231: Hiking with Phillip Lolonis, LCSW

Some of you may remember my descriptions and photos of my Sunday hikes for people in our training groups for the past ten years. Here's a photo from one my last hikes before the pandemic. I hope to resume the Sunday hikes as soon as people are vaccinated!

In today's podcast, you'll meet Phillip Lolonis who has transformed TEAM-CBT hiking therapy into a high and exciting art form on the California trails near Mt. Diablo.

Phillip is a licensed clinical social worker and Level 4 TEAM therapists who is a member of Rhonda's new Feeling Great Therapy Center in Berkeley. He describes his love for "nature therapy" and pointed out that the Buddha experienced enlightenment when meditating under a tree. Phillip describes growing up on a farm and feeling at peace and profound connection with nature as he watched his father working in the fields. He said that his ancestors were all farmers in X for hundreds of years.

Phillip first started "hiking therapy" when he was working with groups of individuals suffering from schizophrenia. One day, he decided to take his group out for a hike in the hills behind the hospital, and noticed the peacefulness and relaxation the patients experienced while hiking, and see the views of the San Francisco Bay from (describe the location at the top of the hike.) He said the patients seemed to experience much less of the internal, distracting stimuli that interfered so greatly with their attempts to connect with others.

He pointed out that these days, a great many individuals end up being "treated" in jails, which are frightening and actually intensify the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Phillip has a special tenderness and compassion for individuals with schizophrenia because one of his close family members struggles with this affliction. However, his "hiking" therapy is not limited to individuals with schizophrenia, but adults and families with the full range of emotional challenges, such as depression and anxiety.

He explained how he integrates the four elements of TEAM: T = Testing, E = Empathy, A = Assessment of Resistance, and M = Methods while hiking with his patients / clients. He also discussed some of the ethical considerations, and how to gently create boundaries so that his patients will understand that this is a professional relationship in a natural setting. Phillip is convinced, and probably right, that a beautiful and peaceful outdoor environment actually facilitates treatment and speeds recovery.

Here are some photos from his hikes. just to give you an idea of what his special "office" looks like.

    

 

I would also encourage you to take a look at this incredibly cute video of "talking turkey" on one of his hikes!

Phillip's turkey video.MOV