The Wilder Lab
Evidence for a
wilder kind of care
The research and innovation arm of Wilder Health
Welcome to the Wilder Lab: the translational research hub at the heart of Wilder Health. We build on the evidence base for nature-based, animal-assisted and creative therapeutic approaches, so that more people can access high-quality mental health services that fit with their needs and preferences.
Our research interests
Lifestyle medicine
- The impact of diet and/or exercise on mental health
- The impact of green and blue spaces on physical and mental health
- Nature prescribing for sleep, stress, and mental health difficulties
Psychological therapies
- Nature-based and/or animal-assisted psychological therapies and interventions
- The impact of animals and/or nature on human thought, emotional experiences, and behaviour
- Improving access and effectiveness of therapies through animals, nature, and/or the creative arts
Therapeutic education
- Nature-based primary, secondary, and post-16 education
- Therapeutic education across the lifespan
- Designing psychologically informed educational environments
If you have an idea that you think fits our ethos and expertise but sits outside of these strands, please get in touch to see whether we can support your project.
How we work
In partnership with universities
Through our university partnerships we offer doctoral-level researchers opportunities to undertake nature-based research with real-world relevance. Each year we support trainee clinical psychologists to test their ideas using our clinical data, resources, and specialist supervision, ensuring that Wilder Health stays at the forefront of its field.
Current Projects
A multi-case examination of a nature-based, animal-assisted mindful self-compassion group and its efficacy for improving self-reported well-being in adults experiencing stress
Aim
To evaluate the impact of a group CFT programme adapted for delivery in a farm setting, with animal-assisted integrations.
Researcher
Emily Hartwell
Supervisors
Dr Fergal Jones and Dr Abie Alfrey
Exploring the role of locus of control in experienced levels of climate-anxiety and its role as moderator for pro-environmental behaviours
Aim
To find out whether there is a relationship between young people's feelings towards climate change and their climate-related behaviours, to support psychologists' understanding of how young people cope with climate change.
Researcher
Lily McKillop
Supervisors
Prof Margie Callanan and Dr Abie Alfrey
Join the Lab
Students at the Wilder Lab have access to:
- A wide pool of real clients and clinical facilities
- Regular specialist supervision
- A supportive network of peers
- Support to disseminate work through publications, conferences, podcasts, radio appearances and blogs
We have an exciting programme of research projects available to students on eligible postgraduate trainings, and we also welcome speculative applications from motivated individuals.
Publications & Media
Published Research
The Impact of Therapy and Pet Animals on Human Stress
Lori Kogan & Abigail Alfrey
Edward Elgar Publishing
“Bringing the same high-quality evidence base to non-traditional approaches.”
Our goal is to raise the credibility of all aspects of nature based research through methodologically rigorous research in true-to-life settings. Through doing so, we hope to bring confidence to non-traditional approaches to mental healthcare, widening accessibility and improve the effectiveness of psychological therapies and wellbeing initiatives. Evidencing the impact of our clinical services is as important to us as it is to our clients and commissioners, and so we also run an in-house strand of audit and quality improvement projects.