HIGHLANDER INSTITUTE FOR ECOLOGICAL PRACTICE

Scott E. Hall, Ph.D., LPCC-S

Ecotherapy, somatic practice, and 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail, brought into one clinical and educational practice

Dr. Hall is a licensed clinical counselor, ecotherapist, and professor at the University of Dayton, where he coordinates the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and teaches ecotherapy coursework. His interest in the intersection of nature and clinical healing took on new depth after hiking over 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail — an experience that now shapes his workshops, certificate training, and forthcoming book, The Healing Trail. Through Highlander Institute for Ecological Practice, he trains mental health professionals to integrate ecological and nature-based approaches into their clinical work.

FORTHCOMING BOOK

WALKING THE THRESHOLD

Nature, the Hero's Journey, and the Psychology of Transformation

A forthcoming book exploring ecotherapy, presence, and clinical practice through the lens of the Appalachian Trail.

CEU WORKSHOP

Nature as
Co-therapist:

Integrating Ecotherapy with Somatic, CBT, ACT, and Existential Practice

A 5-hour CEU workshop introducing ecotherapy frameworks and techniques for licensed mental health professionals, available in-person and online.

CERTIFICATION

Ecotherapy Certificate Program

A comprehensive certification path for mental health professionals ready to integrate ecological and nature-based approaches into clinical practice. Across 8 modules, you'll build skill in ecotherapy frameworks, somatic and field-based methods, and earn CEU-eligible credit hours — training designed to outlast any single workshop and become part of how you practice.

GUIDED MEDITATIONS

Guided Meditations for the Path You're Walking

  • Walking With the Wild

  • Crossing the Threshold

  • The Trail Within

Three distinct six-part audio series rooted in ecotherapy and somatic awareness — born from a 2025 Appalachian Trail thru-hike and a clinical career devoted to nature-based healing. Whether you're cultivating presence, navigating a transition, or walking the full arc of the Hero's Journey, each series offers a guided path back to yourself, one step at a time.