Justine Collet

My name is Justine. I am a mother of two unschooled boys. I strive to raise them following the “Evolved Nest” model developed by Darcia Narvaez.

Trained as a physiotherapist, I worked for nine years with children with disabilities before turning toward my artistic passion. For two years, I attempted to make a living through illustration, creating nature-inspired works and a first children’s book using watercolors I make myself from natural pigments.

Realizing the difficulty of sustaining a livelihood solely through illustration, and reflecting on how much better I felt outdoors during my years as a physiotherapist, I deepened my connection to nature. I trained in nature animation before founding my association, Graines de Sauvages. Its mission is to facilitate connection to nature and to one another through forest workshops, programs and guidance for children, families, and parents.

It was during the launch of the association that I discovered the 8 Shields » model – Deep Nature Connection, following the teachings of Jon Young and the Connection First team. Since then, I have integrated these connection routines into my daily life and work.

In parallel, I launched the podcast Nature et Connection, where I had the privilege of interviewing Jon Young. It was he who advised me to explore the Evolved Nest model. This discovery was a revelation: I saw it as the “cornerstone” and the missing link connecting all my convictions. This model not only offers a complete map of fundamental human needs but also provides the scientific validation behind these intuitions. This is how I became an ambassador for the Evolved Nest.

As an ambassador, my objective is twofold:

Transmit knowledge: Through conferences to raise public awareness about our fundamental needs, what we have lost, and what is urgent to reclaim.
Put it into practice: Through the Dawn Chant ( Le Chant de l’aube) program, with which I support parents in restoring this connection. These sessions blend theory, nature practices, and live exchange times to foster social bonding.
Finally, drawing on my experience as a facilitator, I became aware of the trauma carried by many adults and decided to pivot toward family therapy to better support children, parents, and families. I am currently training in Gabor Maté’s approach « Compassionate Inquiry » and Dafna Lender’s Integrative Family Therapy based on Attachment. I subsequently plan to train in family and systemic psychotherapy and the Theraplay method.

I aim to integrate the principles of the Evolved Nest into my future therapeutic practice: nature therapy, play therapy, collective healing rituals, community regeneration, and the promotion of a benevolent climate – the importance of nurturing fundamental needs from childhood, specifically through positive touch and breastfeeding.