My guests for Episode 031 of the Mountain Mantras: Wellness and Life Lessons show are Dr. Charles Majuri and Tira Scott.
They talk about the importance of getting kids in the garden. Charles is a child psychologist and expert in therapeutic gardening. He is also the founder of Kids Grow Green and author of Growing Up Green. Tira has a wealth of experience in Early Childhood Education and is the Garden Education Coordinator for the Wood River YMCA’s new educational greenhouse. For more information about both Charles and Tira, please see below.
About Dr. Charles Majuri
Dr. Charles E. Majuri,Ph.D.-HTR-QMHP, has worked extensively with children and families for nearly four decades. His work encompasses direct service in private practice, residential, day treatment, outpatient, hospital and acute care and other clinical settings. In addition he has developed, supervised and managed many programs for severely emotionally disturbed children, ‘at risk’ children and has served as Executive Director/CEO for a three county mental health system in Southern Oregon.
He holds a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology completing a two year post-doctoral residency at a large children’s hospital in San Diego, Ca. Additionally he holds a Master’s Degree in counseling. He is nationally certified and recognized in the specialized field of Horticulture Therapy (a nature based therapeutic model for children). Dr. Majuri has consulted nationally and internationally in that specialized field spending two months in Japan, training new mental health therapists in conventional therapeutic methods and using those methods in conjunction with the Horticulture Therapy. Dr. Majuri, is a Qualified Mental Health Professional in Oregon, California and Washington and is also certified in clinical hypnotherapeutic techniques.
Professional skills include; extensive experience and training in individual, group and family therapy, receiving his family therapy training from one of the true pioneers in that field of expertise, Virginia Satir. He has designed and put into service several horticulture therapy programs in the state of Oregon, one being at Trillium Family Services (Parry Center Campus) in Portland, Oregon. This particular children’s horticulture therapy program celebrated its fourteenth anniversary this year, providing healing therapy for many children and families and is seen as one of the agencies premier clinical treatment programs. As a result this program has received national recognition by the American Horticulture Therapy Association.
Dr. Majuri has published articles in the Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture and in 2010 published his well-regarded book, “Growing Up Green: a simple gardening book for children and adults.”
Dr. Majuri, has travelled extensively, is a student of comparative religion, an amateur naturalist and a chef. In December 2012 to January 2013 he completed the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage trek, walking from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Most currently Dr. Majuri, served as a member of the general counseling department at Gavilan Community College in Gilroy, Ca. providing a number of services, including mental health counseling to the student body. While there, as a member of the Mental Health Task Force, he was invited to deliver several key addresses on current mental health issues to students, faculty and also at the regional conference of colleges in that region.
Dr. Majuri is a mental health consultant for children and adults in Hailey, Idaho.
About Tira Scott
Tira grew up in the mountains of McCall, Idaho. She moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 to begin her studies in early childhood education. She became a preschool teacher and began to study botany in an effort to adapt to living in the city. A true “country girl” at heart, Tira immersed herself in gardening which became a passion.
After nearly 20 years in Los Angeles, Tira returned to Idaho in 2009 and began working for the YMCA in their children’s educational programs in 2010.
Tira has two sons. Her oldest, Oliver, is 17 years old and attends the Sage School in Hailey. Her youngest son, Preston, is 11 and will be going to Wood River Middle School as a 6th grader next year.
I am an old friend of Tira’s from Meridian High school, and would love to reconnect with her, I’m Brenda and I really miss her.
Hi Brenda- you will likely be able to track down Tira via the Wood River YMCA. I hope that helps. Be well!