Dr. Megan Delaney has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Montclair State University (MSU). She teaches Research Methods, Career Counseling, Family Systems, and Human Development. Dr. Delaney’s research explores the influence of natural world on mental health and the use of ecotherapy in everyday clinical practice. Dr. Delaney designed and teaches the course PC502 – Ecotherapy, Counseling with Nature and oversees the Ecotherapy Specialization.

Education

Ph.D., Montclair State University

Books

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

Delaney, M.E. (2020).  “Ecopsychological approaches to therapy” in Harper N. & Dobud W. (Eds.) Outdoor Therapies. Routledge International. Abingdon, United Kingdom

Scholarly Articles

Delaney, M.E. (publication pending). “Nature is Nurture: Our healing relationship with the natural world.” Journal of Science and Healing.

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

Delaney, M. E. (2017). “The relationship between counseling, social support, and depression in mothers of fragile families.” The Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 39(4). doi: 10.17744/mehc.39.4.04.

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.

Delaney, M. E. (2016). Grant writing for the counseling professional. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 8(3). doi: 10.7729/83.1135.

Presentations/Invited Talks

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

Invited participant at the Children and Nature Network International Leadership Summit in the Nature-based Learning Research action area. Oakland, CA, May 2018.

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].

Delaney, M.E.. (2019, October). Nature is nurture: Counseling and the natural world. Presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference, Seattle, WA.

Delaney, M.E. & Gibson, S. (2017, October). Building grant funding confidence among counselors and counselor educators. Presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference, Chicago, IL.

Delaney, M.E., Springer, S., & Duffy, J. (2017, October). Ecotherapy and counselors-in-training: A pilot study of a nature based intervention. Presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference, Chicago, IL.

Delaney, M.E., Springer, S. & Lawn, M. (2017, September). Ecotherapy and counselors-in-training: A pilot study of a nature based intervention. Presented at the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling National Assessment & Research Conference, Phoenix, AZ.

Delaney, M.E. Hall, S. & Roberts, L. (2017, March). Wellness through nature: Reconnecting our clients to the natural world. Presented at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Annual Conference and Symposium, San Francisco, CA.

Delaney, M.E., Kooyman, L. & Kooyman, B. (2017, March). Grant writing and proposal development: Best practices for obtaining external funding. Live-streamed and locally presented at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Annual Conference and Symposium, San Francisco, CA.

Delaney, M.E. (2016, September). Perceptions of Grant Funding of Counselors and Counselor Educators: An Exploratory Study. Presented at the AARC National Assessment & Research Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Forthcoming

Delaney, M.E., Callas, K. & Sharma, S. (research in progress). Developing the ecological self: An evaluation on a nature-base art education project.

Delaney, M. & Duffy, J. (research in progress). The experiences of counselors-in-training in a semester-long Ecotherapy course.

Awards

Summer Faculty Fellowship (2018) awarded by Monmouth University Sabbatical Committee to allow for dedicated time to complete the 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. Co-awarded with Sarah Springer, PhD, Monmouth University.

Additional Information

Delaney, M.E. Nature is Nurture . Invited regular blog writer on Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nature-is-nurture

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 .