Wilderness Reflections: Professional Ecotherapy Certification Program

How can you replenish yourself and grow your work in a meaningful way when you are giving all the time?

My name is Dave Talamo.

I got into the field of therapy with a strong desire to help people make lasting, meaningful change in the their lives. But I found the traditional long days of sitting and working in the office with clients for many hours to be limiting and, at times, draining. Can you relate?

I started mentoring in nature and guiding in the wilderness over 40 years ago. When I went to graduate school, it was with the hope of finding ways of combining my deep work with people and time in Nature. As a licensed therapist, I spent many years keeping my passion for the natural world separate from my therapy practice. My clients were coming to me overwhelmed, overworked, drained, anxious and depressed. People would share little side comments like “I feel so great when I go to the beach” or “I love how I feel when I’m able to just go out for a brief walk”.

Although I had many different therapy modalities to help them, I always felt like something was tugging at my heart. I knew there was so much more I could offer, but I wasn’t sure how to bring this all together. I was waiting for permission and professional validation.

Then one day it hit me. I was headed home after a long, full, intense day of client work. My eyes went to the stars twinkling above a ridge. I knew I had to get my clients out on the land. It was time to integrate therapy and my wilderness work.

I’ve made it my mission for over 40 years to create ways to bring the healing power of Nature into people’s lives. I founded Wilderness Reflections and the TerraSoma Ecopsychology Training Institute. Through this powerful work I’ve helped thousands of people.