Overview
What you'll achieve
Goals and progress are fully determined by the coachee–not the coach.
Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress levels and the associated negative health impacts of stress.
Studies suggest that even brief exposure to nature can lower stress hormones, improve mood, and promote overall well-being.
Nature's restorative power lies in its ability to engage our attention in novel ways, combating mental fatigue, and energizing us.
By immersing ourselves in natural environments, our brains can replenish their capacity for directed attention and problem-solving.
Who this is for
You know time outdoors is good for you, but you're looking for support and accountability to do so.
You feel stuck or burnt out, and the spark that once motivated you feels distant.
You’re navigating a significant life change—even a positive one—and it feels more complicated than you expected.
You simply feel ready to live a more intentional life, guided by your own values and curiosity rather than by external pressures.
What's included
A guided nature connection session (60 minutes) — outdoors, including walking and sitting.
Resources such as articles, books, podcasts, and guides.
(Group sessions also available. Please inquire for availability and pricing.)
What you'll need
Verified Top Expert
Adam Bouse
Coach
Muncie, United States
11 years experience
Founder, coach, emotions educator, writer, possibilitarian.
Even before I was a coach, I was a student of what it means to be human. I’ve always been fascinated by what helps us grow, what holds us back, and how we can live with more curiosity and intention. My passions have taken me to work in museums, tech companies, non-profits, marketing, and L&D. The common thread has always been a deep curiosity about people and a desire to help them learn and grow. This is the foundation of my practice today.
For the last five years, I was a leadership and management coach (and a senior manager of a coaching team). In 2024, my family experienced the devastating loss of my wife, Stacey. And as cliché as it is, that kind of experience is clarifying, whether you wanted it to be or not. I don’t think these moments change your values as much as they make them abundantly clear.
What I am embracing in this season is that I can hold space for both the good and the bad, that grief can live alongside purpose and seeking out possibilities. In that light and with renewed clarity of values and purpose, I launched Optimistic Coaching as a business and my full-time work.
This work isn’t about formulas or one-size-fits-all solutions. It’s about showing up, being fully present with you, and creating a space where you feel truly heard and seen. I believe the most powerful moments of connection and breakthrough happen when you have a partner who listens with empathy, asks compelling questions, and helps you see the possibilities that still exist. Coaching, teaching and creating — this is what I want to be doing.
"FAQs
Still need more clarity? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions.
How does nature connection and nature-based coaching work?
We start by making sure there is a good fit between the coach and the person seeking coaching on an intro call (often via Zoom or phone).
From there, we will set a time and place to meet for the outdoor nature-based session.
Nature-based coaching is different even from other forms of coaching. Often times, there may not be an explicit, taditional "goal" that we're trying to accomplish before the end of a session (or even over the course of several sessions).
Nature-based Coaching: utilizing nature as a co-coach by slowing down, connecting with natural environments, and allowing yourself to be more integrated to the natural world around you. Through a series of practices, prompts, and invitations—without forcing it—this often leads to reduced stress, increased sense of presence and possibility, and renewed motivation and creativity. A session can simply be a reprieve from the chaos of your daily life or a strategic investment in your mind-body system, helping you to stay grounded as you navigate opportunities and challenges.
So is this just nature walks or a hike?
No, nature-based coaching and nature connection is different.
A hike has a destination in mind. Complete 4 miles, get to the peak, visit a waterfall, etc. Not bad things and certainly something to be enjoyed.
A nature walk often has an educational component. Learning about plants and vegetation, identifying birds, or seeking to understand a particular ecosystem or habitat.
Nature-based coaching isn't goal-oriented like a hike or nature-walk. To be sure, it is still purposeful. The goal is grounding, not extraction. Connecting, not obtaining. Practicing, not mastering.