Ecopsychology program celebrates first graduates
Open gallery
In December 2013, Ivy Katz MA ‘13 and Kirk Shepard MA ‘13 became Lewis & Clark’s first two ecopsychology certificate graduates, available to help Portlanders connect the health of the natural world and the health of the mind.
Katz and Shepard both completed the ten-semester-hour ecopsychology certificate program in addition to master’s programs in counseling. At a ceremony celebrating their achievement, they each presented capstone projects examining the intersection of personal and planetary health. Katz created a twelve-week ecotherapy curriculum for Native American students at the Chemawa Indian school, and Shepard crafted a 30 minute documentary exploring how four LGBTQ individuals living in the Pacific Northwest developed their ecological identities and how sexual and gender diversity are central to a sustainable ecosystem.
The field of ecopsychology is still relatively new and Lewis & Clark’s program remains on the cutting edge, one of only three accredited graduate programs in the U.S. with a focus on the topic. The program helps students understand how emotional connections with the natural world can be integral to meeting therapeutic, educational, or organizational goals. Learn more about the Ecopsychology in Counseling Certificate program.
