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Explore: Research Group for Outdoor Therapy and Nature-Based Health Promotion

Research focus

The research group focuses on exploring and developing outdoor therapy and nature-based approaches to health promotion and treatment for children, adolescents, and families. To minimize the burden on Abup (Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health), we have established local, national, and international collaborations over time so that most of our research activities are co-created and carried out with external partners. We aim to work closely with user representatives and emphasize participants’ preferences in our professional development and research work.

MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS
1.    Outdoor therapy for adolescents (UT Ungdom)
2.    Outdoor therapy for parent-child dyads and families (UT Familie)
3.    The significance of nature for hospital treatment and rehabilitation

 

1.    Carina Ribe Fernee (PhD, senior researcher/research group leader, Abup/SSHF, Associate Professor, UiA)
2.    Markus Mattsson (PhD, employed as a researcher on a project basis at Abup/SSHF in connection with Vill Vekst)
3.    Sveinung Berntsen (Professor, UiA, collaboration on Vill Vekst and WAYA 2)
4.    Øystein Winje (PhD/Associate Professor, UiA, collaboration on Vill Vekst)
5.    Ann Christin Helgesen Bjørke (PhD/Associate Professor, UiA, collaboration on WAYA 2)
6.    Gro C. C. Løhaugen (PhD, SSHF, collaboration on Vill Vekst)
7.    Ulrich Dettweiler (Professor, University of Stavanger, collaboration on Vill Vekst)
8.    Miek Jong (Professor, University of Tromsø, collaboration on WAYA 2)
9.    Terje Mesel (Professor, method/ethics advisor, Abup/SSHF/UiA)
10.    Rune Zahl-Olsen (PhD, collaboration on the EFST study, senior researcher, Abup/SSHF)
11.    Linda Severinsen (PhD candidate, collaboration on the EFST study, Abup/SSHF)
12.    Anne Hagerup (PhD candidate, The significance of nature for hospital treatment, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences/University of Gothenburg)
13.    Lise Katrine Jepsen Trangsrud (PhD, collaboration on UT Familie, University of South-Eastern Norway)

International

14.    Mats Jong (PhD/Associate Professor, Mid Sweden University, Sweden, collaboration on WAYA 2)
15.    Pekka Lyytinen (Specialist in psychology, collaboration on UT Familie and implicit theory, The Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Children and Young People, The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL), Finland
16.    Nevin J. Harper (Professor, collaboration on implicit theory, University of Victoria, Canada)

The research group is affiliated withthe clinical team Friluftsteametat Abup, with the following clinical coordinators for research and professional development:

17.    Vibeke Palucha (MSc, coordinator, Kristiansand)
18.    Martin Hirte (Specialist in psychology, coordinator, Arendal)

User representatives

We will recruit new user representatives in connection with ongoing research projects.

Carina Ribe Fernee, PhD. Senior researcher at the Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (Abup) at Sørlandet Hospital HF. Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder (UiA).

Email:Carina.Fernee@sshf.no
Telephone:90671621

Anne Hagerup, PhD candidate, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, “Natural environments as therapeutic innovation,” which includes Nybygg Psykisk Helse at SSHF as a case study. Carina Ribe Fernee is part of the research team.

Outdoor therapy for adolescents (UT Ungdom)

  • Vill Vekst: Outdoor therapy as a health-promoting, preventive, and sustainable approach in schools, health services, and leisure activities in Agder (2023–27). A five-year collaboration and research project developing and implementing nature-based interventions for children and young people struggling with neurodivergence and adjustment difficulties. Externally funded by Sparebankstiftelsen Sparebanken Sør.
  • WAYA 2: A randomized controlled multicenter study (2024–27) exploring the effectiveness and safety of nature-based rehabilitation for young cancer survivors.
  • Outdoor therapy for vulnerable adolescents. FT 1 (2015–16) and FT 2 (2017–22). In this clinical research project, we developed outdoor therapy as a treatment approach for adolescents experiencing mental health challenges.
  • Exploring the Essence of a Nordic Approach to Nature-based Youth Work: A Nordic Strategic Collaboration. The Erasmus+-funded preparatory project (PreNATYouth) was carried out in spring 2022. Further Erasmus+ funding is being sought for the period 2025–27.

Outdoor therapy for parent-child dyads and families (UT Familie)

  • EFST Nature. Feasibility and Effectiveness of Emotion-focused, Multi-family Treatment Outdoors: A Clinical Comparison Trial. A pilot study will be conducted during 2023–24.
  • UTFAM: Developing nature-based family therapy methods (2022–24). A collaborative project with Blå Kors Barnas Stasjon, the Leisure Unit of Kristiansand Municipality, and DNT Sør. Externally funded by Stiftelsen Dam.
  • Father-son. Collaboration with MLL Finland. A pilot study was conducted in 2023 as part of UTFAM.

The significance of nature for hospital treatment and rehabilitation

  • Mindfully investigating the implicit dimensions of outdoor therapies: Applying grounded theory in an international survey-based study (2023–24). An international research team is exploring implicit theory in outdoor therapy. Carina is participating from Norway.
  • Collaborative project with S-BUP/Oslo University Hospital (OUS) and the Environmental Psychology Research Group at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN) (2024–27). A preliminary protocol has been developed and REK approval obtained. A research assistant has been hired at INN. Funding is being sought.
  • Natural environments as therapeutic innovation. PhD project in environmental psychology, including work affiliated with Nybygg Psykisk Helse at SSHF Kristiansand. PhD candidate: Anne Hagerup at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences/University of Gothenburg. Carina is part of the research team.

Professional development

    • Organized the 9th International Adventure Therapy Conference (9IATC)/3rd Gathering for Adventure Therapy in Europe (9IATC/3GATE) in Kristiansand/Hovden in June 2022. A hybrid conference with 400 in-person participants and 150 online participants from 42 countries.
    • The textbook “Outdoor Therapy – An Introduction” by Fernee, Palucha, Olsen & Gabrielsen was published by Cappelen Damm Akademisk in March 2023.
    • Carina is the academic lead for the continuing education course “Nature-Based Therapeutic Work” at UiA, with contributions from several members of the UT team. We also regularly teach and supervise at other educational institutions and host students and trainees for placements.
Last updated 10.01.2024
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