What qualifications do I need as an ecotherapist? How do I get insured? How do I safeguard myself and my clients?

In an environment with no formal qualifications, registration, quality assurance or ethical frameworks, this course explores how to ensure professionalism and best practices. 

The course covers issues like insurance, liability, contracts, referrals and professional standards. It helps navigate the vague, fluid and rapidly emerging field of outdoor ecotherapy practice.

This course provides essential learning for ecotherapy practitioners committed to professionalism and quality.

Learning Outcomes

  • Deepen your understanding of ethics and professionalism in ecotherapy practice;

  • Create your own therapeutic contract for working outdoors;

  • Develop strategies for supervision and professional support;

  • Explore regional differences in public and professional liability;

  • Learn best-practice approaches to governance in a profession that currently has no institutional structures.

Course Contents

    1. Welcome!

    2. Topics

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. Course Instructions

    4. Touching Ground

    1. Introduction

    1. Governance

    2. NOTES: Governance

    3. NOTES: Contracts

    1. Referrals

    2. NOTES: Referrals

    1. Governance Tips

    2. Summary

Ecotherapy Governance

  • 12 lessons
  • 5 notional study hours
  • Webinar podcasts
  • Sample form downloads

Instructor(s)

Course Director David Key

Dave co-led the post-graduate ecopsychology programme at the University of Strathclyde for seven years. He also taught ecopsychology at Schumacher College and as a lecturer at Universities including Edinburgh, Stirling, Plymouth, Exeter, Anglia Ruskin and Ashridge Business School.

Dave holds an MSc (Dist.) in Human Ecology and is a Fellow of the Centre for Human Ecology. He has over 25 years of practical experience facilitating transformative outdoor experiences and is an internationally qualified outdoor leader. He has published numerous papers, articles and chapters. His first book, 'Ecotherapy: A Field Guide' was published in 2023.