top of page

Clinic Opening and New Team Members

goodnatureohio

Hello and Happy New Year!

 

It has been a busy start to the year for us here at Good Nature Therapy Services! We welcomed new members of our team and opened the door of our new indoor/outdoor clinic to new clients! Please read on below to learn more about what has been happening and what is coming up!


New Team Members

We welcomed 3 new team members on January 6; Elena Hess, Speech-Language Pathologist, Abby Hamilton, Occupational Therapist, and Lori Geiman, Practice Manager.



Elena Hess, SLP
Elena Hess, SLP

Elena Hess is a compassionate speech-language pathologist and a mom of three who is a lifelong proponent of play-based outdoor therapy.  Since obtaining her master’s degree from Penn State University in 2012, she has worked with pediatric and adult clients in various settings, with the majority of her experience being in hospital-based pediatric outpatient therapy. 

Elena has always gravitated towards working with children and finds their joy and enthusiasm contagious.  Empowering children to maximize their communication abilities is invigorating, and she loves working with nature to support a child’s ability to express themself. 

In her spare time, Elena can be found outdoors reading books, hiking, creek walking, and exploring nature with her family.  Elena is thrilled and honored to share the gift of the natural world with clients at Good Nature Therapy Services.


Abby Hamilton, OTR
Abby Hamilton, OTR

Abby Hamilton is a pediatric occupational therapist who feels passionately about working alongside kiddos and their families to overcome adversity and work toward their family goals. She obtained her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Gannon University in Erie, PA, in 2019. Since obtaining licensure, Abby has practiced in pediatric settings, including school-based practice and outpatient clinic settings. Most of her professional experience has been spent supporting autistic youngsters as they develop life skills and explore meaningful play. 

Through her clinical experience, Abby has heard many caregivers share about times they had to say “no” to exploring the great outdoors due to their child’s unique support needs. Nature is an endless supply of tools that promote regulation, support skill development, and foster creativity and exploration; Abby is eager to partner with nature at Good Nature Therapy Services to ensure that the great outdoors is more widely accessible to all families.  

In her personal life, Abby can be found exploring nature by going on hikes, kayaking, and gardening with her husband, Joel, and her dog, Charleston. She also loves to stay busy with indoor hobbies like drawing, painting, and baking.



Lori Geiman, Practice Manager
Lori Geiman, Practice Manager

Lori Geiman is the Practice Manager at Good Nature Therapy Services. Lori has a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Mercy College in Toledo, OH, and an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Owens Community College in Perrysburg, OH. 

Lori’s favorite things to do in nature are going on walks, boating, and kayaking. In addition to being in nature, Lori enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially with her grandchildren. She also enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and reading. Lori has a wonderfully supportive husband, and they have two children, two grandchildren, and two cocker spaniel fur babies. 

Lori is very excited to join our team and continue her love of supporting healthcare services for children through nature, combining two things she is most passionate about. She is thankful to be with Good Nature Therapy Services, helping promote healthy and happy families.


Speech-Language Pathology Added

With the addition of Elena to our team comes availability for Speech-Language Pathology Services.


What is an SLP?

Short for Speech-Language Pathologist

AKA: speech therapist, speech pathologist

   

Who are we?

SLP’s are experts in communication with extensive training and education including: Master’s degrees in speech-language pathology, completion of a supervised clinical fellowship year, and passing a national examination before becoming fully licensed

   

What do we do?

SLPs work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.



If you are interested in SLP services for your child, please contact us at support@goodnatureohio.com or complete our Request for Appointment form here.


Hiring

We are hiring a Speech-Language Pathologist! For more information on the position, please visit here.

We are also hiring an OTR or COTA! For more information on the position, please visit here.

If you are interested or know anyone who is, please send your resume to hiring@goodnatureohio.com


Open to New Clients

We are thrilled to share that our clinic is officially open to new clients! We have had a successful first week and are looking forward to meeting our new clients and families.


Cold Weather

As it turns out, our clinic opening also coincided with some of the coldest weeks of the year.

We use the WKYC app to monitor the radar and temperatures and follow the Iowa Department of Health’s Childcare Weather Watch chart to determine if it is safe to go outside.




 

If it is in the red zone, we hold sessions fully inside that day. If it is in the yellow zone, we determine on a case by case basis if it is a good day to head outside or stay inside.


Research suggests that (indoor) “sites with nature resulted in restorative and cognitive benefits.” One study found that “elementary school students showed higher attention task scores in a classroom with an indoor green wall,” while another study found “university students showed higher reading span task results in office spaces with plants.” Our new site was designed with these studies in mind; our indoor space provides significant natural light and views of nature as well as is finished with natural materials. 


We have enjoyed holding sessions with a beautiful view of the snowy garden while we eagerly await heading outside when temperatures rise. Check out our blog on dressing for cold temperatures when it is safe to head outside here.


Thank you so much for reading; we are grateful for your interest and excitement and can't wait to meet you and share our new space with you!



Hi, I'm Rebecca

Occupational Therapist, Owner, Founder

Good Nature Therapy Services works closely with children and families to design individualized treatment plans that integrate evidence-based practices with the natural world. It's our mission to make outdoor experiences accessible to ALL families and help children reach their full potential and thrive.

Rebecca Waud circle headshot
bottom of page