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ECO THERAPY
(NATURE THERAPY, EARTH CENTERED THERAPY, ECO PSYCHOLOGY)
What does eco means?
'Eco' is short for ecology, i.e. the science of studying the earth, the environment, etc. Because
many ecologists are campaigning against pollution, etc. it has been associated with the green
movement.Also the Green Party was originally called the Ecology Party.
'Eco' has become a prefix for features of the green movement, e.g. eco-activist, eco-minded, etc
Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom:
A History of Ecopsychology:
Social historian Theodore Roszak gave the first public definition of the field of ecopsychology in
his book Voice of the Earth (Roszak, 1992). Many of the central ideas of ecopsychology can also
be found in his earlier work (Roszak, 1979). Further elaboration of the field took place with the
publication in 1995 of Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth Healing the Mind. This impressive
collection of papers edited by Roszak, Mary Gomes, and Allen Kanner is highly recommended
to anyone looking for an introductory overview of the field of ecopsychology.
The apparent richness and variety of the contributions to Ecopsychology are somewhat
deceptive, however. Of the 26 papers inEcopsychology, only one seems to have been written by
an academic psychologist and only one by a scientific ecologist. With a few exceptions, the rest
emphasize only two views of psychology- psychodynamic and transpersonal. Roszak’s version
of ecopsychology and the representation in the collection could perhaps better be described as
"ecopsychiatry" than ecopsychology. Roszak adopted the medical metaphor of psychoanalysis in
his conceptualization of the field and nearly half the papers in the collection are from various
perspectives of neo-analytic dynamic clinical psychology. Reser (1995) has characterized eco
psychology as a variant of transpersonal psychology.
Ecopsychology has many roots: Buddhist philosophy, various mystical traditions within most
religions, the romantic movement in Europe, and the transcendentalist movement in the United
States (Reser, 1995). James, Freud, Jung, Skinner, and many other psychologists along with
Muir, Leopold, and other ecologists have considered various aspects of the human-nature
relationship. The work of philosopher Paul Shephard (1982) and ecologist Aldo Leopold (1949)
are probably the most direct intellectual ancestors of ecopsychology. Beginning in the 1960s,
Michael Cohen, Robert Greenway, Art Warmoth, and perhaps others began using wilderness
settings for psychotherapy or education.
Within clinical psychology, in addition to the insight- and growth-oriented therapies already
included, we should examine the questions of ecopsychology from other perspectives of clinical
psychology such as cognitive (rational-emotive, reality, multi-modal, social learning theory)
therapies, behavior therapy, systems therapy, radical therapy, stress management, narrative
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therapy, and somatic therapy perspectives. Clinebell (1996) presents a good overview of many of
these traditions and how they might apply to ecopsychology.
Skinner, the leading figure in behavioral psychology, was one of the first psychologists to
recognize the environmental crisis (Skinner, 1971) and the role psychology (behaviour analysis)
might have in dealing with it. Pioneering work on ecopsychological questions has been done by
behaviour analysts (some of this work is reviewed by Dwyer, Leeming, Cobern, Porter, &
Jackson, 1993). Social psychology has been applied with some success to environmental
problems (Stern, 1992). Winter (1997) has provided an overview of ways in which many diverse
fields of psychology might be relevant to ecological questions and Gardner and Stern (1996)
have written a textbook covering some of the relationships between scientific ecology and
behavioural science.
―Ecotherapy‖ was coined by pastoral counselor and Civil Rights activist Howard Clinebell in
1996 to describe healing through conscious reconnection with the natural world. Since then,
ecotherapy has come to include interactions with animals, gardening therapy, recreational
therapy, wilderness excursion work, various forms of ―green‖ exercise, and a number of other
―healing as though the Earth mattered‖ practices.
Ecology, and particularly systems theory (Laszlo, 1996), along with other aspects of biological
science may have a great deal to contribute to our view of the human-nature relationship. Eco
psychology can be informed by sociobiology, evolutionary psychology, chaos theory,
evolutionary biology, and other areas of modern biological science. The human-nature
connection is also powerfully influenced by the human systems studied by political science,
economics, sociology, and anthropology.
"Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
Your may give them your love but not your thoughts."
~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, 1923
What would happen if we moved the therapist’s office outside?
Even better, what would happen if we invited Earth to be our therapist?
Of course, there have always been purported ―nature cures‖, with thousands of us visiting
forests, beaches and national parks in search of such cures. But most of this activity flows in only
one direction: from nature to the recipients of its benefits and beauty. If it is true that creativity is
necessary for all true healing, then a one-way process that remains at the level of mere
entertainment has more in common with tired old patterns of exploitation than with healing.
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Ecotherapy / Nature Therapy
Ecotherapy, also known as nature therapy, is the applied practice of the emergent field of eco
psychology. An ecotherapist understands that people are part of the web of life, and approaches
clients from the perspective that our psyches are not isolated or separate from our environment.
Some may even consider the natural world to have its own psyche, and as such, we foster a
relationship of mutuality with the earth.
