I am a recent academic having just completed my D Phil in Psychology with the theme: Integral ecopsychological investigation of Bonsai principles, meaning and healing. I am a full time lecturer and HOD in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand in South Africa and I also have a limited private practice. I have a registered research project working with bonsai and rehabilitation of perpetrators.
The Centre for Ecopsychology and Wellbeing, International Academy for Professional Development, has been launched to further research into the links between Ecopsychology, health and wellbeing. The Centre offers an Ecopsychology coaching service. As part of this team, Siobhain is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and an International Society for Coaching Psychology Accredited Coaching Psychologist and Supervisor. She is Founder Chair of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, Editor of the ISCP journal, Coaching Psychology International. She is a Trustee of the International Stress Management Association (UK).
The International Centre for Ecopsychology was launched to further research into the relationship between humans and nature.
The Centre offers an Ecopsychology coaching service and runs accredited and recognised coaching courses.
The Centre staff are psychologists, biologists, scientists, psychotherapists, coaches and health educators.
Brief History: In 2021, the Centre changed its name from the Centre for Ecopsychology and Wellbeing which was originally launched in January 2016. It was formerly the IAFPD Faculty of Ecopsychology and Wellbeing.
Marién A. Peña is a parent, educator and artist with 20 years of experience in the field. She obtained a Ph.D. in Eco-Art Therapy/ Organic Psychology from ProjectNature Connect and Akamai University in 2018 and a B.A. from the University of Iowa in Art History and Graphic Design. She has also completed her Montessori Education Certifications for ages 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 and graduated from St. Catherine University with a M.A. Ed. in Montessori Education. Marién currently serves as Field Consultant and Art Teacher for Maitland Montessori School and Teacher Training Program.
She is a founding member of Art for Living Inc, a non-for-profit organization which main goal is to create awareness through art and to provide tools for healing, and a space for expression among children, teenagers and adults in our community.
As a profession, she -along with her colleagues- manages a counselling service and works behind the scenes to ensure that the service stays open for those in need. She is passionate about providing access to mental health services, especially to those who encounter obstacles in obtaining support. She holds a Canadian Certified Counsellor designation.
When she is not at the counselling office, you can find her online as an instructor in psychology (and soon: ecopsychology!) for a global online university. Or you might catch her buying yet another book for her dream library.
Intensely interested in nature of all kinds (Nature with a capital N, human nature, animal nature, nature of relationships, etc.), much of her studies and leisure are related to ecopsychology, ecotherapy, psychology, relational cultural theory, and others.
Convinced that much of our nature is connected to early development and inheritance, Mary is also drawn to subjects like neuroscience, attachment, epigenetics, the formation of values and culture and their relationship to identity, and the subsequent effects of all these on individual and generational resilience.
On a path of unhurried spiritual reflection, she is undergoing a process of decolonization and development by re-immersing in inherited nature-based indigenous traditions and philosophy. One of her most valued inheritance is the innate understanding of living nature namelessly and corporeally (how does one explain this?). She wishes to integrate decolonization methods in the study and teaching of ecopsychology, and in the practice of ecotherapy.
When there's an extra minute or two, she volunteers for a center on indigenous studies, a school of Thai massage, and sits on a couple of non-profit boards. And when she gets more than a minute, she may dance, pick up a paintbrush, use an old typewriter, and give massage. Everyday she non-verbally communicates with plants and animals and gives thanks through the air. She also sings for no reason at all and to no one in particular.
She hopes to widen her eco-sensitive connections through this directory.
I identify as a depth therapist - psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and ISTDP (intensive short term dynamic psychotherapy.) I have also researched, written about, and practice ecopsychology/ecotherapy. With some clients this includes doing outdoor therapy sessions, when appropriate. At times I also draw on mindfulness and buddhist perspectives.
At times I am able to offer reduced fees to activists, and am available for sessions via skype for those who are not Christchurch or NZ based.
The Mindful Ecotherapy Center offers online continuing education in ecotherapy and mindfulness. We have multiple online course offerings, and we also periodically offer live seminars.
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ABOUT MINDFULNESS-BASED ECOTHERAPY
Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy (MBE) is a blending of Mindfulness and Ecopsychology. MBE uses nature to facilitate mindful awareness. MBE is used as a framework for helping individuals and families to find deeper connections in their own lives, and to give more meaning and enjoyment to the activities of daily living.
ABOUT ONLINE COURSES
The Mindful Ecotherapy Center offers online courses for continuing education for mental health professionals and the general public. All of our course work is evidence-based, with clearly defined learning objectives and evaluations. Our courses all come with an extensive list of references and citations, plus learning objectives and course descriptions. You may download this information when taking a course so that you may submit it to your license board for approval if needed.