Hayley Smythe

I'm Hayley … A nature lover and adventurer. The saying "Nature is my church" has always resonated with me. Particularly in times of stress and upheaval. As a child my natural defence, even before I realised it was a thing, was to seek out nature and the power it has to heal and soothe.

I retrained 15 years ago when my own life changed quite dramatically. I rebuilt it with purpose after my own experiences. I was passionate about introducing a holistic healing approach to people who would not ordinarily have the confidence to access these services. I began a series of intensive and in-depth courses in numerous areas of holistic therapies, yoga and mindfulness. I worked in youth centres and day care services; with young people and children, people with physical and emotional disabilities. I’ve seen and experienced first-hand how taking a holistic approach can have a positive impact on pain management, mental health and managing challenging behaviours in a more sensitive and constructive way

Five years ago, I joined a charity that offered day and live-in support to young people and adults who have learning or physical disabilities or mental health issues. In this role I was able to combine the holistic approach to life and stress with the social pedagogy concept based around well-being, learning and growth. Every person has inherent potential, is valuable, resourceful and can make a meaningful contribution to their wider community; we just need to find ways to include them. Empowering our young people to believing in and seeing their own potential is so important.

What next? If you combine social pedagogy, holistic therapies and nature based therapies, it leads to the new and exciting next chapter. And, lo and behold, there is an actual name for it … Ecotherapy.