Ecopsychology and Ecotherapy
Ecotherapy is the practice of ecopsychology. Ecopsychology is a term of Roszak's to describe the
integration of ecology and psychology. It has also been called green psychology by Ralph
Metzner. What these terms attempt to describe is a developing consciousness shift of the human
psyche in respect to the earth. It is an attempt to explain the psychological structures that are
involved in human behavior threatening to destroy the planet on which we live and are
dependent upon for our survival. It is also a recognition that human psychological well-being is
threatened by the beliefs and behaviors that negatively impact the planet.
Ecotherapy, then, is the practice of facilitating awareness of these destructive beliefs and
behaviors and engaging in a healing practice of reconciliation. It is different from other therapies
in that sessions may be held in natural environments and mindfulness practices (like meditation)
are often used. For me this is an extension of the relational work begun in my earlier education
and practice as a marriage and family therapist. It is acknowledging that one directly effects and
is affected by the natural environment.
Transformation, Not Just Entertainment
Ecotherapy seeks a deeper transformation, changing spectators and exploiters of nature into its
friends and advocates. For the ecotherapy practitioner, plants, animals, rivers, and landscapes are
never mere tools or backdrops: they are active, creative partners who should benefit from what
they give us. Gardens should flourish, soils regenerate, dogs and dolphins should enjoy their
work with us and receive our protection and respect in return.
Ecotherapy is not psychotherapy, neither does it replace psychiatry, but it challenges both
modalities to reconceptualize their view of human nature. We cannot expect to feel really well
while living in ailing cities or toxic lands. For us to be sane and whole, our healing process must
support the healing of the planet, and vice versa.
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How Does It Work?
It is geared toward helping people learn to cope by forging a connection with
nature. Specifically, eco-therapy addresses clients' anxieties and fears about the environment
(eco-anxiety). People who practice eco-therapy are called eco-therapists, although some
conventional therapists integrate eco-therapy into their practices.
Eco-anxiety is a relatively new psychological problem. It has been conjectured that it may be a
new manifestation of an older problem, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Those
who suffer from it become unhealthily obsessed with environmental concerns, and symptoms
can mimic OCD.
While being concerned about the environment is not at all unhealthy - in fact, it can be quite the
opposite - eco-anxiety takes this concern a step too far. Sufferers are unable to function normally
as thoughts of man-made environmental destruction consume their thoughts and result in
depression, anxiety, and overall unhappiness.
Even physical maladies have been attributed to eco-anxiety, as tension in the body results in
chronic pain and/or fatigue. Eco-anxious people cannot enjoy the natural world because they are
preoccupied with the notion that it is being destroyed by global warming, deforestation, and
other human actions.
Eco-therapy helps these people let go of the anxiety and appreciate nature once again. Eco-
therapists teach their clients that everyone is a part of the natural world, and they should embrace
this interconnectedness. Eco-therapists' clients learn to achieve balance in their everyday lives,
such alternating between buying organic and non-organic food.
They also learn balance by gaining an understanding of their place in the natural world - it is
vital enough for them to feel significant, but minor enough that they need not worry about having
a catastrophic effect on the natural world. In other words, eco-therapy teaches people their place
on this earth and how they belong. Eco-therapists help clients build a healthy relationship with
nature.
As with any therapy and relationship, healing is a process that takes time. Eco-anxious clients
learn the facts about the environment - eco-therapists know that truth is a wonderful remedy for
anxiety.
Clients learn to do their part to make a difference, such as saving water and recycling, which
helps them feel empowered and active. They come to understand that the health of the planet is
connected to their mental and physical health. By taking an active role in helping the
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environment, clients find themselves more at ease. In helping the earth, they are helping
themselves.
Eco therapy also called earth centered therapy.
Earth-Centred Therapy
Earth-centred therapy is about healing and deepening the relationship between humans and the
rest of Earth’s life. At this time most of us humans are living like renegade cells within the body
of our mother Earth – consuming her voraciously while failing to support, or be truly supported
by, the living system of which we are part.
Everything in this world is alive and constantly interactive. We are all events in a field zinging
with unstoppable creativity, and we participate in this creation at every moment. Their focus will
be on working with the powerful energies of animals, plants, trees, the elements and all Earth –
as well as Sun, Moon and stars – to restore the primal experience of belonging and sharing in the
magnificent co-creation of our planet.
Sometimes Earth-centred therapy can bring up painful feelings such as loss, grief, guilt and
anger, as we contemplate the damage done to our world and the loss of so many beings who once
shared it with us. Many people feel terror concerning the future on Earth, fearing escalating
disasters due to climate change, war, economic and social collapse etc. In this work I will
support you in feeling and expressing whatever comes up for you, so that difficult feelings can
be explored and allowed to pass through you. We will not necessarily come to a comfortable
resolution of these issues, but this process will help to align you with your true self and with the
vitality of Earth. Then your energy can become free for the work of loving this world, and
sharing in shaping it, in a very different way.Much of our work will take place outdoors, and
may include ideas for you to carry out between sessions.Earth-centered therapy can be
undertaken either one-to-one or by joining a group.
