Episode 136 - Robin Sheehan on Wilderness Therapeutic Interventions

In this episode, I sit down with Robin Sheehan of eQe Outdoors, one of the UK’s only trained Wilderness Vision Quest Guides, to explore the depth and power of wilderness therapeutic interventions.

🌿 We discuss:

• Why many so-called “therapeutic” outdoor sessions fall short — and how they can even cause harm if not done properly
• What a *true therapeutic intervention* entails, and how it differs from forest school and bushcraft sessions
• The role of *ritual and ceremony* in creating transformative outdoor experiences
• The level of training and commitment involved in becoming a wilderness therapeutic practitioner
• How these interventions don’t just change the lives of participants, but also profoundly shape the leaders who guide them

Whether you’re a forest school leader, bushcraft instructor, or outdoor educator looking to bring more depth and meaning into your practice, this conversation will give you a clear picture of what wilderness therapy really looks like — and why serious training matters.

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About Robin Sheehan
Robin is Director of Wilderness Therapeutic Interventions and Outdoor Programmes for eQe. He trained in the USA at the School of Lost Borders in Death Valley as a Wilderness Vision Quest Guide. He is also a Forest Schools Practitioner, Advanced Bushcraft Practitioner, qualified secondary science teacher, and has decades of experience as an environmental scientist, outdoor leader, and educator.

🌐 Learn more about training with Robin at: https://EQEoutdoors.com
📧 Email: Robin.Sheehan@eqeoutdoors.com

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/