About The Outdoor Social Worker
Private, Nature-Based Counseling Rooted in Experience, Integrity and Care
I work with children and teens of all personalities and backgrounds—what matters most is that they want to feel happier. For those who feel deeply or find the world overwhelming, I offer a safe space where their experiences are understood and supported.
Sessions are held on my private 20-acre conservation property in Tasmania’s Southern Midlands, just over an hour from Hobart. It’s a personal, nature-based approach that’s thoughtful, effective, and helps young people grow in their own way.
My name is Eily.
I’m a qualified and registered social worker, trauma therapist and the founder of The Outdoor Social Worker.
This practice is the result of almost a decade of experience in child protection, trauma work and family counselling—combined with my long-held belief in the healing power of nature.
No waiting rooms or awkward small talk—just your child and me, outdoors, focusing on them. We might walk a trail, dance in the leaves, or simply hang out in the glamping tent, always moving at a pace that feels right for them.
Why I Started This Practice
Moving here changed me. The quiet and beauty of the bush helped me slow down and reconnect in a way no clinic ever could. As someone who feels things deeply—and a parent to someone the same—I know how overwhelming the world can be. In nature, it gets easier.
Here, we walk together, held by the land—not as clients, but as people, without judgment. Real healing goes deeper than coping, and I bring both my experience and empathy, believing sensitivity is a strength.
If you or your child feel things intensely, you’re not alone. With gentle support in nature, you can find relief, belonging, and real healing.
My Professional Background
I hold a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from UNSW and a Graduate Diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy from the UK.
I spent five years in frontline child protection in London’s most complex boroughs, supporting families in crisis and leading a team of social workers—experiences that shaped my compassionate, trauma-informed approach.
Since returning to Australia, I’ve supported people facing vulnerability, violence, addiction, and distress in both community and corporate settings.
I now bring this training and real-world experience to a practice built on care, safety, and thoughtfulness.
At the heart of my approach is one guiding belief:
the therapeutic relationship is the foundation for change.
While I draw on a wide range of evidence-based models, including:
Therapeutic child-centered play
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Schema Therapy
Attachment Theory
EMDR-informed practice
For children up to aged 11, I primarily use therapeutic child-centered play because children can’t truly understand how or why they feel or do things until aged 12-13. Instead, they process everything through their emotions so I let play be their language.
For teens and parents I do not rigidly apply a model. Instead, I meet you where you are, and tailor our sessions to suit your pace, needs and preferences. My work is trauma-informed, meaning I prioritise emotional, physical and psychological safety in every interaction.
I am here to walk beside you, not in front of you
Your child’s happiness grows where acceptance and understanding take root.
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Who I Work With
I work with kids and teens who want to feel lighter and more themselves. Some feel things deeply or get overwhelmed by the world; others may act out, struggle with big emotions, or push against the noise in their own way.
Maybe your child needs a place to be seen without pretending or a way to work through what’s really going on beneath the surface.
There’s no quick fix or magic cure here. We take the time to listen and understand the whole story. Your child can show up as they are—all of it—because that’s where real relief and growth begin.
Why Nature-Based Counseling?
Being outside feels different from sitting in an office. Nature gives your child the space to breathe, be themselves, and drop the pressure and distractions.
On my private 20-acre property, we might walk among the gum trees, rest in a cozy tent, or simply pause together and observe the world around us. Privacy is guaranteed—just your child and the work they want to do.
Nature is a quiet partner here, helping your child to relax, find calm, and move forward at their own pace.
My Values
This practice is built on a strong ethical foundation and a deep commitment to care. These are the values I bring into every session: