Ecotherapy
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
– Albert Einstein
The term ‘ecopsychology’, which is the study of the mental health benefit of being in nature, can be credited to Theodore Roszak, who wrote about this in 1992 in his book "The Voice of the Earth". His main philosophy is that our minds are impacted by the modern world but originate in nature, and that as a result of this disconnect from nature we suffer.
What are the benefits of having your therapy sessions in the outdoors?
- A break from the screen or sitting in a closed therapy room
- The ease of side by side walking
- Grounding and stabilisation through bilateral movement - the ability to process painful emotions while moving the body
- Exercise and movement boost endorphins and feel good chemicals
- Nature offers a naturally grounding experience
- Clients often report feeling as though they can breathe in outdoor spaces
Nature is a fantastic therapeutic tool and can offer a change of scenery which can enable the seeing of things in a different light. Sessions use the beautiful Sussex countryside and parks rather than a therapy room, taking place in the natural environment. We walk at a pace to suit you and use elements of the natural world to assist your process.
Counselling and psychotherapy outdoors is grounded on the same foundations as conventional therapy, but has the added input of nature as a co-therapist, and the research is ground-breaking on its benefits *
Prior to our session, I conduct a risk assessment on our walk and make sure the route is suitable and safe. The only request is to wear suitable footwear and clothing. If you prefer and find it hard to walk but love the idea of working in nature, we can have a session where you walk very little and we can sit on a bench and talk or reflect.
*Participants who took a 90-minute walk in nature had “less activity in their prefrontal cortex, a brain region that is active during rumination — defined as repetitive thoughts that focus on negative emotions ‘ 71% of respondents felt decreased depression and less tense after a “green” walk, while 90% felt their self-esteem increase after a country walk”
Contact me in confidence on Tel: 07506143762 or Email:
Mind Charity Research; 2007; Harvard Medical School’ 2015
