Wonder Is Good for Mental Health. Here’s How We’re Bringing It to a Local Elementary School.
At Holistic Consultation, we talk a lot about what supports mental health. Therapy. Community. Connection. Coping skills. But there is something else that belongs on that list that does not get nearly enough attention.
Wonder.
The experience of being genuinely amazed, of encountering something bigger than yourself and feeling lit up by it, is not just enjoyable. It is restorative. Research consistently shows that awe and wonder reduce stress, increase feelings of connectedness, and support overall emotional wellbeing. For children especially, experiences that spark curiosity and ignite a sense of possibility can shape how they see themselves and the world for years to come.
That is why we are proud to co-sponsor an author visit to one of our local elementary schools, Cherrington, in partnership with the PTA.
Meet Michael Patrick O’Neill
On March 26th, students had the chance to hear from Michael Patrick O’Neill, a national award-winning wildlife photographer and author whose school presentations have been described by educators as simply the best ever.
Michael has presented to more than 500,000 students across 500 schools in 27 states over the past two decades. His work has appeared in National Geographic, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and his photographs have won some of the most prestigious awards in the field, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Pictures of the Year International.
His adventures are extraordinary. Swimming with Great White Sharks. Photographing jaguars in the Brazilian rainforest. Documenting marine ecosystems and conservation in some of the most remote places on earth. And he brings all of it into the room in a way that is joyful, accessible, and genuinely inspiring for kids of every age.
What this has to do with mental health
More than you might think.
Connection to nature is one of the most well-documented supports for mental health across the lifespan. Time spent in or learning about the natural world reduces anxiety, improves mood, and builds a sense of meaning and belonging that is foundational to emotional resilience.
For children, experiences that inspire curiosity about the world also build something equally important: a sense of identity. When a child discovers that they love animals, or photography, or storytelling, or science, they are not just finding a hobby. They are finding out who they are. And kids who know who they are tend to be more emotionally grounded, more resilient, and more connected to the people and world around them.
Why we said yes
Sponsoring opportunities like this one is an expression of our practice values. Mental health does not begin and end in a therapy office. It is built in classrooms, in neighborhoods, in the moments when a child encounters something that makes them feel alive and curious and connected to something larger than themselves.
We are grateful to do this work, and we are proud to invest in the mental health of our communities in every way we can.