The Nature of Mental Health

Embodied Healing Through Connection with Nature, featuring Ally-Anne Rigoli-Redd

In this episode, Ally-Anne Rigoli-Redd shares her journey into nature-based therapy, exploring eco-somatic practices, ancestral animism, and the power of ritual in healing. Discover how reconnecting with nature and embodied rhythms can transform mental health and foster deep presence Guest Information * Guest Name: Ally-Anne Rigoli-Redd * Bio: Ally-Anne is an ecosomatic nature-based therapist, yoga teacher, writer, and hedgewitch. She works with folks experiencing an array of mental health challenges to reweave the ecological self and find healing through relationship with nature. She specializes in integrating ancestral embodied animism, which involves the return to the seasonal rhythm, earthen ritual and spirituality, and the wisdom of plants. In her down time, she can be found reading and canoodling one of her 6 cats or dog. Links: YouTube: @theferaltherapist [https://www.youtube.com/@theferaltherapist] Instagram: @theferaltherapist_ [https://www.instagram.com/theferaltherapist_/] TikTok: @theferaltherapist_ [https://www.tiktok.com/@theferaltherapist_] Substack: @allytheferaltherapist [@allytheferaltherapistt] Key Topics * Eco-somatic therapy and its role in mental health * The concept of the ecological self and embodied connection * The practice of ritual and rhythm in healing * The significance of bioregion and land in personal well-being * The role of ancestral traditions and animism in modern therapy Host & Show Info * Host Name: William Henry, LCSW * About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY. * Website: riverstonementalhealth.com [https://riverstonementalhealth.com/] Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nature-of-mental-health/id1859079675] * Follow us on social media: * Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth [https://www.instagram.com/riverstonementalhealth/] * Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574399450800] * LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-henry-lcsw-39016b38/] * YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth [https://www.youtube.com/@TheNatureofMentalHealth] Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you! ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

Seasonal Resilience and Nature with Citlali Herrera, LCSW: Summer Solstice Edition

In this episode, William Henry and Lali Herrera explore the profound connection between nature, mental health, and personal growth during the summer solstice. They discuss practical ways to align with seasonal rhythms, the importance of unstructured play, and how to harness the energy of the longest day of the year for self-expansion. Guest Information * Guest Name: Citlali "Lali" Herrera, LCSW * Bio: Citlali Herrera is a licensed psychotherapist and founder of Inner Worlds Psychotherapy, a private practice based in Westchester, NY, serving clients across New York and New Jersey. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to be seen and to live a fully authentic life. In her practice, she primarily works with adult daughters of emotionally immature parents—people-pleasers, perfectionists, and hyper-independent women—helping them reconnect with their bodies, boundaries, and needs through nature-based healing. She integrates ecotherapy, somatic and psychodynamic approaches, hypnotherapy, psychedelic integration, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, helping clients reconnect not just with themselves, but with nature as a regulating, remembering force. Her work invites healing that is relational, embodied, and deeply rooted in the natural world. Links: Autumn Equinox Hypnosis Event (Sept 22): innerworldspsychotherapy.com [https://www.innerworldspsychotherapy.com/] Website: https://www.innerworldspsychotherapy.com/ [https://www.innerworldspsychotherapy.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerworldspsychotherapy/ [https://www.instagram.com/innerworldspsychotherapy/] Key Topics: * Seasonal rhythms and their impact on mental health * The significance of the summer solstice as a time for visibility and expansion * The importance of unstructured play for children and adults * Practices for connecting with nature, such as earthing and gardening * Using the elements of fire and wind as metaphors for personal empowerment and reflection * The role of discomfort and pushing edges for growth * Shedding and letting go during the fall equinox as a metaphor for personal transformation Takeaways: * The summer solstice is a time for visibility and expanding into your true self. * Connecting with nature through gardening, earthing, and outdoor activities enhances wellbeing. * Being present with the elements, like wind and fire, can serve as powerful metaphors and tools for growth. * Unstructured play is essential for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience. * Pushing comfort zones and embracing discomfort are vital for personal expansion. * Shedding limiting beliefs and behaviors prepares us for new growth during seasonal transitions. Host & Show Info * Host Name: William Henry, LCSW * About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY. * Website: riverstonementalhealth.com [https://riverstonementalhealth.com/] Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nature-of-mental-health/id1859079675] * Follow us on social media: * Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth [https://www.instagram.com/riverstonementalhealth/] * Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574399450800] * LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-henry-lcsw-39016b38/] * YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth [https://www.youtube.com/@TheNatureofMentalHealth] Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you! ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

For the People and Kids: A Conversation with Jessica Colón Around Outdoor Education.

Join William Henry and Jessica Colón as they explore the transformative power of outdoor movement, community engagement, and nature-based education. Discover how Jessica's journey from Puerto Rico to founding 'For the People and Kids' highlights the importance of accessible green spaces, community partnerships, and fostering a love for nature in children and families. Guest Information: * Guest Name: Jessica Colón * Bio: Jessica M. Colón is the founder of For the People & Kids, a community-centered organization dedicated to connecting children and families with nature, creativity, culture, and hands-on learning experiences. Passionate about accessible education and inclusive community programming, Jessica has helped create bilingual, nature-based programs that bring together local educators, artists, farms, libraries, and wellness practitioners throughout the community. * Driven by a deep belief in the healing and transformative power of nature, Jessica focuses on creating meaningful opportunities where children can explore, create, move, and grow in welcoming environments. Through For the People & Kids, she continues to build partnerships and programs that make enriching experiences affordable and accessible for all families. * Links: Website: www.forthepeopleandkids.org [www.forthepeopleandkids.org] (Gala October 17th) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forthepeopleandkids/ [https://www.instagram.com/forthepeopleandkids/] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/for-the-people-and-kids/posts/?feedView=all [https://www.linkedin.com/company/for-the-people-and-kids/posts/?feedView=all] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forthepeopleandkids [https://www.youtube.com/@forthepeopleandkids] Key Topics * Jessica's background and journey into community work * The importance of nature and green spaces in childhood development * How 'For the People and Kids' was founded and grew * Community partnerships and accessibility in outdoor education * Innovative programs like bee hotels, gardens, and art in nature Resources: * https://linktr.ee/forthepeopleandkids [https://linktr.ee/forthepeopleandkids ] The Farm at Cabbage Hill: https://www.cabbagehill.org/ [https://www.cabbagehill.org/] DIG Farm: https://www.digfarm.org/ [https://www.digfarm.org/] Host & Show Info * Host Name: William Henry, LCSW * About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY. * Website: riverstonementalhealth.com [https://riverstonementalhealth.com/] Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nature-of-mental-health/id1859079675] * Follow us on social media: * Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth [https://www.instagram.com/riverstonementalhealth/] * Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574399450800] * LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-henry-lcsw-39016b38/] * YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth [https://www.youtube.com/@TheNatureofMentalHealth] Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you! ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

The Rewilding School: A Conversation on Connection with Eric Stone

Explore the profound connection between nature, ancestral skills, and personal growth through a conversation with Eric Stone of the Rewilding School. Discover how ancient skills like fire-making and stone tool crafting foster community, resilience, and self-awareness. * Guest Name: Eric Stone * Bio: Eric is the Program Director for The Rewilding School. He develops our programs, trains staff, and much, much more. Prior to founding The Rewilding School in 2016, Eric had a decade of teaching environmental summer camps in New York, residential outdoor education in California, ancestral skills in Oregon, and teambuilding in Massachusetts and right here in Westchester. He also founded and directed the Muscoot Naturalist Summer Camp. * The Rewilding School is a nature-based outdoor education organization that offers year-round programs for children, families, and adults focused on learning through direct interaction with the natural world. It emphasizes curiosity, play, hands-on skills, and connection with the outdoors rather than traditional classroom schooling. They serve preschool age children through adults, and have programs for afterschool, summer camps, as well as programs for BIPOC communities. The Rewilding School is built around the notion that in order to change the results of life, we have to update the spaces and ways that we teach children how to live. And there’s no such thing as “too soon” for that to start. Links: Website: https://www.rewildingschool.com/ [https://www.rewildingschool.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewildingschool/ [https://www.instagram.com/rewildingschool/] key Topics * The significance of flint and stone tools in human history * The role of fire-making in community building and survival * The importance of nature connection for mental health * Educational programs for children and adults in nature * The impact of colonialism on land access and conservation Resources: * Book: Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods [https://richardlouv.com/books/last-child] Host & Show Info * Host Name: William Henry, LCSW * About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY. * Website: riverstonementalhealth.com [https://riverstonementalhealth.com/] Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nature-of-mental-health/id1859079675] * Follow us on social media: * Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth [https://www.instagram.com/riverstonementalhealth/] * Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574399450800] * LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-henry-lcsw-39016b38/] * YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth [https://www.youtube.com/@TheNatureofMentalHealth] Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you! ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

