Where wild things grow: Friluftsterapi as a preventative, health promoting, and sustainable method for children with neurodivergence in school, health care, family and leisure settings in Southern Norway
Eline Raedschelders
PC Multiversum, mArquee, Belgium
Eline is a psychologist and systemic therapist. She has been working at the psychiatric hospital Multiversum, department mArquee, and has co-developed the outdoor program offered for two years at mArquee.
Searching for connection within boundaries,
working with adolescents in a psychiatric context
At mArquee, We believe that adolescents not only grow by talking about themselves but mainly by experiencing and by learning from each other. We therefore offer them as many experiences out of their comfort zone, in groups. Every few months we get out into nature, where we focus on the outdoors, responsibility and teamwork. As of 2024, we will expand these day trips into multi-day trips in the Belgian Ardennes, offering new experiences like camping, cooking, and outdoor life.
In this interactive presentation, We will focus on our search for a balance between connection and boundaries. Adolescents learn about themselves through others. During our hiking days, we therefore aim for a sense of connection between a group of 9 youngsters. Every individual struggles with their own psychiatric problem, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, etc… Finding connection (with themselves and others) is, therefore, a challenge, because everyone has their own distinct needs. On the other hand, we aim to help youngsters to set boundaries, or try to manage boundaries set by their bodies or by others. In this interactive presentation, we propose a conversation through dilemmas grown by our own experiences in the outdoors, but also by the experiences of our youngsters. Dilemmas like, ‘a youngster chooses to walk with their headphones on, clearly communicating to be let alone’, will be reviewed. A conversation will be facilitated by positioning yourself in a space where different opinions and possibilities can be discussed.