Craig Penner

Craig Penner joined the Greenspace Board of Directors in 2023.  Craig brings more than four decades as a private practice psychotherapist, where he has worked to create an approach based in the nature of people’s abilities to process. Craig also serves as a consultant and has developed a somatically-based training program for therapists called Natural Processing. Craig earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

Craig has always been a nature lover with an appreciation for nature conservation. Having lived in Santa Barbara for 45 years, he valued that many beautiful nature areas have been preserved and conserved for wild space and recreation. The recognition of how citizen groups can make a difference, in how land is managed, is what led Craig to participate in Greenspace’s work.

One of Craigs first projects for Greenspace was to review organizational paperwork. While doing this task, he was able to see the dedicated hours, volunteer efforts and community service that has gone into preserving the land and trees in Cambria since the organizations founding in 1989. His commitment to the organizations mission has only been strengthened by seeing the immense value Greenspace brings to the community and wildlife. 

Craig has also helped to redesign the Greenspace logo that now shows the iconic silhouette of the Monterey pine tree with the ocean at sunset in the background.  Craig is currently sitting on the Events Committee and is in the process of creating Greenspace’s Environmental Film Series. 

Craig has lived in Cambria since 2021, and loves spending time in nature including, hiking, kayaking, walking the local trails, running, meditating and spiritual pursuits, giving sound baths, spending time with friends and he loves his work.  Craig marvels at the growth patterns of the rare Monterey pines, each with its unique shape. He treasures the forest, knowing there are so few native Monterey pine forests stands left in the world, and is excited in participating in the cause to protect and restore Cambria’s Monterey pines.