Pictured is Jenna Miller, Outdoor Occupational Therapist, founder of “Well and Wild Child.

The abundant beauty of the natural area in this region is the perfect platform in which therapy could and should take place.

Nature is an important part of overall health so why not use it to enhance goals of individuals in need of occupational therapy? Using an all outdoor occupational therapy model, Jenna Miller has brought something new to the area and a niche in the scope of practices. Currently taking place at the Audubon Nature Center, Miller is looking to expand her services since there are none like it within the two- to three-hour radius.

A JCC graduate, Miller grew up and resides in Frewsburg, and went on to receive her bachelors and masters degrees in occupational therapy from Gannon University. Her past work includes working with special needs children along with skilled nursing with geriatric patients. Her focus now is with pediatric and school based, taking the “clinic” outdoors. As Miller puts it, “Removing the walls and getting outdoors lets kids be kids, naturally.”

COVID inspired her to take her practice to the outdoors because nature supports healthy development. She brainstormed on how to blend nature with her passion for OT.

After researching, Miller came across Dr. Laura Park Figueroa founder of www..therapyinthegreatoutdoors.com and world-renown therapist and was inspired to become an outdoor occupational therapist, a rare practice for the area that nature lends itself to.

In 2022, Miller piloted programs at the Audubon Community Nature Center in Jamestown, followed by opening her own practice in 2023. During the summertime, Miller has held enrichment groups at the Audubon where she leads a day camp that consists of campers solving challenges through outdoor play, teamwork and creativity. These enrichment groups embrace the need for replacing screen time with outdoor time.

She offers individual sessions throughout the seasons that allow for easy access for clients, meaning the spring, summer and fall. She will see a child for one hour a week for 10 weeks, followed by a process of evaluation to develop goals with parents, who are doing the hard groundwork surrounding the sessions.

When parents are engaged, Miller can provide them with the education needed while promoting confidence in helping their children beyond the sessions. Services are for any child, regardless of any diagnoses.

No referral is needed. Miller works with children that have sensory processing disorders or developmental delays as well as neuro-typical children.

Fostering a love for nature, Miller provides play opportunities for children to build the foundation for imagination and overall resiliency. Emotional regulation and development of social-emotional skills is the aim of service for children ages 4 to 12. This is therapy in the wild enhancing real play, real growth, and real connection. Kids learn best while moving, playing and exploring while having fun outdoors. The hope is to develop body awareness along with coordination and strength of both fine and gross motor muscle groups. Navigating social situations with the children, helping them to manage and understand their emotions, often leads to new leisure activities that grow from these sessions.

Miller enjoys helping parents and their children by providing a simple yet effective way to gain a love for nature through the occupational therapy sessions. The core idea is to utilize the healing properties of nature to enhance the effectiveness of traditional OT practices, helping with physical health, mental health well being, cognitive function and social skills. As nature based therapy is growing among the different therapies, Miller is looking to expand her services in the area, in the region from Chautauqua to Warren, to be inclusive with other professionals who are providing services to children.

“It’s such a need, we’ve got to teach, because we have this type of weather we have for eight months of the year,” she said. “We have to teach kids how to get outside, enjoy it and connect with it in a different way.”

Miller has a presence online at www.wellwildchildOT.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram.