Jennifer Owens is a licensed clinical social worker and certified ecotherapist with a passion for the outdoors, holistic health and environmental justice. Jennifer has worked in a variety of settings in both clinical and directorial roles since 2002 in holistic health and 2010 in mental health. She has a background as a licensed massage therapist, certified personal trainer, herbalism and essential oils. She is adjunct faculty at the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social work since 2014.
Jennifer is one of the only therapist in the state trained in ecotherapy and wilderness therapy. Jennifer loves the natural world and has experienced many healing benefits from her time outdoors, in fact she often credits her adventures in the backcountry and deepening relationship to the “other than human” world, to her recovery from severe panic and anxiety. She has a lifetime of experience in the wilderness (kayaking, backpacking and hiking), leading outdoor adventure groups and is a certified level 2 Ecotherapist and certified Yasei Forest Therapy guide and practioner. She has studied with the Earthbody Institute, the Mindful Ecotherapy Center, Wildcraft Forest School and Animas Valley Institute. Jennifer leads guided Shinrin-Yoku or Forest Bathing walks for the community as well as nature connection programs and retreats. She is also the president of the Shinrin-Yoku Society of Kentuckiana and a founding member of the Southeast/Northeast Ecotherapy Alliance.
She is currently working on Shinrin Yoku in Clinical Practice training as well as Ecotherapy for Mental Health professionals workshops. If you are interested in becoming a faculty member of the Academy of Integrative Mental Health, please reach out. We are currently organizing our live training weekends in the US this year.