Wayfinders on the Hudson: A Conversation About Outdoor Education with Leah Gozhansky and Gwen Merkin

Join Leah Gozhanski and Gwen Merkin from Wayfinders on the Hudson as they explore the transformative power of outdoor nature programs for children and adults alike. Discover how outdoor education fosters connection, curiosity, and community among young learners and their families. Today's episode is an experiential one. Please feel free to join us on the trail, in your yard, or in a park as we experience what it is like to be part of a Wayfinders program. If you would like, take your own "WOW walk" and participate in a Wayfinders opening circle. Guests: GWEN MERKIN, MA CITY PLANNING, LEED AP, WILD EARTH TEACHER TRAINING, CERTIFICATE IN ECOPSYCHOLOGY: Gwen is a climate and cultural repair activist. In addition to Wayfinders, Gwen consults with individuals and families working to reduce their carbon footprint, and to inspire and transform neighborhoods and communities. Gwen's experience completing the Wild Earth Apprenticeship & Teacher Training - an in-depth experiential training on nature mentoring, wilderness living skills, & creating connective nature experiences - motivated her to fulfill her long-standing dream of developing Wayfinders. LEAH GOZHANSKY, M.A PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, ED.M PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING & EDUCATION, CERTIFIED NATURE INFORMED THERAPIST: Leah is a Certified Nature-Informed Therapist who spent fifteen years working As a School Counselor at Ardsley High School and Bard High School Early College in Manhattan. She taught elementary school through Teach for America. Her extensive experience working in schools is complemented by her work in a psychiatric hospital and substance abuse clinic. She currently works as the Program Director of Wayfinders & facilitates walk and talk counseling sessions in the woods with adults. Leah believes deeply in the mental health benefits of nature connection. She brings a wealth of experience in social-emotional learning, counseling, mindfulness, meditation, reflection, validation, group dynamics, and interpersonal relationships to foster a strong sense of self and a deeper connection to our community and the world around us. Links: Website: https://www.wayfindersonthehudson.com/ [https://www.wayfindersonthehudson.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersonthehudson/ [https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersonthehudson/] FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wayfinders.on.the.hudson [https://www.facebook.com/wayfinders.on.the.hudson] Key topics: * The importance of outdoor nature programs for children * How outdoor education fosters connection and curiosity * Building community through outdoor youth programs Resources: * David Sobel's Book [https://www.davidsobelauthor.com/childhood-and-nature] * Coyote's Guide to Connecting in Nature [https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TKkqLsrKMIw3YPQSTc6vzC9JVchNzSvJL8rMS1dIys_PBgD0ug1F&q=coyote+mentoring+book&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS957US957&oq=coyote+mentoring&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBEC4YgAQyCQgAEEUYORiABDIHCAEQLhiABDIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMggIBBAAGBYYHjIICAUQABgWGB4yCAgGEAAYFhgeMggIBxAAGBYYHjIICAgQABgWGB4yDQgJEAAYhgMYgAQYigXSAQg0MzQwajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8] * Wild Earth [https://wildearth.org/] Host & Show Info * Host Name: William Henry, LCSW * About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY. * Website: riverstonementalhealth.com [https://riverstonementalhealth.com/] Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental Health [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nature-of-mental-health/id1859079675] * Follow us on social media: * Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth [https://www.instagram.com/riverstonementalhealth/] * Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574399450800] * LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-henry-lcsw-39016b38/] * YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth [https://www.youtube.com/@TheNatureofMentalHealth] Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you! ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.