Jody Radtke

Presenting at the 2009 Wilderness Therapy Symposium this past weekend was rewarding, rejuvenating, and humbling. I was surrounded by my peers of professionals, scholars, and enthusiasts - all learners, passionate about the field of wilderness therapy. We danced with limbic resonance, contemplated genetics and the Soul, and enjoyed the natural world together.

Weaving together the dynamic theories of ‘conscious leadership’ with Thich Nhat Hanh’s Teachings On Love in my presentation “What’s love got to do with it? The role of the leader in wilderness therapy”, was a joyous adventure. We started with contact, moved into choice, dove down the tunnel of brain chemistry and back to authentic leadership, right use of power, and the HOW of it all: love.

Will I be taking this show on the road? you bet! And now that I’m exploring HeartMath, expect there to be more information on psychophysiological coherence too!

It begins with me. my desire to connect, to reach out, to be real & authentic with myself through my discoveries of myself in relationship to you.

And it begin with you, and your desire to connect… your willingness to be open and vulnerable, interested in learning about yourself through your connection with me.

And is it my and our connection to the land, our environment, our planet - the living, breathing organisms that we share this beautiful Earth with.

In my connection to the natural world, i slow, i breath, i find peace & pleasure. I find me - my essence, and my tenderness within. Coming from this gentle place of Self, I am open to the world - filled with curiosity and wonder. This isn’t to say that I am not sometimes afraid, withdrawn, and closed to myself and others… but I do have opportunities. Each time I say “YES, I am willing”, my universe expands. Through building relationships - with me, with you, with nature - community evolves, unfolds, becomes. People coming together to create “sacred space” - a shared experience, a met need. Coffee this morning with a friend, skiing in the mountains over the weekend, willingness to be vulnerable, to be wrong in my primary relationship.  All building, strengthening, becoming - if only i allow.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the differences between coaching (as in a life-coach) and counseling (as in psychotherapist)… I think there are many ways in which the two overlap, and yet there are definite differences in scope of practice as well as in style of contact.

Coaching is typically more limited in scope - focusing on the present and future in order to define and move towards goals.

Counseling is present, past and future depending on the needs of the client and the orientation of the therapist.

My work lands in the in-between… working in the present to discover goals and healthy strategies to achieve those goals, while at the same time considering the past - how it has informed us, and how we can apply that information to our life needs.

I was at my 20th High School reunion this weekend, and it got me thinking and appreciating how much I have been able to live my passions throughout my life. With much gratitude to my family for allowing me the freedom to follow my aspirations as a youth and into adulthood, I embark on this journey down memory lane.

What brought me to leading the life I love? From an early age, I developed a deep connection and relationship with the natural world through the opportunity to explore nature on my own. In high school, I traveled to New Zealand as an exchange student and while there, had an epiphany that brought my love of nature and my desire to work with others into union. Beginning in 1992, I started working for Outward Bound, traveling the country from base to base, affirming my commitment to self-discovery and personal growth through group wilderness experiences. A continued desire to deepen my understanding of human nature and indeed the human-nature interface brought me to Naropa University to study transpersonal counseling psychology - the integration of the spiritual… the divine, with oneself in the counseling relationship. Today, I continue to work with groups and with individuals both in wilderness and traditional counseling settings integrating art, meditation, journaling, teaching, adventure, and above all listening.

What am I passionate about? Living my life to its fullest and helping others do the same.

To dream big - or small - or anywhere in between. Dreams hold the secrets to our successes. Our hopes and aspirations come to fruition when we dream them out loud and in the now.

Traveling by canoe through the Arctic Circle taught me many important life lessons. a few follow:

• plan it. do it. huge tasks can be accomplished through many single strokes.
• rest. you can not go all out all the time. value the quiet time. nourish your heart and soul.
• pick the right friends to go on your journey with you. community fosters support, love, trust.

New adventures. Unfolding journeys. Discovering the Path.

Today is the day.                Dream it. Do it. Be it.

So I was out rock climbing with a youth group today. The weather was great. The energy was fun - light and playful, at times contemplative and thought provoking… It makes me think about the distinctions between activity, education, psycho-education, therapeutic activity and therapy. It can all be a pretty fine line really.

One person today had been offered the opportunity to climb many times before - each time declining to get up on the rock; but today was different. Today he climbed twice - each time getting a little bit higher up the climb and at the end he said “Next year, I’ll go to the top”.

What is this difference - not climbing vs. climbing; going a little & going a little more? “Trust” is what he said… “I felt like I could trust them”.

Activity, education, psycho-education, therapeutic activity and therapy. It can all be a pretty fine line.

Coaching individuals and groups is like riding a bike. Once you make the connection you never forget, it’s hard to stop, and there is great joy in the adventure of it.

Add nature, expressive arts and contemplative practices and it’s a whole new ball-game. One filled with the challenge of new learning and excitement for new ideas, growth and untapped potential.

It’s a ride I’m psyched to be on. I’ve met the most amazing people; discovered tons about myself through the process, and have had the most outrageous of adventures. Tired after all these years? No Way! The journey just keeps getting better.