evaluate program impact with practical frameworks (e.g., RE-AIM) to guide quality improvement.