Reading the Landscape: How Social Sciences Research Might Shape Outdoor Therapy’s Future
Outdoor therapies encompass a range of practices, from nature-based therapy and surf therapy to equine-assisted approaches. In practice, these outdoor approaches are growing fast, yet the available evidence base hasn’t always kept pace. This webinar draws on more than two decades of research to share key lessons about what we know, and what we still need to learn, about outdoor therapies in research and practice. We explore the role of therapeutic factors, the importance of client voice, ethics, the diverse pathways clients take toward change, and the shift from anecdote to accountable, data-driven practice. Social science disciplines, such as social work, psychology, health sociology, and education, offer clues needed to build a rigorous and meaningful evidence base for the field. Join us to explore what social science research has already revealed, and where it can take outdoor therapy next.
About the Presenters
Will Dobud, PhD, is an award-winning researcher and educator recognised for excellence in research, teaching, and crime prevention. Dr Dobud is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and an invited international speaker who conducts workshops for therapists and families worldwide. Will is the co-author of the award-winning Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health (2025). He is also the co-editor of Outdoor Therapies (2020) and co-author of Solution-Focused Practice in Outdoor Therapy (2022).
Nevin Harper, PhD, is an outdoor education and therapy trainer, researcher, consultant, and author. He is a professor in the Faculty of Health at the University of Victoria (Canada). As a clinical counsellor, he offers clients nature-based counselling sessions at their favourite parks, beaches, and trails. Internationally, Nevin is an invited speaker and trainer in outdoor therapies. Dr Harper’s research centres on the active engagement of people-in-environments: specifically, outdoor, experiential, and nature-based activities that may include elements of risk and challenge (outward bound) or be equally reflective and solitary (inward bound). Nevin is the co-author of the award-winning Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health (2025). He is also the co-author of Nature-Based Therapy (2019) and co-editor of Outdoor Therapies (2020).
