More about ecotherapy

‘If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.’

Rainer Maria Rilke

Ecotherapy is the applied practice of the field of Ecopsychology. It studies the relationship between human beings and the natural world through ecological and psychological principles. Ecopsychology seeks to develop and understand ways of expanding the emotional connection between individuals and the natural world, and aims to assist individuals with developing sustainable lifestyles and to remedy alienation from nature. It provides the opportunity to explore your relationship with nature as well as with your family and community.

At the heart of ecotherapy lies a belief that like all other living things, human beings are intrinsically connected to the earth and its natural systems. In the last decades the rise of mental health disorders has coincided with increasing human disconnection with the natural world at all levels of our daily lives - from the homes we live in, the way we work and travel to the food we eat. Continued environmental destruction across the globe and the climate crisis can leave us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Ecotherapy can be a route back to connection with ourselves, with Nature and with each other. By cultivating a reconnection with the natural world we can engage more meaningfully with current debates around climate change and environmental issues.

Recent research shows that time spent outside reconnecting with nature has positive benefits for mental health. Ecotherapy can benefit everybody but is particularly effective for;

• Depression

• Stress

• Anxiety

• PTSD

• Self-esteem issues

• Addiction

• Mood disorders

• Sleep problems

• ADHD

• Physical Health issues – pain reduction / following surgery or heart attack / obesity

• Dementia

• Bereavement and loss