Incorporating Nature into Therapy: A Framework for Practice

Abstract

In most cases, therapy is addressed as an indoor, verbal, and cognitive activity, with the relationship between therapist and client at its center (McLeod, 2003). This article presents an alternative approach to therapy, conducted in creative ways in nature, addressing the environment not merely as a setting but as a partner in the process. The article includes examples of work that took place with different clients, in varied settings. It aims at presenting basic concepts from this young framework that will inspire other practitioners to "open the doors" and explore these ideas with their clients in nature.The concept of conducting transformative and healing work in nature is not new; it can be traced back to ancient times when people lived in communities in nature. In those days, shamans would incorporate nature's healing powers into the performance of rituals and into the overall framework of traditional medicine. These rituals, which can be viewed as an ancient form of therapy

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“…Nature has started to be incorporated into therapy in a variety of ways, from counselling in outdoor settings (Berger & McLeod, 2006), to gardening for stress relief (Adevi & Martensson, 2013) or wilderness therapy, which additionally incorporates an element of adventure or challenge (Russell, 2001). White's (2012) Mindful Affective Perception Imagination in Nature (MAPIN) strategy, which involves meditation and mindfulness in nature, reportedly leads to feelings of awe, calm, joy and a sense of connection with the universe, while the Canadian Mental Health Association has trained mental health organisations across Ontario in running hiking programmes in nature for adults with mental illness; so far, the results of these "Mood Walks" show significantly greater energy and happiness levels and decreased anxiety (Mood Walks, 2015).…”

Flourishing in nature: A review of the benefits of connecting with nature and its application as a wellbeing intervention

“…For example, feeling that one's life is meaningful correlates positively with nature connectedness (e.g., Cervinka, Roderer, & Hefler, 2012;Nisbet, Zelenski, & Murphy, 2011). Furthermore, experiences in natural environments are an important source of meaning for adults of all ages (Fegg, Kramer, L'hoste, & Borasio, 2008;O'Connor & Chamberlain, 1996;Reker & Woo, 2011;Schnell, 2009;Steger et al, 2013), including clinical populations (e.g., Berger & McLeod, 2006;Granerud & Eriksson, 2014).…”

Urgent Biophilia: Human-Nature Interactions and Biological Attractions in Disaster Resilience

“…In much of the research and practice conducted under the rubric of horticultural therapy, the individual person in need of an intervention is considered a patient who is prescribed horticultural interventions by a professional practitioner. Moving toward an 'ecological' approach, researchers in the field of systemic therapies have proposed alternative strategies for healing, conducted in creative ways in nature, that address the environment not merely as a setting but as a partner in the process (Berger and McLeod 2006). In the context of SES resilience with its focus on emergent or self-organized processes, the attempt here is to move one step further toward linking consideration of individuals with consideration of groups of people, neighborhoods, and communities, who find contact with nature of their own volition, a self-administered therapy, as a means to cope with the aftermath of a disaster, crisis, or conflict.…”