Lucy Austen
Business: Widu Natura Therapy Outdoors
Email: widunatura.therapyoutdoors@gmail.com
Hello I am Lucy and I am an avid outdoor enthusiast and feel the outdoors, nature and adventure is part of my inner being and soul. I am based in West Sussex and am often found hiking around the Sussex and Surrey countryside. I regularly spend time adventuring and hiking in the Lake District, North East, Cornwall and Devon. I am a lowland walking leader with previous experience as a paddlesports coach and I love kayaking/canoeing, yoga, trail running, skiing and walking. I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) with nearly 2 decades of experience in varying roles both privately and within the NHS. I am a clinical lead within a community neurological rehabilitation team and have recently set up a not for profit company (CIC) utilising the outdoors/bushcraft for wilderness therapeutic interventions, wellbeing, mental health support and neurological rehabilitation purposes. OT is a little known profession and one that is truly remarkable. It is about enabling peoples independence and is focussed on helping individuals of all ages achieve and improve their ability to perform daily activities and anything else they want to do (including adventures). We do this through assessing and addressing physical, cognitive, sensory and emotional challenges using personalised interventions to enhance and improve quality of life. I focus on enabling access to the outdoors and am so unbelievably passionate that every moment is precious and we should all have the opportunity to access the outdoors and adventure irrespective of illness, injury, or mental health challenges.
What is your interest or experience of adventure for mental health or wellbeing?
I have always wanted and needed to be outside on mini or big adventures. Nature is my solace, a place that quietens my mind and allows me to feel at peace. Personally I have gone through significant burnout and live with varying anxiety and ADHD and the woodlands, outdoors, nature and adventuring with some amazing friends (and people I meet along the way) has been my saviour. Smiles are free, connection is free, the outdoors is free, we need to make sure that every single person irrespective of any illness or disability can enjoy any adventure they wish to make. I also witness and see the pain, trauma and struggles that my clients with neurological conditions or injuries face every day. I see the personal battles. I see the bravery. I see how life can be changed in an instant and how this impacts each and every person. I see every single day the benefits of the simple act of getting outside in nature can have on someone's wellbeing and psychological status. I see adventures in everything and they are everywhere. I have observed how focussing on the goal of an adventure can spur on peoples recovery and improve physical and mental health. I encourage adventure and describe the benefits to everyone I meet. I feel that the mountain in front of us is not an obstacle, but a mirror reflecting back our own potential. The outdoors and adventures can Ignite your inner spark, refuel your spirit and rejuvenate your soul, every one should be able to access this.
How can you help us spread the word about AdventureMind’s mission?
I am a health professional and outdoorsy person with wide and varying connections. I regularly read research as part of continuing professional development and am part of service innovations and studies so have knowledge and understanding of research. I have a wide network of colleagues in the health services and outdoors/adventure based services across linked in, Instagram, Facebook. I regularly am attending networking events and look out for opportunities to raise the profile and inform others about the benefits of the outdoors, accessibility needs of the outdoors and the Adventure Mind Mission. I can also provide write up/explanation in my professional journals.