Ecotherapy - Needed Now more than ever

     Tired? Irritable? Sad? Can't sleep? No motivation? Life feel empty? Feeling disconnected from yourself & your source? Numbing out in front of the fridge or the tube or with one more glass of wine? These are all signs of depression. Maybe a good physical has ruled out an organic cause of these symptoms; maybe medications & talk therapy have been tried  (all good strategies) but you don't feel any different. What if what you are suffering from is something journalist, Richard Louv, calls "Nature Deficit Disorder"? What if you could cure what ails you simply by walking outside?

     Ecotherapy is not a new concept and has been mentioned in literature as early as 1996 by Howard Clinebaugh. Clinebaugh referred to ecotherapy as work with the body and methods of healing that involve nature. He says "ecotherapy represents a new form of psychology that acknowledges the vital role of nature and addresses the human-nature relationship." (Ecotherapy, Healing With Nature in Mind, 2009). Ecotherapists not only want to know about your personal relationships, but what your relationship with Mother Earth is like as well. They are concerned with the mind-body-spirit connections with the earth and whether our disconnection from nature could be the cause of our feelings of emptiness, loneliness and loss of purpose. Is there a correlation between the rising rate of mental distress and the impact of the destruction of this place we call home?

     How is Ecotherapy different from psychotherapy? An Ecotherapist may ask a client different questions or even take a client into a "nature office", a place outside to explore oneself in more natural surroundings.  Questions an ecotherapist might ask are how often do you get outside; with whom do spend most of your time i.e. humans, animals, machines or electronics; did you have a favorite place in nature as a child; is the pace of your life fast or slow? Some ecotherapeutic strategies may include taking a media fast, decluttering or simplifying your life, using animal assisted therapies or horticultural therapy. Other strategies use sensory awareness activities, practicing yoga outside, journey dancing, dreamwork & wilderness adventures.

     Current research shows that Ecotherapy is establishing itself as an evidence based practice. Encounters with the natural world restore our sense of equilibrium, provide relief from everyday stressors, and help us remember we are part of the natural world and connected to something bigger. According to Craig Chalquist, "research consistently supports the connection between getting outside and improved psychological health. Stress, anxiety, gloomy outlook, anger diminish while self esteem and vitality increase. In some studies green exercise proves as effective as anti-depressants." (Ecotherapy, Healing With Nature in Mind, 2009) Actually getting outside maybe a challenge, but just adding plants to an office or a window with an outdoor view can have positive benefit. Pictures of natural settings and nature oriented guided imagery have positive, stress relieving benefits as well.

     Even with our busy lives there are many ways to heal ourselves and our planet. Cultivating a gratitude practice is a simple way to shift your attention to those aspects of your life that are of value to you. Just doing one thing can have an impact on the earth and on our feelings of hopelessness & despair such as planting flowers, riding a bike whenever possible, joining an environmental action group or writing to your political leaders. Simple steps can calm a sense of unease. Educate yourself about a particular environmental issue or about the interconnectedness of humans and this amazing ecosystem that we inhabit. Take ownership of the area where you live. Do a personal inventory and examine your lifestyle for more sustainable ways to live. Change thermostat settings, support a local organic farm, invest in companies that are environmentally conscientious. Join with others who are like minded and share your concerns. Check out www.goodguide.com to discover the environmental impact of your purchases.

     We can learn to use challenges to inspire creative responses and express love for ourselves and our planet. Being in nature is one of the simplest ways to boost feel good hormones. Indigenous cultures intuitively knew of our connection to this earth and many of us have lost touch with this wisdom. Ecotherapy is a timely reminder of the necessity to reconnect with nature and the missing link to healing ourselves. Henry David Thoureau says, "We need the tonic of wilderness". So go find a new place to discover, get outside, revisit a natural place from your childhood. Heal and retrieve those lost parts of yourself that are only a walk away.

More information and an extensive bibliography on this  subject can be found in Ecotherapy, Healing With Nature in Mind, 2009 edited by Linda Buzzell and Craig Chalquist, leading practitioners in the field of Ecotherapy and Ecopsychology.