ECOTHERAPY PRACTICE

Learn the practice of Ecotherapy

Ecotherapy involves harnessing our natural affinity with nature to help improve the human condition: physically and psychologically.

Wellbeing is improved by:

• Being surrounded by nature
• Working with components of nature
• Interacting with other living things (e. plants or animals)

Ecotherapy may be practiced professionally as a full or part time profession using a narrow or broad variety of approaches. Whether horticultural therapy, forest bathing or animal therapy or something else - ecotherapy is a practice that is soundly underpinned by proven research and experience.

Who might benefit from this course?

• Anyone working in health support or wellbeing industries
• Practitioners seeking to broaden the services they wish to offer their clients.
• Professional development for people who work with nature and/or wellbeing - from horticulture teachers and wellness coaches to ecotourism operators and zoo staff.
• Anyone seeking to better manage their own wellbeing or others around them.

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Nature and Scope of Ecotherapy
   • Applications of ecotherapy
   • Ecopsychology
   • What is ecotherapy?
   • What is involved in ecotherapy
   • Using ecotherapy alongside other therapies
   • The need for mental health interventions
   • General benefits of nature on wellbeing
   • Ecotherapy settings
   • Useful terminology
2. Theory of Ecotherapy
   • General findings
   • Ecological theories
   • Problems associated with built environments
   • Models underpinning ecotherapy
   • Nature and mental health research
   • Is direct contact with nature necessary?
3. Ecotherapy Clients
   • General wellbeing benefits
   • Psychological benefits
   • Physical benefits
   • Understanding the body’s responses to stress
   • General barriers to getting involved in ecotherapy
   • How to overcome these barriers
   • Ecotherapy for mental disorders
   • Ecotherapy for physical conditions
   • Specific issues
4. Intake Assessment and Ecotherapy Resources
   • Interviewing potential clients
   • Interviewing techniques
   • Determining suitability
   • Background history
   • Choosing ecotherapy environments
5. Environment-Based Ecotherapy
   • Using the environment
   • Types of environment activities
   • Conservation projects
   • Wilderness Therapy
   • Forest bathing
   • Breathing and relaxation exercises
   • Other outdoor activities
6. Plant-Based Ecotherapy
   • Physical ecotherapy activities
   • Psychological ecotherapy activities
   • Fascination therapy
   • Adventure therapy
   • Horticultural therapy
   • Using the senses
7. Animal-Based Ecotherapy
   • Bird watching
   • Pet therapy
   • Equine assisted therapy and horse riding
   • Animal habitats
   • Care farming and therapeutic farm activities
   • Interacting with wildlife
   • Using the senses
8. Indoor Ecotherapy
   • Indoor applications of ecotherapy
   • Workspaces
   • Photographs
   • Growing at home
   • Fresh flowers in the home or ecotherapy space
   • Touching nature
   • Arts and crafts
   • Creating nature indoors
   • Pets and animals indoors
9. Creativity based Ecotherapy
   • Therapeutic photography
   • Writing therapy
   • Art therapy
   • Music therapy
   • Drama therapy
   • Dance therapy
   • The benefits of creative therapies
10. Holistic Wellness incorporating Ecotherapy
    • Walking
    • Relaxation
    • Mindfulness
    • Counselling in nature
    • Combining ecotherapy with other modalities
    • Our connection with nature

What is involved in Ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy is a type of therapeutic treatment involving exposure to nature. Although it is often done through outdoor activities related to nature, it is not strictly necessary to be outdoors. Nature and natural objects can be experienced indoors. For instance, wooden furniture can provide a connection with trees, natural stone flooring can provide a connection with mountains or rocks, a painting of flowers can provide a connection with plants - as could a television program on the natural world. 

Also, it is not just about seeing natural things. Our experiences with nature can be through any of the sensory modalities – sight, touch, sound, smell, or taste. The experiences could also be through our sixth sense of ‘proprioception’ i.e. awareness of our body being in a natural environment.       

There is no single satisfactory definition of ecotherapy, but it tends to refer to activities that include:

• Support the individual or group by a therapist
• Doing something in a green environment
• Exploration and appreciation of nature and the natural world around us
• Spending time with others and interacting with them at your own pace and in your own way

The focus of ecotherapy is on the activity rather than the person’s health or mental health. I's affect on health is subtle in this way, but no less significant.

Ecotherapy can be run on its own or in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as animal therapies, creative therapies (e.g. art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy), horticulture therapy, play therapy, and so on. It may also be used in conjunction with more traditional types of therapy, such as solutions-focussed therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), or counselling.