What is Ecotherapy?

Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel

Learn more about this approach to mental health that’s skyrocketed in popularity over the last few months

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a number of layoffs and furloughs across industries, as well as a number of other stress-inducing difficulties. While it hasn’t been an easy road for most, it has brought new, unique forms of therapy and self-care to the forefront of the public’s attention.

Like many during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have discovered the incredible effects of nature when it comes to dealing with mental health. Simply taking an hour to walk through a forest or along a beach helps me clear my mind and recharge in a totally unique way. I know I’m not alone, as many news articles have highlighted this growing urge to connect with the wilderness. Hiking, birdwatching, and a range of other outdoor activities are all surging in popularity during this challenging period. 

As it turns out, this type of “green treatment” actually has its own scientific name: ecotherapy. Simply put, ecotherapy involves connecting with nature and recognizing the positive impact that nature can have on one’s psychological and emotional wellbeing. This approach to mental health is skyrocketing in popularity over the last few months, and it’s easy to see why. With so many people feeling isolated and disconnected from friends, family, and ‘normal’ life, a sense of mutual connection to our ecosystem can have incredible benefits.

What is Ecotherapy?

First pioneered by Theodore Roszak in the early 1990s, ecotherapy suggests that exposure to nature is essential to human healing and growth. The idea that getting outdoors and experiencing the sea or mountain air can improve mental health may seem logical – obvious, even. But beyond the psychological benefits, ecotherapy also improves physical health, especially in regards to healing from wounds and surgeries. Studies have shown that when hospital patients are recovering in rooms decorated with flowers and other plants, they heal much more quickly.

However, the clinical application of ecotherapy doesn’t simply mean going for a walk along the beach or hiking through the mountains. Ecotherapy is a very specific form of mental health treatment that is most often directed by a trained therapist. 

To find out how you can apply ecotherapy techniques to your life, or to get a better sense of what you can expect in this type of treatment, review the latest trends in ecotherapy as shared below: 

Walk and talk

One of the earliest and most successful forms of ecotherapy is a technique called “walk and talk.” This therapist-led form of ecotherapy has been used by mental health professionals treating young adults and teens for decades. As the name suggests, it involves moving a typical therapy session to the wilderness, to be conducted while walking along a path or a trail. When young adults are able to unwind and relax in nature, they can escape some of the environmental triggers that may be present in a more urban environment.

Bring Ecotherapy into your Home

Although the “walk and talk” approach is well established, it might not be easily accessible for those who are practicing social distancing. Today, many people are getting help from mental health specialists through virtual connections and telehealth sessions. Fortunately, many of these specialists can still engage in ecotherapy with their patients while at home. Decorating your home with houseplants and “bringing nature to you” can be an effective way to experience the benefits of ecotherapy without leaving your home.

Outdoor Meditation

The scientific community generally agrees that meditation can be an incredibly powerful way to deal with stress and mental health issues. Bringing your meditation practice outdoors activates your senses and deepens your connection with the natural world. In fact, the Japanese have been engaging in something called “shinrin-yoku” since ancient times. Shinrin-yoku roughly translates to “forest bathing,” and it has been linked to lower blood pressure and decreased stress hormones. 

Community Gardening

A number of mental health initiatives in recent years have focused on collaborative, social ecotherapy activities, such as community gardening. In addition to simply walking through nature and experiencing an empty beach or a quiet forest, gardening gives you the satisfaction of actively creating something. When you bring other people into the mix, you have the chance to work together on a group project and experience the literal fruits of your labor.

Dedicated Ecotherapy Parks

As ecotherapy becomes more popular throughout the world, more cities are investing in dedicated ecotherapy parks. For example, government councils in the suburbs outside Melbourne, Australia, are in the process of creating the Romsey Ecotherapy Park, which will include a sensory therapeutic space and an arts center to provide a range of ecotherapy activities. While therapists can make use of this park through guided sessions, residents can come and enjoy the space on their own.

Ecotherapy: Finding Connection in Nature

Sometimes, I feel like there’s something missing in my life. That “missing link” isn’t always clear, but the calming effect of nature never fails to help me move forward. A deep breath of cool mountain air or a face full of sea breeze may not provide me with all the answers, but it gives me the sense of calm and renewed perspective I need to handle all of life’s challenges. If you’re looking for a new way to get your bearings in this uncertain world, ecotherapy may be the answer. 

Elliot Figueira is an experienced analyst and journalist with a passion for technology and innovation. Elliot enjoys having the opportunity to research new inventions and developments over the course of his workdays. Outside of writing, Elliot enjoys acting, science-fiction literature, and cultivating various types of cacti.