In this conversation, William Henry explores the profound impact of awe and wonder on our lives, emphasizing their ability to connect us to the natural world and to each other. He shares personal experiences of awe in nature, particularly during a visit to Yosemite National Park, and discusses the biological and psychological benefits of experiencing awe. The conversation concludes with practical suggestions for inviting awe into our daily lives, highlighting its transformative power.

Takeaways:

1. Awe is a feeling that expands us and connects us.
2. Experiencing awe can shift our nervous system into a calmer state.
3. Awe can be found in both grand and simple moments.
4. Indigenous cultures have long understood the importance of awe.
5. Awe can enhance mental health and emotional well-being.
6. Experiencing awe helps us feel less alone and more connected.
7. Awe can lower stress hormones and reduce anxiety.
8. Inviting awe into daily life can be done through simple practices.
9. Awe reminds us of the beauty that exists beyond our worries.
10. We are part of a much bigger story that includes wonder.

Skill of the Week: The Awe Walk

1. Walk slowly and without a destination.
2. Gently look up and out — notice height, distance, light, movement, and patterns.
3. Seek what feels vast, beautiful, or surprising (trees, sky, water, architecture).
4. When something catches your attention, pause for a few breaths.
5. Let yourself feel small in a comforting way — supported, not insignificant.

Resources:

1. Awe as a Pathway to Mental and Physical Health
2. Nature can get it out of your mind: The rumination‑reducing effects of contact with nature and the mediating role of awe and mood
3. Daily experiences of awe predict lower stress, fewer somatic symptoms, and greater well‑being
4. Awe reduces depressive symptoms and improves well‑being in a randomized‑controlled clinical trial

Host & Show Info

In this episode, William Henry explores the concept of mindfulness through the lens of nature. He emphasizes how nature inherently teaches us to be present and connected, contrasting this with the pressures of modern life. The conversation acknowledges the wisdom of indigenous cultures regarding emotional balance and healing through connection to the earth. A guided mindfulness practice is included, encouraging listeners to engage their senses and find peace in the natural world. Ultimately, the episode serves as a reminder of the importance of slowing down and embracing the lessons nature offers for mental well-being.

Episode Outline

1. Mindfulness can be found in nature's simplicity.
2. Nature serves as a natural anchor for our nervous system.
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-017-0677-9
4. Honoring ancient wisdom
5. What indigenous peoples inhabited the land where you are?
6. Healing is a reconnection to the earth and community.
7. Psychological and physiological health benefits of mindfulness in nature.
8. Not every problem needs solving right now. Not every task needs a solution today.
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S1462373023000500

Resources:

1. The Center for Nature Informed Therapy
2. https://www.natureinformedtherapy.org/
3. The Benefits of Mindfulness
4. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-benefits-of-mindfulness-5205137

Skill of the Week:

1. Mindfulness walk in nature
2. This is about using all your senses, something you can do each and every time you are outdoors. Take a moment outdoors and be present with every sense, without passing judgement. What do you hear, feel, smell, see? Just be open to receiving.

Host & Show Info

1. Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
2. About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with...

In this conversation, William Henry and Citlali "Lali" Herrera discuss the profound connection between nature and mental health, exploring the modalities of nature therapy and the importance of seasonal awareness. They emphasize the need for self-care, especially during winter, and how nature can help individuals reconnect with their inner child and process their emotions. The discussion also touches on the significance of reflection and setting intentions for the new year, encouraging listeners to embrace the natural rhythms of life and prioritize their well-being.

Guest Information

1. Guest Name: Citlali "Lali" Herrera, LCSW
2. Bio: Citlali Herrera is a licensed psychotherapist and founder of Inner Worlds Psychotherapy, a private practice based in Westchester, NY, serving clients across New York and New Jersey. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to be seen and to live a fully authentic life. In her practice, she primarily works with adult daughters of emotionally immature parents—people-pleasers, perfectionists, and hyper-independent women—helping them reconnect with their bodies, boundaries, and needs through nature-based healing. She integrates ecotherapy, somatic and psychodynamic approaches, hypnotherapy, psychedelic integration, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, helping clients reconnect not just with themselves, but with nature as a regulating, remembering force. Her work invites healing that is relational, embodied, and deeply rooted in the natural world.

