Ecotherapy

Understand how nature can help promote healing and growth of general wellbeing and mental health.

Ecotherapy or Green therapy - a practice of ecopsychology

• Connect with Nature
• Increase general well being and mental health

This course will broaden and deepen your understanding of nature therapies or ecotherapy's.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Nature & Scope of Ecotherapy Applications
   • Ecopsychology
   • What is Ecotherapy
   • Need for Mental Health Interventions
   • General Benefits of Nature on Wellbeing
   • Ecotherapy Settings
   • Care Farms
   • Community Gardens
   • Parks
   • Wilderness
   • Green Spaces
   • Nature in Towns and Cities
   • Terminology
   • Lesson Review
2. Theoretical Perspectives
   • Ecological Theories
   • Problems Associated with Built Environments
   • Nature & Mental Health Research
   • Is Direct Contact with Nature Necessary?
   • Lesson Review
3. Clients in Ecotherapy
   • Psychological Wellbeing Benefits to Clients
   • Physical Benefits to Clients
   • Barriers to Getting Involved in Ecotherapy
   • Psychological Issues -Biophobia, Agoriphobia, Autism
   • Physical Issues -Mobility, Sensory Deficits
   • Safe Practices – Hazards, Risks, Allergies, First Aid, Legalities, Insurance, Ethics
   • Lesson Review
4. Outdoor Ecotherapy with Plants
   • Activities with Plants
   • Harvesting Food
   • Grow Your Own Food
   • Foraging
   • Conservation Projects
   • Gardening
   • Green Exercise, Green Gyms
   • Blue Spaces
   • Psychological Ecotherapy Activity – Fascination Therapy, Nature Meditation, Forest Bathing, Horticultural Therapy, etc
   • Using the Senses – Taste, Sound, Smell. Touch, Sight
   • Extreme Weather
   • Lesson Review
5. Outdoor Ecotherapy with Animals
   • Ecotherapy with Animals
   • Bird Watching
   • Photography
   • Pets
   • Pet Therapy
   • Equine Therapy
   • Farms
   • Interacting with Wildlife
   • Water
   • Using the Senses
   • Lesson Review
6. Indoor Ecotherapy Activities
   • Electronically Engaging with Nature
   • Photographs
   • Stargazing
   • Growing plants Indoors
   • Cut Flowers
   • Touching Nature
   • Arts and Crafts
   • Indoor Pets/ Animals
   • Lesson Review
7. Creative Arts Ecotherapy Activities
   • Therapeutic Photography
   • Writing
   • Poetry
   • Art
   • Music
   • Drama
   • Dance
   • Play Therapy
   • Lesson Review
8. Complementary Therapies and Activities
   • Walking
   • Relaxation
   • Mindfulness
   • Counselling in Nature
   • Silence
   • Other Modalities
   • Our Connection with Nature
   • Lesson Review
   • Final Assessment

Who is this course for?

This is suitable for –

• Psychologists
• Counsellors
• Health professionals
• Youth Worker
• Carers
• Support family member or friend

Studying made to suit you

• Enrol at any time and start studying immediately.
• Work through at your own pace - there are no deadlines for this course.
• Automated self assessment tests pop up at the end of each lesson - review your results and re-do the tests if you wish.
• The Short Course is completed with an automated exam - if you achieve a 60% pass in the exam, you immediately receive a downloadable certificate of completion with your name on it.
• Developed by a school with 40+ years experience in education.