Daniel Knauer, PhD, lives in New York City and loves music, including punk rock and the Grateful Dead. He was born in New Jersey to a loving family and was brought up enjoying the outdoors by hiking, visiting national parks, and camping. He has been interested in saving our planet since he was a teenager. 

Since college, Daniel wanted to help the world through social justice initiatives. Obtaining his PhD in clinical psychology allowed him to solidify, and even reach, some of those goals. However, he experienced burnout as a psychotherapist and decided to focus on other pursuits. He applied to jobs in research and marketing in environmental conservationism, attempting to determine how a clinical psychologist may help conservation efforts through behavior change.

While working as a research psychologist studying the psychosocial aspects of pain, Daniel and iRewild found each other. Daniel has wanted to work at a global think tank since he learned of them over a decade ago, and iRewild’s goals and values align perfectly with his own. As a thought leader at iRewild, he hopes to further the initiatives of the organization by applying his experience in urban forest bathing, teaching mindfulness, and problem-solving difficult behavioral issues, in order to spread ecological consciousness.

On Dr. Knauer’s Mindful Hiking Therapy Instagram page, he hopes to convey his natural mindful curiosity and enjoyment of beauty in an urban environment.