Kayak Therapy with Joani, RN

A Nature-Based Mental Health Approach

Introduce your patients to a new dimension of therapy with my kayak-based approach. Merging the tranquility of nature with experiential learning, I offer a spectrum of services—from intensive one-on-one sessions to

group therapy and beyond.

My approach complements traditional methods, focusing on building resilience, coping mechanisms, and emotional well-being. Discover why referring to kayak therapy could be a transformative step for your clients.

Foundation & Safety
Dive deep with our personalized one-on-one kayak therapy sessions.

These immersive, trauma-informed experiences are designed to support clients in developing emotional safety, self-regulation skills, and resilience—while learning to navigate both the paddle and their inner world. This is the foundational step for clients needing focused support before moving into more relational or group-based work.

Individual Kayak Therapy

Connection & Practice
Embrace the power of community in our facilitated kayak group therapy sessions.

With guidance, clients build trust, reinforce emotional regulation skills, and reflect collectively—all while paddling together. This stage offers a natural transition for those ready to work relationally and practice social-emotional skills in a safe group setting.

Kayak
Group Therapy

Confidence & Belonging
Experience the joy of paddling in a relaxed, social atmosphere through our club-style group paddles.

These are non-clinical, lightly structured sessions where participants gain a sense of belonging and confidence. Clients begin to reframe their identity from “client” to “community member,” supported by familiar faces and predictable routines.

Group Kayaking
'Club'

Integration & Autonomy
Participants paddle independently or with local community paddling groups, applying the skills, confidence, and self-awareness cultivated through previous stages.

At this point, clients may no longer identify primarily as therapy participants, but rather as paddlers and citizens. For counsellors, this represents integration of therapeutic work into daily life—an empowering transition toward independence.

Independent Community Paddling

Purpose & Empowerment
Some individuals return as helpers, peer mentors, or paddle leaders-in-training—supporting others who are earlier in their journey.

This final stage supports post-therapy growth, fostering meaning-making and long-term well-being. It also nurtures interdependence and peer-informed community health, aligning with strengths-based and resilience frameworks in mental health.

Peer Leadership & Mentorship

My Approach

If you don't know me personally, you must have a lot of questions & concerns. Read on to learn a bit about my approach & credentials. I share my personal journey on the Meet Joani page, and answer many questions on the FAQ page. The programs pages lists all the programs SeaStrength offers for the public, including kayak therapy.

Collaborative, Trauma-Informed Care

As a registered nurse with a background in mental health and trauma-informed practice, I work closely with other healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care. When clients are already working with a counsellor, psychologist, physiotherapist, or another practitioner, I collaborate respectfully and professionally to align goals, reinforce therapeutic strategies, and support their care plans in a dynamic, experiential setting.

Communication can include shared documentation, check-ins with the client’s consent, and coordinated care planning.

The paddle becomes an extension of the therapeutic journey—not a replacement, but a powerful complement.

Evidence-Based Foundations

Kayak therapy draws on well-established evidence in fields such as ecotherapy, nature-based interventions, and adventure therapy. Research has shown that time in nature can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhance emotional regulation, and improve cognitive functioning. When paired with physical activity and guided reflection, these benefits often deepen.

I also integrate structured tools like motivational interviewing and mindfulness-based strategies, both supported by extensive literature as effective components of psychological resilience and behavioral change.

Professional Qualifications

Registered Nurse (BC College of Nurses and Midwives)
Certified Sea Kayak Instructor (Paddle Canada)
Advanced Trauma-Informed Practice Training
Wilderness First Aid & Cold Water Safety Certification

I bring both clinical and outdoor experience together to ensure sessions are safe, developmentally appropriate, and tailored to each participant’s needs.

Kayak therapy is a pioneering approach that merges the principles of experiential therapy with the dynamic environment of the outdoors. It promotes mental and physical well-being through structured, therapeutic experiences on the water, addressing a range of mental health and wellness goals

Who It's For

Adults and adolescents managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, burnout, grief, or chronic stress. Clients do not need prior paddling experience. Clients must be predictable, able to follow directions, and not a threat to themselves or others.

Referring your clients

Referring is simple: contact me directly via phone or email to discuss a potential client’s fit, share goals, or coordinate care. With the client’s consent, I can maintain open communication to update on progress and integrate insights. I use JaneApp for clinical communications.

Clients can also contact me directly, or visit the website and choose which option if best for them. Some patients may choose private kayak therapy, while others will choose to focus on the skill development aspect in a supported environment.

Even a short series of sessions on the water can spark self-efficacy, deepen insight, and reinforce the strategies you’re working on in session.

“Exposure to coastal environments was associated with increased parasympathetic activity, as indicated by higher heart rate variability, and reduced sympathetic arousal.”

Völker, S., & Kistemann, T. (2015). Developing the urban blue: health-promoting potentials of blue space. Journal of Urban Health

"Physical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress across a wide range of adult populations.”

Singh, B. et al. (2023), British Journal of Sports Medicine

"Exposure to blue spaces has been associated with reduced cortisol levels and improved mood, suggesting a stress-reducing effect of coastal environments."

White, M. P., et al. (2020). Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits. Environmental Research