Using Nature to Nurture: Nature-Based Therapy with Perinatal Clients

(Approved for the Psychotherapy/Mental Health Track Advanced Training as well as CE for maintaining PMH-C)

Clock Hours: 3

This on Demand Recording/ Recorded Asynchronous workshop was recorded on May 4th, 2026.

Target Audience: behavioral health and social workers who serve in the role of counseling/therapy. 

$250

The Nurturing Mamas Network Training Institute has trained thousands of clinicians in Advanced Perinatal Mental Health since 2022.

Content Description

In this Beginner to Intermediate program, One will learn how Nature plays a significant role in emotional and cognitive health. Time spent in natural spaces increases in attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility (Ohly et al., 2016). In this workshop, participants will learn ways to incorporate nature-based therapy interventions into perinatal therapy sessions. Additionally, they will learn about the types of spaces that promote healing and happiness through the three important features of sensory complexity, freedom, and space, as well as a newly proposed six-step model for nature-based therapy (Oh KH et al., 2020). 

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn 2 therapeutic elements to support nature-based therapy as a therapeutic intervention for perinatal clients.

2. Participants will apply 2 considerations for nature-based therapy in their clinical work.

3. Participants will learn 3 nature-based therapy interventions they can use immediately with their clients.

Participant Feedback from Previous Trainings

“This is a great presentation overall and something I hope to use in my practice.”

- Licensed Social Worker

Presenter Name and Qualifications: Ashley Lingerfelt  M.S., LPC, PMH-C

Ashley S. Lingerfelt is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in infant, early childhood, and perinatal mental health and a trainer at Nurturing Mamas Network. She is the clinical director and founder of Playtime Therapy of Georgia, LLC, and serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Chapter of Postpartum Support International as the perinatal mental health subject matter expert for the state. Ashley has been featured in articles for New York Times Parenting, The Washington Post, Romper, Good Housekeeping, and is published in “Nature-Based Play and Expressive Therapies: Interventions for Working Children, Teens, and Families” (Courtney, Langley, Wonders, Heiko, and LaPiere, 2022).

In this recorded asynchronous distance course, attendees will watch a recorded video from a webinar held on May 4th, 2026.

**Please Note: To meet continuing education requirements, full participation is required. the platform monitors viewing time, and skipping or fast-forwarding through content will be recorded as incomplete, which will restrict access to subsequent modules. Please view all sections in full before moving forward.**

Course completion requirements: behavioral health and social workers must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for ce credit. Behavioral Health and social workers must pass the posttest with 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for ce credit. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 2 business days of course completion. 


If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about his/her experience with Nurturing Mamas Network, he/she may call or e-mail Felicia Hurst at felicia@nurturingmamasnetwork.com. Although we do not guarantee a particular outcome, the individual can expect us to consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions and respond within 30 days.

  • Operating Systems: windows xp or higher, macos9 or higher, android 4.0 or higher

    Internet browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, google chrome, firefox 10.0 or higher

    Broadband Internet connection: cable, high speed dsl & any other medium that is internet accessible.

  • Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Beck, J. S. (2020). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

    Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment (2nd ed.). Basic Books. (Original work published 1969)

    Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567–8572.

    Fonagy, P., Gergely, G., Jurist, E. L., & Target, M. (2002). Affect regulation, mentalization, and the development of the self. Other Press.

    Howard, L. M., Molyneaux, E., Dennis, C. L., Rochat, T., Stein, A., & Milgrom, J. (2014). Non-psychotic mental disorders in the perinatal period. The Lancet, 384(9956), 1775–1788.

    Jordan, M., & Hinds, J. (Eds.). (2016). Ecotherapy: Theory, research and practice. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Kingston, D., Tough, S., & Whitfield, H. (2012). Prenatal and postpartum maternal psychological distress and infant development: A systematic review. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 43(5), 683–714.

    Slomian, J., Honvo, G., Emonts, P., Reginster, J. Y., & Bruyère, O. (2019). Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19, 519.

    Stein, A., Pearson, R. M., Goodman, S. H., et al. (2014). Effects of perinatal mental disorders on the fetus and child. The Lancet, 384(9956), 1800–1819.

    Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure. Environmental Research, 166, 628–637.

  • 0:00–0:15 (15 minutes)
    Welcome, presenter introduction, learning objectives, participant discussion, guided nature visualization exercise, and overview of perinatal and infant mental health. Methodology: Lecture, Guided Reflection, Group Discussion.

    0:15–0:45 (30 minutes)
    Foundations of infant mental health, attachment theory, maternal mental health, developmental impacts of caregiver mental health, and review of current research. Methodology: Lecture.

    0:45–1:15 (30 minutes)
    Attachment styles, mentalization, secure base concepts, parent-infant relationships, and factors that influence attachment development. Methodology: Lecture, Case Discussion.

    1:15–1:25 (10 minutes)
    Break.

    1:25–2:10 (45 minutes)
    Theoretical foundations of nature-based therapy, evidence supporting nature exposure, healing environments, ethical considerations, and the six-step nature-based therapy model. Methodology: Lecture, Group Discussion.

    2:10–2:45 (35 minutes)
    Nature-based interventions for perinatal clients, including grounding techniques, mindfulness, sensory interventions, outdoor therapy considerations, caregiver-child interventions, and adapting interventions for various clinical settings. Methodology: Lecture, Demonstration, Experiential Activity.

    2:45–3:00 (15 minutes)
    Clinical case studies, application of nature-based interventions, participant questions, resource review, and course summary. Methodology: Case Review, Group Discussion, Question & Answer.

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Please note: Access to this course will terminate 30 days after purchasing through the above.