Ecotherapy - Nature-based therapy for all
Ecotherapy for individuals
If you are looking for individual therapy to address some personal or relational issues, Ecotherapy is a valid form of therapy delivered by therapeutically trained professionals i.e. counsellors and psychotherapists.They have specific knowledge and skills in supporting your mental health. EcoTherapy can also be offered alongside another psychological treatment to maximise therapeutic support. Get in touch to discuss your needs.
Ecotherapy for couples
If you are looking for couple therapy, we can explore if Ecotherapy is a suitable option for your difficulties. Couple sessions are offered in Nature instead of a clinical room to maximise the benefits of both Nature and therapy. Being trained as a Systemic and Family Psychotherapist means that I provide Ecotherapy as a form of relational therapy, using nature as the context for change, self-growth and healing for couples.
Ecotherapy for families
Ecotherapy can be effective for a range of family difficulties. You may be concerned about anxiety in your children or yourself, loneliness, mental health issues affecting yourself or other family members, family stress, your own parenting struggles, your child’s emotional and behavioural development, past trauma, relationship difficulties, how to cope with transitions or stressful family events, illness, family break up. Nature can provide a safe environment to facilitate family talks and therapeutic conversations through interacting with Nature.
Ecotherapy - Nature-connection activities
Walk and talk....
through the natural landscape i.e. the woodland, the grassland, the park with or without a specific focus to facilitate conversations whilst engaging in physical activity and movement to relax the body and promote clarity of thinking;
Natural Art....
and other creative activities as main focus whilst promoting therapeutic conversations guided by the therapist;
Mindfulness exercises...
i.e. becoming more aware of your own senses and a deeper sense of relaxation and wellbeing through awareness of the here and now and how your body responds to being in nature;
• Natural mirroring i.e. exploring through a natural item that may represent and reflect (as a mirror) a specific struggle or event, an aspect of yourself or topic related to the therapeutic goal suggested by the therapist or by yourself, and be guided by nature and the therapist to explore and see things from a different perspective;
• Phototherapy i.e. taking photos of elements in nature that have a particular meaning e.g. a dead tree may remind of a loss, entangled ivy around a tree may represent an issue which feels like a complex and insoluble dilemma.
Family talks....
in nature and through nature i.e. children and parents can engage in a nature-based activity which will lead to focused family conversations facilitated by the therapist on a specific topic e.g. family stress, emotions, family manifesto, personal & family qualities. It may also include pairing up e.g. a parent and a child or siblings walking & talking about a topic. Nature connection activities can be adapted to older children and teenagers.
What is Ecotherapy?
In a fast pace and frantic world, nature offers to slow down
At times of chronic stress, nature offers release from the pressures of modern life
At a time of overstimulation nature offers to calm down the nervous system
At a time when children and young people are addicted to screen, nature offers the opportunity to experience the world through the senses and embodied feelings
At a time of disconnection from the natural world nature offers the opportunity to feel connected to self, place and others
At a time of loneliness nature offers solace and companionship with the more than human world, connection to others and a sense of belonging to Mother Earth
At a time of mental health crisis, nature offers a different way of focusing on ecological wellbeing and planetary health
At a time of relentless expectations to have more to do more Nature offers clarity of thinking about a more sustainable lifestyle
At a time of destabilising uncertainty, nature offers space for souls searching and time to reflect on our key existential questions and our spiritual journey on Earth
At a time of profund ecological crisis nature offers the opportunity to rediscover our true identify and biological imprint and become stewards of this planet
At a time of egocentric and disruptive ways of being in the world nature offers the opportunity to reconnect to and protect Mother Earth for future generations