How do I become an Adventure &
Nature Therapy Practitioner?
We'll show you ...
… how you can build a new career perspective.
… how you can professionally use natural spaces for therapeutic interventions.
… how you can settle up.
So that you can ...
… work as a professionally trained expert in rehabilitation clinics, psychiatric hospitals, child and youth welfare facilities and therapeutic teams.
Bonus !
We pave the way for you to obtain international certification as a “Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (AEE)”.
Quality
We are a member of the German „Federal Association for Individual and Experiential Education“ and have actively promoted the development of the self-image and the professional profile of “Adventure & Nature Therapist”.
We are also a member of the American „Association of Experiential Education (AEE)”.
Spending time in nature has an effect
Mental health
Research, for example by Bratman et al. (2015), shows that regular experiences in nature can reduce the risk of depression and anxiety disorders. Contact with nature promotes well-being and emotional stability. The authors state that experiences in nature promote the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which leads to relaxation and stress reduction. They also stimulate attention and emotional balance.
Stress reduction
Spending time in nature motivates people to exercise more, which has a positive effect on cardiovascular health, weight control and general fitness. Studies also show that sunlight stimulates vitamin D production, which strengthens the immune system.
Immune system
Studies, such as that by Li et al. (2007), indicate that spending time in nature increases the activity of natural killer cells, which play an important role in the immune system.
Physical health
Spending time in nature motivates people to exercise more, which has a positive effect on cardiovascular health, weight control and general fitness. Studies also show that sunlight stimulates vitamin D production, which strengthens the immune system.
How can you go forward?
This course is for you if you are thinking about working with Adventure Therapy in nature – or have already gained some experience.
Would you like to learn more about your path into professional Adventure and Nature Therapy?
You will gain valuable insights into our collaboration and qualification opportunities. We give you a clear overview of levels 1–3 and show you how to achieve your goals.
Self-experiences and psychological well-being and mental health
The focus is on practical courses in which you learn adventure and nature therapeutic work directly in nature. In self-experience sessions, you will encounter nature as a co-therapist and learn more about the effect of landscapes on psychological well-being and mental health.
Would you like to work with your clients or patients using Adventure and Nature Therapy, but are unsure whether you are allowed to do so?
Are you wondering whether you are suitable for this – and whether you are even allowed to call yourself an “Adventure & Nature Therapist”?
You are convinced that this way of working can lead people to sustainable insights more quickly. Perhaps you have already gained some experience – simply by going outside with your clients?
We will inspire you, provide you with sound expert knowledge – and spark some valuable insights.
Your next steps
You will receive a free consultation
We develop the next steps to you
We open up new career prospects for you
We will work with you to create a reliable plan for your professionalization
We support you on your way to your new professional future
Typical questions EVERYONE asks
I am already working as a therapist – am I already doing Adventure & Nature Therapy?
Do you have a therapeutic mandate? This question is crucial. Because in many fields, so-called „therapeutic effects“ are explicitly desired. If you are already achieving such effects, it is a sign of the quality of your work.
This is precisely why we developed Level 1 – the „Adventure and Nature Therapy Practitioner.“ This qualification enables you to design therapeutic processes not only intuitively, but also in a targeted and methodically sound manner.
Where can I get certification & recognition?
In the US, the AEE already offers a formal certification in Adventure Therapy. Our training structure, with its three qualification levels (Levels 1–3), is designed to enable you to later obtain recognition and certification in the US. We maintain direct contact with the AEE Board of Directors and continuously adapt our content to current developments.
Can Adventure & Nature Therapy be billed?
Yes – in different ways!
The possibilities depend heavily on the respective field of work (in Germany):
- Clinics and hospitals can bill for Adventure & Nature Therapy using OPS codes.
- Rehabilitation facilities use the KTL codes.
- In child and youth welfare services, billing is possible via “individual additional services (IZL)” – comparable to horse riding or art therapy.
There are also billing models for independent therapists or in health prevention – depending on the framework conditions and target group.
As part of the 2025 graduating class I never thought I would surpass myself like this and graduate as „Adventure & Nature Therapist“ (Level 3).
My thesis entitled “Perspectives and recommendations for the use of nature and adventure therapy with queer adolescents and young adults” even won an award at the international congress “erleben & lernen” and will be published soon.
I am curious to see where my future career path will take me.
I have been accompanying the Adventure Therapy Institute with my cameras since the very beginning. It is fascinating to see how the participants and courses have developed. I would never have thought that this would fill me with so much joy. With my camera, I was able to get to know interesting participants very personally and accompany them through the lens. Thank you for the fantastic natural spaces that I was able to get to know with you.
I have been following the development of the Institute for Adventure & Nature Therapy with great interest for several years now. I am very impressed by the quality of the courses and have always thought about doing the training myself. However, my personal professional focus will remain on experiential education for the time being. As a board member of the Bundesverband Individual- und Erlebnispädagogik e.V. (Federal Association for Individual and Experiential Education), I continue to lead the Adventure Therapy specialist group and support the development of generally applicable quality standards for adventure therapy.
What makes us so special?
We have been active in the field of Adventure and Nature Therapy for many years and have excellent international networks. Since 2010, we have successfully developed and offered Adventure and Nature Therapy continuing education and training courses in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Iceland, Greece, and Latin America.
Our long-standing involvement in the international networks of Adventure Therapy Europe (ATE) and the Adventure Therapy International Committee (ATIC) significantly shapes our work.
International Adventure Therapy Conference (IATC), Gathering for Adventure Therapy Europe (GATE), or the International Congress „Erleben und Lernen“ in Germany.
Alexander Rose
Alexander Rose is a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and sports scientist. He has master’s degrees in health psychology and addiction counseling. He has been working with groups and patients in nature since 2000 and has been involved in Adventure and Nature Therapy in Spain and Europe since 2008. He has worked as a lecturer in Germany, Iceland, Colombia and Greece. He runs his own practice, teaches at universities and is the founder and CEO of “Terapia Aventura” in Valencia, which develops innovative therapy programs for addiction prevention and burnout.
Christiane Thiesen
Christiane Thiesen is a qualified social worker and supervisor with additional certifications in experiential education, trauma, attachment-focused counseling, disability management, and forest and health training. Since 1996, she has been active with the Federal Association of Individual and Experiential Education and has been involved in the „erleben & lernen“ conference since 2003. She also serves on the editorial board of the journal „e&l – erleben und lernen.“ Currently, she offers team and individual supervision and works as an in-house social counselor for industrial companies, specializing in corporate health management.
Per Wijnands
Per Wijnands from the Netherlands is a social worker and experienced sociotherapist in child and adolescent psychiatry. Passionate about experiential education, he uses Adventure and Nature Therapy with families, individuals, and groups facing mental health challenges. Currently, he develops therapy programs for children, adolescents, and their families. He has been an certified „Experiential Pedagogue be®“ and „European Treeclimbing Therapist“, using tree climbing as therapy. Per regularly teaches courses on experiential education and nature therapy.
There are always perspectives and solutions for your current professional development.
That’s why we cordially invite you to a free consultation. Together, we’ll show you which next steps make sense for you and what goals you can achieve with your professional background and experience.
We look forward to getting to know you and perhaps accompanying you on part of your journey.
CREATE YOUR CHANGE
Under the CREATE YOUR CHANGE brand, we offer high-quality, international therapy programs that are individually tailored to the needs of our clients. The services are aimed at adults aged 18 and over as well as families and take place at locations that are optimally tailored to the respective therapy plan.
To ensure culturally sensitive and effective care, we rely on a network of experienced Adventure and Nature Therapists who professionally conduct and lead the programs according to their nationality and native language.
CREATE YOUR CHANGE has expertise in holistic, individualized and culturally competent therapy programs.
With degrees in Adventure & Nature Therapy, you can work in a variety of roles here.
Level 1:
accompany, internship, observation
Level 2:
accompany, carry out and work therapeutically
Level 3:
lead responsibly, plan independently
You can become active as a project manager in our CREATE YOUR CHANGE programs and bring about positive change together.