About the Hike
Hike-o-therapy is simply a way to take my work as a Life Transitions Coach out-of-doors. Traditionally, coaching and counseling is done in an office, and it can function well in that setting. But I believe that being close to nature enables us to see crucial aspects of our interior landscape that we might otherwise miss. Hike-o-therapy allows me to include the healing and inspiration that nature provides in my work as a transitions coach. I hope you will join me!
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Where will we hike?
The natural beauty of Whidbey Island offers a variety of scenic hikes and walking paths. The primary focus of the hike is always to create a space for you to talk freely and to explore the topics that are important to you. If you want to walk in another location, let me know. How long is the hike? There are three hike options. Plan to spend 1, 2, or 4 hours together as we walk at an easy pace, stopping as often as we like to rest, take in the views, and explore a topic of conversation more deeply. How hard is the hike? I select the trails we will hike based on your preference when you book your hike. The hikes do not cover difficult terrain, but there will be some slopes to climb and some uneven ground. |
What time and where do we meet?
I like to start in the morning, around 9:00 AM. Depending on where you are coming from, the time and location of our hike can be adjusted. We can meet at the north or south end of the island, or somewhere in between. Again, this is tailored to your preference. What should I bring? Bring a water bottle and a snack for the trail. Pack a lunch (we will keep it in a cooler while we hike). Dress in layers, including a light jacket, and wear appropriate shoes. You may also wish to bring a hat and sunscreen. How much does it cost? The cost of a 1-hour Hike-o-therapy excursion is $100. The cost of a 2-hour Hike-o-therapy excursion is $150. The cost of a 4-hour Hike-o-therapy excursion is $200. |
If you have any other questions, email or call Mark at 360-320-1898.
About Mark
As the founder of Pathways Counseling, my primary work is as a Life Transitions Coach. I work with people who are navigating a wide variety of life transitions, including: career transitions, major and terminal illness, divorce, or the loss of a loved one. My academic training includes a Master’s degree in Counseling and a PhD (ABD) in Psychology from the University of Utah. I have been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State since 2001.
A good friend once told me that nature always tells the “capital T” Truth. I think he was right. Walking in the forests and along the shorelines of Whidbey Island is a contemplative and meditative experience for me. When I walk into an old-growth forest and listen to the sage wisdom of wind in trees, or the lyrical chatter of squirrels and birds, I know just a little bit more of my own truth. And I remember that life in all of its wildness and wonder, its chaos and uncertainty, is full to the brim with grace and mystery.
I have seen miracles while walking in these trees. I have seen a man full of anxiety and agitation come to a full stop, hush me with a finger to his lips as a young doe crossed our path, then turn with a broad smile and whisper, "Wow"! I have seen a woman battling the terrifying uncertainties of cancer close her eyes and smile at the watery warble of a red-winged black bird. I have watched in wonder as my own anxieties floated to the tops of the trees only to smile down at me as if to say, “Is THIS what you were worried about?”
There is magic in these trees, and there is Truth too. Whatever questions life is posing to you at this moment, I invite you to step away from the noise for a while and listen to the trees, listen to the water, and listen to the birds. And by doing so you will learn to hear the Truth that lives deep in your own heart.
In addition to my work as a Transitions Coach (also available in a more traditional setting through Pathways Counseling), I take great pleasure in expressing myself as an artist, a musician, a poet, a theologian, a philosopher, a husband, a brother, and a friend.
I look forward to walking with you!
A good friend once told me that nature always tells the “capital T” Truth. I think he was right. Walking in the forests and along the shorelines of Whidbey Island is a contemplative and meditative experience for me. When I walk into an old-growth forest and listen to the sage wisdom of wind in trees, or the lyrical chatter of squirrels and birds, I know just a little bit more of my own truth. And I remember that life in all of its wildness and wonder, its chaos and uncertainty, is full to the brim with grace and mystery.
I have seen miracles while walking in these trees. I have seen a man full of anxiety and agitation come to a full stop, hush me with a finger to his lips as a young doe crossed our path, then turn with a broad smile and whisper, "Wow"! I have seen a woman battling the terrifying uncertainties of cancer close her eyes and smile at the watery warble of a red-winged black bird. I have watched in wonder as my own anxieties floated to the tops of the trees only to smile down at me as if to say, “Is THIS what you were worried about?”
There is magic in these trees, and there is Truth too. Whatever questions life is posing to you at this moment, I invite you to step away from the noise for a while and listen to the trees, listen to the water, and listen to the birds. And by doing so you will learn to hear the Truth that lives deep in your own heart.
In addition to my work as a Transitions Coach (also available in a more traditional setting through Pathways Counseling), I take great pleasure in expressing myself as an artist, a musician, a poet, a theologian, a philosopher, a husband, a brother, and a friend.
I look forward to walking with you!
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May my mind come alive today
To the invisible geography That invites me to new frontiers, To break the dead shell of yesterdays, To risk being disturbed and changed. May I have the courage today To live the life that I would love, To postpone my dream no longer But do at last what I came here for And waste my heart on fear no more. ~ John O'Donohue |