WELCOME to our page! We are in the beginning stages of creating an organization and network in Sweden. Development of a program and a new web site is in process, but this is what we have so far: www.vildmarksterapi.se
Growing up in Sweden, Maria spent as much time as possible outdoors. The next chapter in her life was in the USA, as she married a man from Brooklyn. They raised two daughters together. She was impressed with the transformative power of Wilderness therapy in the USA, which is spreading to other parts of the world. Realizing that youth and families in Sweden also need this treatment alternative, she founded Vildmarksterapi i Sverige AB. She relocated back to Sweden in order to develop a program based on the model of therapy outdoors combined with the most cutting-edge practice and research in the field of mental health. She is a licensed psychotherapist, a clinical social worker and has had the honor to work with children, youth, families and couples for over 30 years. She is very happy to co-create and introduce Wilderness therapy together with like-minded people in the Nordic countries.
Petra works in Stockholm, Sweden as a Licenced Clinical Psychologist, a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and as a Mindfulness Facilitator.
What has influenced her work the most is her life long Nature Connection, her background in the Performing Arts as well as the years spent at a Zen Buddhist Temple. She is a strong advocate for integrating Nature Supported Treatments into the Public Health Care System and is presently pioneering by implementing and assessing Forest Therapy in Primary Care, for adults diagnosed with Stress Related Disorders.
She received her certification as a Forest Therapy Guide in 2016, by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs.
Since 2007, she is trained in MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy), by Prof. Mark Williams, Oxford, England, and in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), created by Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn at the Center for Mindfulness, Massachusetts, USA.
As the founder and director of Shinrin-Yoku Sweden, Petra offers ”Forest Bathing” and Forest Therapy as public and private events, individual ecotherapeutic sessions as well as lectures and workshops around Sweden and abroad. In clinical practice she is presently implementing Forest Therapy in Primary Health Care, as a treatment for stress related disorders, anxiety and depression.
Niklas works with youth in a residential treatment program and as a wilderness guide. He is educated in Sweden and in the USA and is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience about living and working with people in nature. He is the co-founder of the association Naturliv www.naturliv.org, offering a wide variety of courses based in the beautiful forests outside of Stockholm. He is also participating in the development of Wilderness therapy in Sweden. In his free time, he likes to work with different handicrafts in nature.
Niklas är utbildad behandlingspedagog och vildmarksguide. Han arbetar på behandlingshem för ungdomar, samtidigt som han utvecklar det som han brinner för när det gäller att leva och verka i naturen. Han grundade föreningen Naturliv www.naturliv.org. Där erbjuder han ett rikt utbud av kurser och upplevelser i naturen. Han är också medverkande i att utveckla och introducera Vildmarksterapi i Sverige. När han inte arbetar så tycker han om att jobba med olika naturhantverk.