The Value of Nature During Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Study of Client Experiences

Abstract

Nature is considered to have restorative qualities that can potentially improve psychotherapy success. However, little is known about how clients experience nature during psychotherapy. The research aim of this phenomenological qualitative study was to study how clients experience nature during individual outpatient psychotherapy that took place while walking in nature. More specifically we were interested in clients’ inner world experiences. All participants (N = 12) received treatment through licensed therapists for a DSM-5 classified disorder. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. To uncover true lived experiences during these interviews, participants were asked to close their eyes and envision themselves during a psychotherapy session in nature. The verbatim transcripts were coded by means of inductive thematic analysis and the results were member checked. Results showed that nature brings clients closer to their inner worlds. How nature brings this about is unfolded in a conceptual model of lived experience. We argue that psychotherapy can be enriched by considering nature as a supportive environment because bringing clients closer to their inner worlds is of essential value in facilitating successful treatment interventions.

A goal-discrepancy account of restorative nature experiences

“…The difference in the degree of hedonic goal fulfillment in Phase 2 between the nature and urban conditions might have caused the difference in indices of affective restoration observed between both conditions in Phase 3 of the study. Note that this mechanism can also explain findings from other studies on affective restoration, where, like in the Ulrich et al (1991) study, stressors frustrated the goal to engage in something pleasurable (e.g., watching video clips of industrial workplace accidents: Meuwese et al, 2021; A GOAL-DISCREPANCY ACCOUNT OF RESTORATION receiving mild electric shocks: Hedblom et al, 2019; being exposed to auditory noise: Huang et al, 2020;Valtchanov et al, 2010).…”

“…In many cases, stress may arise simply because individuals are put in a situation that conflicts with their desire to experience something A GOAL-DISCREPANCY ACCOUNT OF RESTORATION pleasant (i.e., to fulfill a hedonic goal). For example, watching movies of macabre working accidents (Meuwese et al, 2021;Ulrich et al, 1991), receiving mild electric shocks as a stressor (Hedblom et al, 2019), or being exposed to auditory noise (Huang et al, 2020;Valtchanov et al, 2010) are likely to be discrepant with participants' goal of engaging in more pleasurable activities (or avoiding unpleasant ones). In other studies, goals other than pleasure-seeking seem to be thwarted.…”

Nature nurtures authenticity: Mechanisms and consequences.

“…Suggestive evidence for nature–person fit is provided by qualitative research. For example, individuals exposed to nature (e.g., through walks in the woods) report that nature brought them closer to their inner world, emotions, or essence, and enabled them to be themselves (Meuwese et al, 2021; Revell & McCloud, 2017; Sonntag-Öström et al, 2015). Consequently, we hypothesize that nature is associated with, or fosters, authenticity.…”

Ambientes Verdes Restauradores E Saúde Mental: Revisão Sistemática

“…Uberlândia -MG v. 20 2024 e2024 8 atenção direcionada, essa pesquisa demostra que é um método de descanso para restaurar a atenção de uma determinada tarefa. Meuwese et al (2021) apresenta um recorte diferente, a proposta do estudo é fazer a junção de processos psicoterápicos da modalidade individual e caminhadas em áreas verdes, os tipos de linhas psicoterápicas aplicadas foram as abordagens, na Terapia Centrada no Cliente e na Psicoterapia Cognitiva Comportamental, ou seja, o paciente não foi atendido em consultório e sim em ambiente aberto na natureza.…”

“…Ainda conforme Meuwese et al, (2021), a natureza pode ser utilizada como mais um recurso nas intervenções psicoterápicas. Esse estudo conclui que realizar psicoterapia em ambiente natural verde proporciona uma aproximação dos clientes com seus mundos internos e apresenta a possibilidade de considerarmos seriamente a natureza como um ambiente terapêutico.…”