Have you ever spent a day outside and afterwards noticed how at peace you felt? Gone on a hike or sat outside for a while and noticed a positive change in your mood? Well, this is actually very common, and it is one of many amazing aspects of our planet’s natural world. As it turns out, our planet’s natural systems are known to provide personal healing, a practice otherwise known as ecotherapy.

Ecotherapy, by definition, is “the ability of interaction with nature to enhance healing and growth” (Summers and Vivian 2018). Ecotherapy is further defined as a “form of active healthcare intervention which attempts to draw on the benefits of nature-based activity to support people with mental health problems” (Hinde, Bojke, and Coventry 2021). In ecotherapy, nature “is an acknowledged and invited participant in the discourse of the therapeutic session itself” (Full Life Counseling).

While ecotherapy can look different for different people, it typically includes, “a trained, supportive professional, like a therapist; a green environment; and appreciating and exploring nature” (Laguaite 2021). Going on a hike, doing a craft outside, and sunbathing are just a few examples of what ecotherapy can look like.

Through studies it has been found that spending time in nature can lead to a reduction in stress levels and help lessen symptoms of depression, as well as helping children who struggle with attention issues have a clearer mind (Laguaite 2021). Additionally, ecotherapy can help with “nervous system regulation”, “countering isolation and loneliness”, “healing attachment-based wounds and promoting earned secure attachment”, “improving relationship with self”, “life stage transitions” (Full Life Counseling), and many other personal struggles someone may be dealing with.

Participating in ecotherapy doesn’t have to be at some fancy remote destination halfway across the county, or somewhere extravagant, it is actually something that you can do right in your own local area. In Charlottesville, a local practice, Full Life Counseling, offers ecotherapy as a form of therapy available for patients. Full Life Counseling offers many different versions of ecotherapy, ranging from sessions taking place in nature to an office or remote setting with natural objects around, or even a hybrid version, involving both in person and online sessions (Full Life Counseling). This flexibility allows for a wide range of opportunities, and also allows for the patient to decide what would work best for them and their own personal journey.

Prioritizing your own mental health is just as important as prioritizing and appreciating the natural world, and ecotherapy is one option that allows for the two to exist at the same time. With the opportunities ecotherapy presents, it is definitely an option that should be made use of, so we can continue to not only connect with ourselves, but nature as well.

References

The Cost Effectiveness of Ecotherapy as a Healthcare Intervention, Separating the Wood from the Trees. (2021, November 4). NCBI. Retrieved February 27, 2024, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8582680/

Ecotherapy in Charlottesville, VA | Full Life Counseling — Full Life Counseling. (n.d.). Full Life Counseling. Retrieved February 27, 2024, from https://www.lifecounselingva.com/naturebased-therapy

Laguaite, M. (2021, April 13). Nature Therapy: Types and Benefits. WebMD. Retrieved February 27, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy

Summers, J. K., & Vivian, D. N. (2018, August 3). Ecotherapy – A Forgotten Ecosystem Service: A Review – PMC. NCBI. Retrieved February 27, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6085576/