Rekindling connection – to ourselves, the earth, and one another
Lu Olden, integrative coach and eco-therapist
Welcome, nature lovers
It is an honour to connect with you here. I acknowledge that, if you’re on this page, there may be an area of your life that could use a bit of extra support at the moment. You’re not alone. We are living in extraordinary times. For some, there is a sense that the pace of life is quickening. For others, there are aspects of life (or work) that just don’t seem to fit anymore. You may be navigating or integrating changes. You might also feel stuck, unsure of what to shift, or how.
Many who arrive in this space are also exploring or shaping their response to the ecological challenges we’re facing. I, too, am on that path and what I’ve discovered – within myself and in my connection to the natural world – is the ground on which this coaching and ecotherapy practice now rests.
I am a certified integral coach and have undergone training in eco-therapy professional practice. This work invites insight and depth, but is balanced by creativity, curiosity, and an unshakeable belief in your innate wisdom – and in our collective capacity for radical and natural aliveness.
Working together
The Integral Earthways approach views each person as part of the wider web of life – shaped by ecological, ancestral and cultural contexts. Emerging from years of personal practice, enquiry and training, this work is an offering – to be of service to humanity, in these times of challenge and change, and, through our interdependence, to all life on this beautiful planet.
Where possible and appropriate, we meet outdoors and bring the living world into our conversations – offering benefits not only for personal wellbeing, but for the wellbeing of the planet, too.
As an extension of this, and an embodied expression of our place within nature, I collaborate with dedicated skills keepers to offer hands-on earthskills workshops and experiences. These are pathways back to belonging to the land, and to ourselves as resourceful, resilient and interconnected beings – an initiative I have been honoured to hold and nurture for the past seven years.
Although my practice has, to date, supported clients mostly in their individual capacity, a shift is underway to extend this work into an organisational context as well.
I feel privileged to be learning and collaborating with many peers and colleagues who are committed to positive, regenerative action, and I welcome opportunities to collaborate in ways that deepen this work.
If you’d like to read more of my story, you’ll find it here.
Outdoors, indoors or online
Outdoor coaching and eco-therapy sessions are held in some of Cape Town’s most beautiful spaces – on the mountains and beaches of the Cape Peninsula, and in the beautiful food gardens (and surrounding green belts) of Soil for Life in Constantia. Each environment offers a unique setting for conversations in and with nature, and group activities.
Depending on your location, the nature of the work, and the season, sessions can also be arranged at alternative venues, outdoors or indoors, by mutual agreement.
I also have a home-based practice room, located near Muizenberg.
Online sessions – including our initial connection call – are held via Zoom or WhatsApp, enabling us to connect from (almost) anywhere on earth.
Client feedback
“I highly recommend Lu to anyone seeking compassionate, effective, and insightful support in their life. From the very first session, she created a safe and comfortable space for me to explore my thoughts and feelings, and provided me with valuable tools and techniques to help manage these in more challenging times. Her natural understanding of the human psyche, combined with her warm and empathetic nature, helped me to gain new insights and perspectives that have allowed me to make significant progress in my life. Working with Lu has truly been a life-changing experience, and I am deeply grateful for her guidance and support.”
– UK-based client
“I had the great fortune to take six coaching sessions with Lu. Her coaching, her compassion and her wisdom saw me through a difficult transition. Her intuitive approach, brought along with the tenets of her practice, has empowered me to make decisions and take actions that are aligned with my priorities and my values. She is like a breath of fresh air and I would highly recommend her assistance with any knotty issue arising in your life.”
– South African client
“My husband and I started working with Lu in September 2022. We had recently become parents, moved continents and settled into new work environments. Lu exhibits a unique sense of perspective. She listens attentively and, through her questions, is able to support you in quickly getting to the crux of a situation. Lu has been a vital resource in our family and we are excited to continue building our relationship and working towards our goals.”
– South African client