Member Spotlight: Christy
Date postedJune 5, 2024
Meet Christy Brock!
Christy(she/her/hers) grew up and still lives in Cincinnati, Ohio where she is the Founder and Adventure Therapist at New Adventures Counseling. Tell us a bit about what you do at your organization.
In 2017, after hitting road block after road block trying to start an adventure therapy program in Cincinnati at the private practice I was at, I decided to leave and start my own program as a project of The Children Are Our Future. With the help of Maurie Lung and Terry Williams, it became a reality in spring of 2018.
Since the beginning, I have held every role from founder, to administrator, to clinician, and everything in between. In the nearly six years New Adventures has been open, I have been able to serve so many families in the Greater Cincinnati Area, bringing adventure therapy to our city.
A typical day of sessions can look like meeting clients at a park and having sessions in hammocks, going for hikes, geocaching, having campfires, and so many other things. We have found adventure in the most ordinary settings in our city, and our clients have welcomed it with open arms.
Since the beginning, I have held every role from founder, to administrator, to clinician, and everything in between. In the nearly six years New Adventures has been open, I have been able to serve so many families in the Greater Cincinnati Area, bringing adventure therapy to our city.
A typical day of sessions can look like meeting clients at a park and having sessions in hammocks, going for hikes, geocaching, having campfires, and so many other things. We have found adventure in the most ordinary settings in our city, and our clients have welcomed it with open arms.
Tell us more about yourself!
My path to adventure therapy has been anything but conventional. I was introduced to it by Kim Sacksteder while in my undergraduate program at Capital University, in Bexley, Ohio. I immediately fell in love with this modality, and absolutely loved my time at Camp Mary Orton, interning under Kim's guidance. After graduation I moved back home to pursue my Master's Degree in Social work, and didn't do much adventure therapy for a while.
In 2016, Kim finally convinced me to attend my first TAPG pre-conference, AEE International conference, held in Minneapolis. Even before the pre-conference began, I knew I had found my community. The space where I could thrive, personally and professionally. I had found my people.
Through AEE/TAPG, I have found some of my best friends. I've traveled all over the country and to Canada for AEE conferences. I've traveled to Australia and Norway with other members of our community to attend and/or present at both the 8th and 9th International Adventure Therapy Conferences. I have supported and led the TAPG pre-conferences since 2018. I became the Vice-Chair of the TAPG Leadership Council in 2023, and moved into the role of Chair in November, 2024.
This community has changed my life, and I will be eternally grateful for everything that has happened in my world since my first conference, as a nervous new-comer to our community, running around Minneapolis with our Air BnB's three stuffed pink flamingos and Tuesdey Spangler; the fastest friend I've ever made.
In 2016, Kim finally convinced me to attend my first TAPG pre-conference, AEE International conference, held in Minneapolis. Even before the pre-conference began, I knew I had found my community. The space where I could thrive, personally and professionally. I had found my people.
Through AEE/TAPG, I have found some of my best friends. I've traveled all over the country and to Canada for AEE conferences. I've traveled to Australia and Norway with other members of our community to attend and/or present at both the 8th and 9th International Adventure Therapy Conferences. I have supported and led the TAPG pre-conferences since 2018. I became the Vice-Chair of the TAPG Leadership Council in 2023, and moved into the role of Chair in November, 2024.
This community has changed my life, and I will be eternally grateful for everything that has happened in my world since my first conference, as a nervous new-comer to our community, running around Minneapolis with our Air BnB's three stuffed pink flamingos and Tuesdey Spangler; the fastest friend I've ever made.
What excites you when you think about the future of Experiential Education?
Seeing the impact our work can have on an individual, a community, and our world is amazing, and I know it has no limits.
Who or what inspires you?
I'm endlessly inspired by my friend and colleague, Dr. Maurie Lung. I first met Maurie in Minneapolis in 2016 at the TAPG Pre-Conference. Her willingness to continue to see the light in the darkest of situation, and her unwavering love for this world, it moves me to tears and reminds me to keep fighting the good fight, and to always lead with love. She is a leader in our field, and has the busiest life I've ever seen. Yet she still takes the time to check in with me from time to time and encourages me when I feel lost. Presenting with her in Norway at the 9th International Adventure Therapy Conference on Experiential Supervision was a highlight of my professional career.
Maurie is my mentor, my colleague, and most importantly, my friend. This world is so much better with her in it. If I can make 1/10th of the impact she has, I will be happy with my life.
Maurie is my mentor, my colleague, and most importantly, my friend. This world is so much better with her in it. If I can make 1/10th of the impact she has, I will be happy with my life.
In your free time, we can probably find you:
Reading a book in my hammock, hiking the Red River Gorge, or playing a board game with my family.
How long have you been involved with AEE?
Kim Sacksteder tried for 10 years to get me to attend an AEE event, and I finally did in 2016.
I supported the pre-conference in 2017, was co-coordinator in 2018 -2019, Conference Coordinator 2020-2022, Vice Chair 2023, and Chair as of November 2023. It has been some of the most rewarding work of my career, and I can't wait to continue to serve this amazing community.
I supported the pre-conference in 2017, was co-coordinator in 2018 -2019, Conference Coordinator 2020-2022, Vice Chair 2023, and Chair as of November 2023. It has been some of the most rewarding work of my career, and I can't wait to continue to serve this amazing community.
What is the most rewarding part about being a Member of AEE?
The life-long friendships I have made. Some of the folx I have meet through AEE/TAPG have become my best friends and family. Because of AEE/TAPG, I have started a business and made a lasting change in the city I love, my hometown of Cincinnati. And our community is endlessly supportive, no matter the situation.
Any specific moments at AEE that have impacted you?
Most of the close friendships I have now are due to folx I met at AEE/TAPG conferences.
At the TAPG social in Montreal, Quebec, 2017, I received notice that my application to start a project under The Children Are Our Future had been accepted. To receive that news, surrounded by this community, was perfect. I will never forget that moment, as long as I live.
At the TAPG social in Montreal, Quebec, 2017, I received notice that my application to start a project under The Children Are Our Future had been accepted. To receive that news, surrounded by this community, was perfect. I will never forget that moment, as long as I live.
Anything else we should know?
Don't ever underestimate the impact our organization has on the daily life of its members. Big or small, it all matters.
Find Christy here: my email is: Christybrocklisws@gmail.com, or through TAPG's email: TAPG@AEE.org
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