ABOUT
Nevin is an outdoor education and therapy trainer, researcher, consultant, and author. He is a professor in the Faculty of Health at University of Victoria. Outside of teaching, Nevin's consulting service focuses on helping practitioners and organizations improve their practice and outcomes for those they serve. As a clinical counsellor, he offers clients nature-based counselling sessions in their favourite parks, beaches, and trails. Internationally, Nevin is an invited speaker and trainer in outdoor therapies.
Dr. Harper's research centres on active engagement of people-in-environments: specifically outdoor, experiential, and nature-based activities which may have elements of risk and challenge (outward bound) or may equally be reflective and solitary (inward bound).
Image: Sergio Ballivian
Cooperating with Nevin Harper will most certainly benefit any organization involved in outdoor therapeutic or educational work. It certainly has for our clinical research project group in Norway. Nevin is a key international academic within adventure therapy and has extensive and varied field work experience – a rare combination indeed. Equally important, however, is his no-nonsense approach, honesty, humour, and simply the fact that he is a very likeable guy.
~Leiv Einar Gabrielsen, PhD, Researcher and Outdoor Therapist, Norway
A dialog about stepping up, speaking out, being the metaphoric "adult in the room." An exploration of issues where the adults seem to be acting childish, irresponsible, and lacking courage where, as a result, harm is coming to kids these days.
BOOKS
A profound and sensitive exploration of the healing capacity of nature and how counsellors from all disciplines can expand their practice into the outdoors...a tantalizing blend of clinical anecdote, research and social critique of our disconnection with nature and what we can do to reimagine therapy as a process of reconnection.
~Michael Ungar, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience, Dalhousie University.
"It’s time to open the therapy room door, step outside, and use the great outdoors to help those who seek our counsel. This comprehensive text, written by experts around the world, shows you how."
― Scott Miller, PhD, founder of the International Center for Clinical Excellence and coauthor of Better Results: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve your Therapeutic Effectiveness
Services
Outdoor Therapy Consulting
Sometimes it takes an outsider looking in to see the whole picture. Ensure your services are relevant, adaptable and matching your clients needs. Improve client and customer outcomes, remain current, and maximize your effectiveness.
Nature-based Therapy
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors [RCC #16566]. I offer in-person outdoor counselling services in the Cowichan Valley region or online counselling to residents of British Columbia.
Training & Speaking
I can provide keynote addresses through to training courses in outdoor therapies.
CONTACT
We consider Dr. Harper to be the pre-eminent researcher in Canada focused on experiential education and adventure therapy. His extensive knowledge, experience and historical perspective has contributed to Take a Hike’s program, evidence base and theory of change.
~Gordon Matchett, MBA, CEO, Take a Hike Foundation