Series 2 Episode 8. Rewilding therapy

This encounter imagines therapy smashing norms and being re-wilded. It explores how the radical roots of the person-centred approach might flourish in nature, and in spaces which are neurodivergent, queer, or otherwise labelled ‘different’ – and how to reclaim its radical potential for all of us. 

Rachael speaks to Sonny Hallet (they/them), a counsellor, supervisor, and trainer, whose work is focused on neurodiversity, nature, and difference.

Rachael writes: Sonny and I had an expansive discussion exploring ideas around groups, norms and rewilding practice. We considered community as a process and how therapy training operates as socialisation into therapy cultures that are often insular. I loved Sonny’s ‘endless why’ and their phrase, ‘be yourself but not like that’, an unwritten rule that is often imposed upon neurodivergent and queer trainees as well as clients who do not conform to expected ways of being in therapy – e.g. clients who are ‘heady’ and don’t talk about feelings can be perceived as not ‘doing’ therapy in the ‘correct’ way.

Encountering our own vulnerability was a vast area we touched upon. Carl Rogers escaping to his cabin in the woods following a breakdown and period of immense vulnerability provided a powerful coda for the importance of being open to our own vulnerabilities.

Sonny’s perspective on rewilding practice and bringing the outside in left me feeling excited about the tree outside my therapy room as co-therapist! I felt particularly stimulated by our conversation on taxonomies of language, emotion and not always reaching for words to contact our processes. Overall, the excitement I felt in encountering Sonny is still present as I share my experience with you here.

Sonny mentioned the work of the naturalist Chris Packham and referenced Diary of a Naturalist. They also mentioned Katherine May’s Wintering. Incidentally, several years ago, May’s Wintering, along with supervision, proved to be helpful companions in processing the physical and emotional impact of a particularly grey, drawn-out winter. Finally, Sonny’s excellent writing on Medium is well worth checking out.