Carina Ribe Fernee

Carina Ribe Fernee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education at the University of Agder. Her research focuses on outdoor and wilderness therapies, particularly their application in mental health care for children, adolescents, and young adults. She leads and collaborates on projects like the WAYA2 study, evaluating nature-based rehabilitation programs for cancer survivors. Key interests include nature-based interventions, relational dignity in therapy, and the role of environmental contexts in therapeutic outcomes.

Her work bridges clinical practice and environmental science, with publications in journals such as International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being and Frontiers in Psychology. She co-authored the book Utendørsterapi: En introduksjon (Outdoor Therapy: An Introduction), providing foundational insights into the field. Fernee’s research emphasizes qualitative methodologies and mixed-methods evaluations to understand the efficacy and mechanisms of outdoor therapies.

She is affiliated with the ROPE research group (Research in Outdoor and Physical Education) and contributes to interdisciplinary studies on family therapy, wilderness programs, and mental health policy. Her recent work explores how natural environments can support emotion-focused therapy and improve well-being through structured outdoor activities.