Meet Your Guide, Denise McDermott

Denise McDermott, MSW, LICSW is a licensed therapist who has lived in the Puget Sound area for most of her life. After seeing positive results early on in her practice when working with clients in natural settings, she sought to create more ways to incorporate nature in all aspects of her practice and her life. Raising her children as avid ‘birders’, organizing a community garden in her neighborhood, presenting on the importance of the child/nature connection to teacher & parent groups, taking High School Students on Field Trips to the local Wildlife Refuge, and prioritizing time for herself in the abundant wilderness that is our home are some of the ways she has leaned into Nature’s gifts. She has found that a hike on Mt. Rainier or time spent watching a snail work it’s way around the rim of the birdbath can be equally rewarding when time is taken to notice with intention.

Being trained and certified as a guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy has allowed Denise to further her connection with nature and she views guiding both groups and individuals in this practice as an honor and a gift. In addition, she offers engaging presentations to groups who are interested in learning/exploring how to regularly incorporate nature therapy as a daily practice for improved health and well being in both the workplace and at home.

Testimonial:

“Forest therapy with Denise was amazing. She wove in both active and passive meditative experiences that connected my whole family to nature and each other. I brought my 6 year old and my 16 year old and they both were completely engaged and responsive in the immersive nature experience. All of us felt both calm and connected as a result and we look forward to experiencing it again.” —Spencer Erwin