The Nature of Mental Health

In this episode, William Henry and Lali Herrera explore the profound connection between nature, mental health, and personal growth during the summer solstice. They discuss practical ways to align with seasonal rhythms, the importance of unstructured play, and how to harness the energy of the longest day of the year for self-expansion.Guest Information Guest Name: Citlali "Lali" Herrera, LCSWBio: 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:Autumn Equinox Hypnosis Event (Sept 22): innerworldspsychotherapy.comWebsite: https://www.innerworldspsychotherapy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerworldspsychotherapy/Key Topics:Seasonal rhythms and their impact on mental healthThe significance of the summer solstice as a time for visibility and expansionThe importance of unstructured play for children and adultsPractices for connecting with nature, such as earthing and gardeningUsing the elements of fire and wind as metaphors for personal empowerment and reflectionThe role of discomfort and pushing edges for growthShedding and letting go during the fall equinox as a metaphor for personal transformationTakeaways:The summer solstice is a time for visibility and expanding into your true self.Connecting with nature through gardening, earthing, and outdoor activities enhances wellbeing.Being present with the elements, like wind and fire, can serve as powerful metaphors and tools for growth.Unstructured play is essential for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience.Pushing comfort zones and embracing discomfort are vital for personal expansion.Shedding limiting beliefs and behaviors prepares us for new growth during seasonal transitions.Host & Show InfoHost Name: William Henry, LCSWAbout the Host: William Henry is a licensed clinical social worker and certified nature informed therapist. After graduating from New York University, he spent seven dedicated 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.Website: riverstonementalhealth.comRate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental HealthFollow us on social media:Instagram: @riverstonementalhealthFacebook: Riverstone Mental HealthLinkedIn: William Henry, LCSWYouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealthShare 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.

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:Awe is a feeling that expands us and connects us.Experiencing awe can shift our nervous system into a calmer state.Awe can be found in both grand and simple moments.Indigenous cultures have long understood the importance of awe.Awe can enhance mental health and emotional well-being.Experiencing awe helps us feel less alone and more connected.Awe can lower stress hormones and reduce anxiety.Inviting awe into daily life can be done through simple practices.Awe reminds us of the beauty that exists beyond our worries.We are part of a much bigger story that includes wonder.Skill of the Week: The Awe WalkWalk slowly and without a destination.Gently look up and out — notice height, distance, light, movement, and patterns.Seek what feels vast, beautiful, or surprising (trees, sky, water, architecture).When something catches your attention, pause for a few breaths.Let yourself feel small in a comforting way — supported, not insignificant.Resources:Awe as a Pathway to Mental and Physical Health Nature can get it out of your mind: The rumination‑reducing effects of contact with nature and the mediating role of awe and mood Daily experiences of awe predict lower stress, fewer somatic symptoms, and greater well‑beingAwe reduces depressive symptoms and improves well‑being in a randomized‑controlled clinical trialHost & Show InfoHost Name: William Henry, LCSWAbout 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.Website: riverstonementalhealth.comRate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. The Nature of Mental HealthFollow us on social media:Instagram: @riverstonementalhealthFacebook: Riverstone Mental HealthLinkedIn: William Henry, LCSWYouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealthShare 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.

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 Guest Name: Citlali "Lali" Herrera, LCSWBio: 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/TakeawaysEveryone deserves to feel worthy of taking up space.We are part of nature; we are nature.Nature therapy can help reconnect individuals with themselves.Seasonal awareness is crucial for mental health.Self-care practices are essential during winter.Embracing the inner child can enhance our connection to nature.Reflection and intention-setting are important for personal growth.Nature provides a safe space to just be.Mindfulness and intention in nature can lead to healing.Rest is an innate right, not something to earn.Resources:Robert Macfarlane: Is a River Alive?Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding SweetgrassHost & Show InfoHost Name: William Henry, LCSWAbout 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.Website: riverstonementalhealth.comRate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.The Nature of Mental HealthFollow us on social media:Instagram: @riverstonementalhealthFacebook: Riverstone Mental HealthLinkedIn: William Henry, LCSWYouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealthShare 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.

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 InfoHost Name: William Henry, LCSWAbout 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.comRate & 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=1000739937469Follow us on social media:Instagram: @riverstonementalhealthFacebook: Riverstone Mental HealthLinkedIn: William Henry, LCSWYouTube: @TheNatureofMentalHealthShare 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.