Wild Heart Experiential Therapy Cohort
Learn Through Experience. Grow Through Connection.
A year of adventure, creativity, connection, and professional growth.
The Wild Heart Experiential Therapy Cohort is a yearlong professional development experience for therapists and emerging clinicians who are curious about exploring new approaches to healing, expanding their clinical skills, and connecting with other mental health professionals.
Each month, we'll come together to experience a different therapeutic approach through hands-on activities, thoughtful reflection, and meaningful conversation. From rock climbing and somatic movement to art, horticulture, ecotherapy, and working with horses, we'll explore the many ways that movement, creativity, relationships, and our environments can support therapeutic change.
You don't need any previous experience with adventure or experiential therapy to participate. This is an opportunity to try something new, experience interventions from the participant's perspective, and consider how these approaches might complement your existing clinical work.
Our focus isn't on mastering every modality. It's on building curiosity, expanding our understanding of the therapeutic process, and discovering new possibilities for supporting our clients.
What to Expect
Each gathering will offer opportunities to:
Experience something new. Explore somatic, creative, nature-based, and adventure therapy approaches firsthand.
Expand your clinical perspective. Learn about the therapeutic principles, potential applications, ethical considerations, and limitations of different approaches.
Explore practical applications. Discuss how experiential interventions might be adapted to different clients, settings, and clinical goals.
Connect with other therapists. Build relationships with colleagues who value curiosity, creativity, and professional growth.
Reflect and integrate. Explore what each experience brings up for you and how it might inform your work with clients.
Activities will emphasize choice, accessibility, and respect for individual comfort levels. No prior climbing, art, outdoor, or experiential therapy experience is necessary.
Our Year of Exploration
Every month brings a new experience and an opportunity to explore its applications in therapeutic work.
January 8: Building the Container: Trust, Safety & Connection
February 12: Somatic Movement & Embodiment
March 12: Rock Climbing & Challenge by Choice
April 9: Art & Creative Expression
May 14: Park-Based Therapeutic Interventions
June 11: Horticultural Therapy
July 9: Group Facilitation Skills
August 13: Ecotherapy
September 10: Equine-Assisted Therapy
October 8: Play & Improvisation
November 12: Sound, Rhythm & Co-Regulation
December 10: Integration & Closing Dinner
Throughout the year, we'll explore topics such as emotional regulation, attachment, trust, boundaries, group dynamics, vulnerability, creativity, and the therapeutic relationship.
Who Is This For?
This cohort is designed for graduate counseling students, registered associates, and licensed mental health professionals who want to explore experiential approaches to therapy.
You might be completely new to experiential therapy, interested in bringing more creativity and embodiment into your sessions, or already incorporating some of these approaches and looking for opportunities to deepen your understanding.
There is no expectation that you arrive with specialized knowledge or experience. Just bring your curiosity, openness to participating, and willingness to learn alongside others.
Schedule & Locations
Sessions take place on the second Friday of each month, January–December 2027, at Wild Heart Therapy + Consulting and various locations throughout the Bend area.
Regular sessions: 10:30 AM–12:00 PM, held at the Wild Heart office or in local parks and natural spaces.
Partner-site experiences: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM in March, June, and September. These extended sessions take place at specialized facilities, such as a climbing gym, farm, or equine-assisted therapy center.
December closing dinner: Evening, time and location to be announced.
Specific meeting locations and activity details will be shared with participants in advance.
CCAT Training Opportunities
This cohort explores principles and competencies relevant to the Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (CCAT) credential offered by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE).
All sessions can contribute toward the adventure therapy-specific training hours required for CCAT certification and are aligned to AEE's credentialing requirements. Documentation of qualifying training hours will be provided where applicable.
Program Details & Investment
Group Size: Limited to 8 participants to support meaningful connection, participation, and discussion.
Program Tuition: $1,500 for the full 12-month experience.
Enrollment Deposit: A $500 nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. This amount is applied toward the total tuition.
Remaining Balance: $1,000 due January 1, 2027.
Commitment: Participants enroll for the full year.
About Your Facilitator
Savanna DeLuca, MA, LPC, CCAT
Savanna is the owner of Wild Heart Therapy + Consulting and a Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (CCAT) through the Association for Experiential Education.
She has previously served as an adjunct instructor at Prescott College, teaching courses in the neurobiology of relationships, somatic approaches to counseling, and nature-based and adventure therapy.
Her clinical work integrates somatic therapy, brainspotting, experiential interventions, and nature-based approaches to healing. She brings experience in facilitating groups, leading outdoor experiential learning, and helping clinicians bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Savanna believes that some of our most meaningful learning happens when we're willing to step outside familiar environments, get curious about our experiences, and connect with others along the way.
Ready to Join Us?
Twelve months. Eight clinicians. A year of opportunities to explore, connect, and grow.
If you're curious about bringing more creativity, embodiment, and adventure into your clinical work, I'd love to have you join us.
Questions? Reach out to savanna@wildhearttc.org.
This cohort is an experiential professional development program and does not provide approved continuing education credits. Eligibility of individual training hours toward CCAT certification is subject to AEE requirements. Some specialized interventions may require additional training or credentials before being used independently in clinical practice