About the Hike
Nature is one of the most valuable and powerful resources for our healing and growth. It is also one of the most overlooked. The therapeutic benefits of spending time in nature have been proven by research and can be profound for you!
Hike-o-therapy is an invitation to be guided on a beautiful Whidbey Island nature walk and to benefit from nature's enlivening of all of your senses. Walking the forests, trails, and beaches of Whidbey Island enables you to experience the wisdom and nourishment that nature offers.
In addition to individual hour-long walks in nature, I also offer two- and three-hour hike-o-therapy excursions.
Hike-o-therapy is an invitation to be guided on a beautiful Whidbey Island nature walk and to benefit from nature's enlivening of all of your senses. Walking the forests, trails, and beaches of Whidbey Island enables you to experience the wisdom and nourishment that nature offers.
In addition to individual hour-long walks in nature, I also offer two- and three-hour hike-o-therapy excursions.
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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 safe and meditative way for you to get back into contact with the natural world. How long is the hike? There are three hike options. You have the option of a 1-, 2-, or 3-hour nature walk. We will walk at an easy pace, stopping as often as we like to rest, take in the views, photograph the scenery, do some bird watching, or just take time to soak all of your senses in the beauty of nature. 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. |
Where do we hike?
Fort Ebey State Park is centrally located and easily accessible from the north or south ends of Whidbey Island. What should I bring? Bring a water bottle and a snack for the trail. For longer hikes, you may wish to 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 $125. The cost of a 2-hour Hike-o-therapy excursion is $200. The cost of a 3-hour Hike-o-therapy excursion is $250. |
If you have any other questions, email or call/text 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.
One of the most powerful ways I have found to keep my balance and restore my equilibrium when life gets too hectic is to spend time in nature. When I walk in the trees, I am reminded of my place in the grand scheme of things. I am reminded that nature offers a much slower pace for my frantic heart and a much gentler song for my busy mind to sing. I created Hike-o-therapy as an invitation to others to join me in discovering the many healing benefits of immersing yourself in nature.
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.
One of the most powerful ways I have found to keep my balance and restore my equilibrium when life gets too hectic is to spend time in nature. When I walk in the trees, I am reminded of my place in the grand scheme of things. I am reminded that nature offers a much slower pace for my frantic heart and a much gentler song for my busy mind to sing. I created Hike-o-therapy as an invitation to others to join me in discovering the many healing benefits of immersing yourself in nature.
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 |