Psychosocial Interventions Situated Within the Natural Environment with Young People Who Have Experienced Trauma: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The natural environment is increasingly used in therapeutic psychosocial interventions for young people who have experienced trauma. However, as the research in this area has yet to be synthesised, very little is known about the types and outcomes of interventions. This prevents the optimisation of social work interventions in outdoor settings. Consequently, a scoping review of peer-reviewed research published from 2008 to 2018 was undertaken to examine how nature is being used in psychosocial interventions with young people aged ten to twenty-four years who have experienced trauma and the impact of these interventions on young people’s mental health. The database search identified 5,425 records; however, only ten papers met the inclusion criteria. These papers suggested that positive changes across a range of mental health outcomes for young people were achieved in psychosocial interventions which were situated in, or made use of the natural environment, although it is unclear whether the environment influenced the outcomes. The scoping review also highlighted the need for conducting further research that examines how environmental factors contribute to clinical change for young people who have experienced trauma.

Nature-based interventions in social work practice and education: Insights from six nations

“…However, opportunities for environmental practice appeared to have developed through disaster response work and community practices, which while anthropocentric, support social workers to make connections between their practice and the natural world. Nature-based practices also appeal to human-centred practice because of the benefits for the health and well-being of social work clients (Boddy et al, 2021; Pryor et al, 2005; Tretter and Löffler-Stastka, 2019). Rather than challenging dominant anthropocentric ideas, nature-based practices can create a context where appreciation and respect for the natural world is enhanced as people are exposed to nature.…”

“…For this reason, this model is not only situated in activism but also in self-care. Given the physical and mental health benefits of nature (Boddy et al, 2021), finding self-care outdoors is useful for continuing to practise ecosocial work on macro, mezzo and micro levels.…”

“…This construct highlights the importance of connections and ecological systems; however, it has been criticised for its exclusion of the natural environment (Besthorn and Saleeby, 2003; O’Leary and Tsui, 2021). Furthermore, the focus on the social environment gives little consideration of the benefits of nature, despite the importance of the natural environment on mental and physical health (Androff et al, 2017; Boddy et al, 2021; Norton, 2012). Historically, ‘social work’s notion of environment has always been unnecessarily restrictive’ (Besthorn and Canda, 2002: 79), but there is growing pressure to recognise that individual, family and community health are connected to environmental and planetary health (Krings et al, 2020; Norton, 2009; O’Leary and Tsui, 2021).…”

“…Globally, nature is increasingly being used in psychosocial and health interventions to promote health, well-being and quality of life (Boddy et al, 2021). There is growing awareness in behavioural and physical health professions that the human–nature connection is key to healthy biopsychosocial development (Tretter and Löffler-Stastka, 2019) and that exposure to natural environments improves people’s physical and mental health (Boddy et al, 2021; Dzhambov et al, 2018; Pryor et al, 2005). Furthermore, social workers globally have been involved in natural disasters, rural social work, environmental advocacy and creating sustainable communities (Dominelli, 2012; Gum, 2022; Ramsay et al, 2022).…”

Nature-based allied health: current practice, challenges and opportunities

“…Although research has been conducted regarding the use NBAs amongst by AHPs [17,27,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53], to our knowledge only three studies have examined AHPs use of these NBAs outside of a research setting [34,54,55]. Those three studies examined occupational therapists and physiotherapists engaging in nature-based rehabilitation with people with acquired brain injuries [34], social workers using NBAs with children and parents living in shelters [54], and occupational therapists using gardening or garden-related activities [55].…”