Megan Delaney has a Ph.D. in Counseling from Montclair State University. Dr. Delaney’s research explores Ecotherapy or Applied Ecopsychology. Ecopsychology is the exploration of the relationship between humans and the natural environment. Ecotherapists seek to develop and understand ways of expanding the emotional connection between individuals and the natural environment, thereby assisting individuals with developing sustainable lifestyles and remedying alienation from nature through reciprocal relationships. Dr. Delaney designed and teaches courses in Ecotherapy and Adventure Based Ecotherapy which involve experiential activities throughout New Jersey. Experiences including walk and talk therapy, Shinrin-yoku or forest-bathing, equine assisted therapy, horticultural therapy, surf-therapy, rock-climbing, low and high ropes facilitation, goat yoga and canoeing.

Education

Ph.D., Montclair State University

M.A., Montclair State University

B.A., Connecticut College

Books

Delaney, M. (2020). Nature is Nurture: Counseling and the natural world. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Delaney, M. (2020). Nature is Nurture: Counseling and the natural world. [Audiobook]. Recorded Books.

Delaney, M.E. & Justice, K. (2023). Becoming an informed consumer of research: Deconstructing research articles and integrating evidence-based practice. In Buser, T. & Gibson, S. (Eds.) Reimagining research: Engaging research, data, and program evaluation in counseling practice.

Delaney, M.E. (2021).  Ecopsychological approaches to therapy. In Harper N. & Dobud W. (Eds.) Outdoor therapies: An introduction to practices, possibilities, and critical perspectives. Routledge International.

Delaney, M. E. (2016). Gender identity development. In Schwarz J. (Ed.) Counseling women across the lifespan: Empowerment, advocacy, and intervention.  New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

Scholarly Articles

Delaney, M. & Malkinski, M. (2023). The experiences of clients in ecotherapy: A qualitative study. Ecopsychology, 15(4).

Delaney, M., Rian, S. & Owenburg, N. (2022). The experiences of counselors-in-training in a semester-long Ecotherapy course. The Journal for Creativity in Mental Health., 19(1).

O’Halloran, K.O. & Delaney, M. E. (2022). Gender and college women: Supporting adult women’s development through a multidisciplinary lens. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education.

Delaney, M.E., Callas, K. & Sharma, S. (2021). Developing the Ecological Self: A socially engaged art project. International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, 8(2), 189-196.

Delaney, M. E., & Gibson, S. (2019). Why grant writing and research matters in counselor education: Advancing our discipline. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 12(4).

Duffy, J., Springer, S., Delaney, M. & Luke, M. (2019). “Eco-Education: Integrating nature into the Counselor Education classroom.” Journal of Creativity in Counseling, doi: 10.1080/15401383.2019.1640152

Presentations/Invited Talks

Bartel, M. (2023 – present). Going out/looking in. [Audio podcast].

Delaney, M.E. (2023). Eco-spirituality in times of eco-grief. International Network for the Study of Spirituality: Spirituality, Critical Reflection and Professional Practice in an Uncertain World Conference, Waterford, Ireland.

Delaney, M.E. & Sacco, E. (2023, October). Nature informed therapy: Creative ways to infuse nature into practice. Association for Creativity in Counseling Conference, Melbourne Beach, FL.

Hanley, J. (Host). (2022, August 25). Ecopsychology with Dr. Megan Delaney (No. 32) [Audio Podcast episode]. In The Spiritual Counselor. Soundcloud.

Rose, J. (Producer). (2019, April 9). Prescribing Nature for Depression and Anxiety with Megan Delaney. [Live Radio Show].

Phillips, L. (2018, April 26). Using nature as a therapeutic partner. Counseling Today.

Shook, M. (Producer). (2017, July 19). Ecotherapy: The healing potential of nature in counseling with Megan Delaney. [Audio podcast].

Forthcoming

Delaney, M., Rian, S. & Sacco, E. (research in development). Use of Ecotherapy by students who completed a graduate level ecotherapy class.

Delaney, M., Deal, P., Sacco, E. & Schreiber-Pan, H. (research in development). The role of nature connectedness in stress relief and transcendence.

Awards

Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe – Faculty Enrichment Grant (2022) award by Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute for “Ecotherapy: Taking it into Practice” Funding provides support to pay a graduate assistant to assist in the analysis of qualitative data related to the study and incentives.

Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe – Faculty Enrichment Grant (2021) award by Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute for “Counseling with nature: A qualitative study of the experiences of Ecotherapy clients.” Funding provides support to pay a graduate assistant to assist in the analysis of qualitative data related to the study and incentives.

Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe Summer Research Grant (2020) award by Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute for Ecotherapy: Nature as a Co-Therapist. Funding provides support to pay a graduate assistant to develop with me two research protocols: An exploration of the experiences of clients participating in Ecotherapy and Use of Ecotherapy by students who completed a graduate level ecotherapy class.

Summer Faculty Fellowship (2018) awarded by Monmouth University Sabbatical Committee to allow for dedicated time to complete my manuscript Nature is Nurture for Oxford University Press.

Urban Coast Institute (2018) Marine Science & Policy Initiative Grant award for Developing the Ecological Self: An Evaluation. Funding provided support for an evaluation of Professor Callas’ nature-based art project led by her sculpture students with middle-school students from a local community.

Creativity and Research Grant (2016) awarded by Monmouth University Grants and Sabbatical Committee for Ecotherapy and counselors-in-training: A pilot study of a nature-based intervention. Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Research Grant (2016) for Eco-Education: Integrating nature into the counselor education program.

Additional Information

Delaney, M.E. Nature is Nurture invited regular blog writer on Psychology Today.

Private practice Therapy without Walls, LLC based in Middletown, New Jersey, working with individual and families on different presenting issues incorporating tenets of Ecotherapy.