Member Spotlight: Deborah

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) providing psychotherapy throughout Bergen County, New Jersey. I support adult professionals as they navigate anxiety, burnout, identity, and life transitions. Through online, walk-and-talk, and hiking therapy, I create spaces where clients can better understand their mental health, reconnect with what matters most, and explore their values, meaning, and sense of purpose. I enjoy helping people step outside their usual environments and find meaningful, practical ways to move forward.

Spending time outdoors and hiking has shaped the way I see learning, connection, and change. The trails have taught me to embrace challenges, stay present, and trust myself. I became curious about how to bring those same experiences into my mental health work, which led me to adventure therapy and eventually to the Association for Experiential Education. Over time, I realized this wasn’t simply an approach I wanted to learn about; it was a way of working that felt deeply aligned with who I am and the kind of work I want to do.

One of my go-to activities is a Values Compass. I invite clients to identify what matters most to them and explore how their current choices and priorities are shaping their mental health. We look at where they may feel stuck and how that can contribute to anxiety, depression, or burnout, then identify small, realistic steps toward a life that feels more intentional. I especially enjoy using this outdoors, where the trail becomes part of the conversation. Sometimes we get off trail or take a different path than we planned, but that doesn’t mean we’ve lost our way. There can be more than one path toward a life that feels meaningful and manageable.

I’ve been involved with AEE for almost two years. My work in experiential education, adventure therapy, and the outdoors first led me to AEE, where I joined the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG) committee. Through the committee, I’ve contributed to conversations and initiatives that support experiential and outdoor approaches to serve people with different needs.

Being part of this community gives me a place to connect with others who value learning beyond traditional settings. It’s meaningful to be surrounded by people exploring new ways to support learning, growth, and mental health through real-world experiences.

Experiential education is a field that develops through doing, reflecting, and learning from different experiences, so seek out mentors, build relationships, and stay open to different perspectives. You don’t need to have everything figured out; allow your experiences to shape your practice as you grow.

What gives me the most hope for the future of experiential education is the opportunity to bring mental health services into outdoor spaces. Through my own work, I’ve seen how stepping outside of a traditional setting can create space for people to experience themselves and their challenges differently. I’d love to see more people have access to these experiences, with greater attention to accessibility and inclusion, and to see adventure therapy continue to expand within the mental health field.

Much of my work grew out of a desire to understand better and expand how experiential approaches can support mental health. I’ve authored books, researched adventure therapy in social work education and practice, and previously founded Paths With Healing. This organization used outdoor adventures to support people who have experienced trauma. These experiences have allowed me to explore this work from different perspectives and continue to shape how I think about experiential education, ultimately strengthening my commitment to making outdoor and experiential approaches more accessible and impactful.