Links:

Website: https://www.innerworldspsychotherapy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerworldspsychotherapy/

Takeaways

1. Everyone deserves to feel worthy of taking up space.
2. We are part of nature; we are nature.
3. Nature therapy can help reconnect individuals with themselves.
4. Seasonal awareness is crucial for mental health.
5. Self-care practices are essential during winter.
6. Embracing the inner child can enhance our connection to nature.
7. Reflection and intention-setting are important for personal growth.
8. Nature provides a safe space to just be.
9. Mindfulness and intention in nature can lead to healing.
10. Rest is an innate right, not something to earn.

Resources:

1. Robert Macfarlane: Is a River Alive?
2. Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass

Host & Show Info

1. Host Name: William Henry, LCSW

In this inaugural episode of The Nature of Mental Health, William Henry explores the profound connection between nature and mental health. He discusses the historical context of human interaction with nature, the impact of modern life on our mental well-being, and the therapeutic benefits of reconnecting with the natural world. Through personal anecdotes and scientific insights, he emphasizes the importance of community, belonging, and the restorative power of nature in healing anxiety and depression. The episode concludes with practical tips for integrating nature into daily life and a grounding moment for mindfulness.

Episode Outline

1. The Disconnect From Nature Contributes to the Mental Health Crisis
2. Community and connection, to each other and nature, can help heal anxiety and depression.
3. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
4. The Science of Nature Therapy
5. Nature lowers stress, restores attention, and strengthens memory.
6. http://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8125471/
7. Mindfulness in Nature
8. Mindfulness in nature can be practiced anywhere.
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10048623/

Skill of the Week: Micro Moments of Nature

1. Once a day — for just 30 seconds —notice one living thing with full attention. What textures do you notice? What colors? What tiny detail have you never seen before? Get curious.

Host & Show Info

1. Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
2. About the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent years in a day treatment center and school where he worked closely with students and families facing significant mental health challenges. Certified in Nature Informed Therapy in 2022, he believes that rebuilding our connection with nature can provide some much needed relief from the struggles that many of us are facing. Will spends his free time fly fishing, camping and hiking. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
3. Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The...

Welcome to The Nature of Mental Health — a podcast where the natural world and emotional well-being come together.

This podcast is for clinicians looking for tools beyond the therapy room… Parents raising grounded, resilient kids… Nature lovers who feel that deep exhale the moment they step outside… And anyone longing to reconnect with themselves and with the world around them.

Each episode, we’ll explore how time outdoors supports emotional well-being, resilience, and healing.

You can expect:

• Practical nature-based tools you can use in everyday life — no hiking boots required.

• Conversations with clinicians, organizations, and guides innovating outside the four walls of the therapy room.

• Personal stories of resilience and recovery — revealing nature’s quiet, transformative power.

We’ll explore the science — how green spaces rewire our stress response… We’ll honor the personal — those moments when nature holds us together… And we’ll return to this simple truth:

We are part of nature.

And nature is part of us.

New episodes begin December 21st.

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: William Henry, LCSW
• About the Host: William Henry is a clinical social worker and nature informed therapist. Find more resources and information through his practice, Riverstone Mental Health Collective, based in Mount Kisco, NY.
• Website: riverstonementalhealth.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nature-of-mental-health/id1859079675?i=1000739937469

• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: @riverstonementalhealth
• Facebook: Riverstone Mental Health
• LinkedIn: William Henry, LCSW
• YouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealth

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

⚠️ Important Disclaimer:

The Nature of Mental Health is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. The information presented here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care professional. If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe, call 911, or contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.