Hi, I’m Hatie Parmeter. I’m a freelance web and social media manager, writer, and editor working on a MSE in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During my 10+ years as an outdoor guide and outdoor educator, it became clear there are little to no mental health resources for those working in the outdoor industry. The transient, seasonal lifestyle lacks financial stability and many of the most wonderful people I know in the industry struggle with executive functioning, grief, change, and addiction. I plan to use my degree to offer mental health trainings and resources for individvuals in the outdoor industry and for those who love to recreate outside.
While I’m not ready to start offering services, these are the ones I plan to offer once I am licensed:
-Pre-season mental health wilderness first aid (how to deal with client panic attacks, anxiety, depression, heightened teenage emotional needs)
-Group therapy for outdoor-related trauma (backcountry medical emergencies, animal attacks, wilderness first responder experiences)
-Post-trip debriefs (addressing group dynamics, on-trail emergencies, etc)
-Pre-trip prep (sharing info and resources on personal concerns like anxiety to make trips less overwhelming and instill confidence in adventurers)
Current experience:
-MSE in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – University of Wisconsin (2027)
-Advanced Mental Health Wilderness First Aid – Mental Health Wilderness First Aid (2023)
-Going Deeper 95-hour Psych-sensitive, Trauma-informed Yoga Teacher Training – Room to Breathe Psychotherapy & Yoga (2023)
-200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training – Nature Yoga Sanctuary (2018)
-Retail Sales & Outdoor Guide – REI (2017-2020)
-Kayak Guide & Outfitter – Kayak Chicago (2012-2014)
-BA in Magazine Journalism – Columbia College Chicago (2012)
I also have 13+ years of professional writing and editing experience. I’ve worked for content marketing agencies cranking out ~4,000 words per day (ask me about garage doors, HVAC systems, and funerary practices), created and ran an online publication for outdoor-interested womxn (Whoa Mag), and more. I currently freelance, and have written many outdoor and lifestyle pieces for places like Trails Magazine, AAA, REI, The Dyrt, Hipcamp, Outdoor Prolink, and more. See my work here.
Header image by Lauren Danilek.