Certified Nature-Based Therapist (CNBT1)

Level 1

The First Level of certification provides foundational knowledge and practice to competently provide Nature-based Therapy (NBT) with clients.

To attain Level 1 Certification, mental health practitioners must complete:

• 36 hours of training
• 9 hours of group consultation
• ~ 10 hours of course reading and reflective practice
• 50 hours of client work using Nature-Based Therapy practices (with at least 5 different clients). Client hours can be recorded after completing the following courses:  NBT in Practice or Collaborations with the Natural World.
• Min 3 hours demonstrating competency through presentation of client work during individual consultation 

• Human-Nature Counselling Society – “Introduction to Nature-Based Therapy”
• Somatic Nature Therapy Institute – “Intro to Therapeutic Nature-Based Interventions”

These courses provide a strong theoretical foundation in the principles and practices of Nature-Based Therapy. Participants will explore how NBT can be adapted for both outdoor and office/online environments.

• Human-Nature Counselling Society – “Nature-Based Therapy in Practice”
• Somatic Nature Therapy Institute – “Collaborations with the Natural World”

These experiential and immersive courses bring theory to life through hands-on learning that you can apply to your clinical practice right away. Participants engage in live demonstrations, self-practice, and role-playing of NBT interventions in natural settings, leaving them confident to partner with the Natural world as their co-therapist. 

Explore and reflect on your current practice, deepen understanding of specialized NBT interventions, and practice nature-based invitations within a supportive practitioner community.

One-on-one personalized mentorship and feedback on your client work.  Includes presentation of case studies and assessment of applied interventions and theoretical concepts in NBT.

• Client assessment for fit with the NBT approach
• Collaborating with Nature as co-therapist   
• Experiential learning and zones of growth
• Attachment in NBT
• Adventure Therapy principles
• Mirroring & metaphor in therapy
• Restoration & nervous system regulation
• Risk management in outdoor settings
• Models of facilitation
• Ethical & logistical considerations
• Decolonizing NBT practice

Practitioners who complete Level 1 Certification will:

• Be listed in the Nature-Based Therapy Training Collective database by location and certification level
• Be eligible for referrals to clients and agencies seeking NBT services
• Join a growing network of Nature-Based Therapists for community, mentorship, and collaboration
• Be equipped with the core skills to confidently offer ethical, Nature-Based Therapy in nearby natural settings.

$2500- $6500 CAD

Cost depends on course selection and currency exchange rates. See the Course Calendar for details on individual course pricing.