Connection with Earth: Core of Ecotherapy
Connection with earth and its systems are at the core of ecotherapy. Ecotherapists believe that
the earth has a self-righting capacity through complex systems of integrated balance, and that if
we can harmonize with those systems, we will experience mental health. Personal well-being and
planetary well-being are not separate from each other, and each must consider the needs of the
other. In taking care of the earth, we care for ourselves. People’s lives are therefore seen as part
of a greater system of interaction that includes both non-humans as well as human beings.
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Eight principles offered in eco therapy:
Psychotherapy is best played by ear. It is after all a matter of listening to the whole person, all
that is submerged, unborn, in hiding: the infant, the shadow, the savage, the outcast. The list of
principles we offer here is merely a guide, suggesting how deep that listening must go to hear the
Self that speaks through the self.
1. The core of the mind is the ecological unconscious. For ecopsychology, repression of the
ecological unconscious is the deepest root of collusive madness in industrial society. Open
access to the ecological unconscious is the path to sanity.
2. The contents of the ecological unconscious represent, in some degree, at some level of
mentality, the living record of cosmic evolution, tracing back to distant initial conditions in the
history of time. Contemporary studies in the ordered complexity of nature tell us that life and
mind emerge from this evolutionary tale as culminating natural systems within the unfolding
sequence of physical, biological, mental, and cultural systems we know as "the universe."
Ecopsychology draws upon these findings of the new cosmology, striving to make them real to
experience.
3. Just as it has been the goal of previous therapies to recover the repressed contents of the
unconscious, so the goal of ecopsychology is to awaken the inherent sense of environmental
reciprocity that lies within the ecological unconscious. Other therapies seek to heal the alienation
between person and person, person and family, person and society. Ecopsychology seeks to heal
the more fundamental alienation between the recently created urban psyche and the age-old
natural environment.
4. For ecopsychology as for other therapies, the crucial stage of development is the life of
the child. The ecological unconscious is regenerated, as if it were a gift, in the newborn's
enchanted sense of the world. Ecopsychology seeks to recover the child's innately animistic
quality of experience in functionally "sane" adults. To do this, it turns to many sources, among
them traditional healing techniques of primary people, nature mysticism as expressed in religion
and art, the experience of wilderness, the insights of Deep Ecology. Thus, for example,
Wordsworth's hymns to the child's love of nature are basic texts for developmental
ecopsychology, a first step toward creating the ecological ego.
5. The ecological ego matures toward a sense of ethical responsibility to the planet that is as
vividly experienced as our ethical responsibility to other people. It seeks to weave that
responsibility into the fabric of social relations and political decisions.
6. Among the therapeutic projects most important to ecopsychology is the re-evaluation of
certain compulsively "masculine" character traits that permeate our structures of political power
and which drive us to dominate nature as if it were an alien and rightless realm. In this regard,
ecopsychology draws significantly on the insights of ecofeminism with a view to demystifying
the sexual stereotypes.
7. Whatever contributes to small scale social forms and personal empowerment nourishes
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the ecological ego. Whatever strives for large-scale domination and the suppression of
personhood undermines the ecological ego. Ecopsychology therefore deeply questions the
essential sanity of our gargantuan urban-industrial culture, whether capitalistic or collectivistic in
its organization. But it does so without necessarily rejecting the technological genius of our
species or some life-enhancing measure of the industrial power we have assembled.
Ecopsychology is postindustrial notanti-industrial in its social orientation.
8. Ecopsychology holds that there is a synergistic interplay between planetary and personal
well-being. The term "synergy" is chosen deliberately for its traditional theological connotation,
which once taught that the human and divine are cooperatively linked in the quest for salvation.
The contemporary ecological translation of the term might be: the needs of the planet are the
needs of the person, the rights of the person are the rights of the planet.
What are the benefits of ecotherapy on mental health?
Ecotherapy often has the benefit of easing anxiety and depression associated with a sense of
disconnection many people are experiencing. In Western culture in particular our world view
prioritizes the individual over the community.
Technology has played its part as well. Though technology has many wonderful benefits, it does
add an additional separation from face-to-face contact and speeds the amount of information
exchanged. People rarely take time to sit and be fully present with each
other. Relationships become focused on tasks to do and this increases the sense of alienation.
Ecotherapy then slows the pace at which we experience our time in nature, encourages sitting
quietly and attending to one's experience of the natural world. Without exception, those who
have begun this practice to have at minimum experienced an increase in feelings of relaxation.
However, many others have described much more profound experiences where they describe
feeling a sense support and wisdom they had not previously known. Going into nature with the
intention of discovery leads many to a shift of identity as being part of something bigger than
oneself; this recognition of connection profoundly changes how one experiences self and
relationships."
Can a Stroll in the Park Replace the Psychiatrist’s Couch?
A new generation of psychologists and therapists focus on the relationship between nature and
mental health.
To help confront a marriage in crisis, Adams (a pseudonym) sought counseling. But the 34-year-
old lawyer from Syracuse, New York, didn’t opt for the psychiatrist’s couch. Instead, he chose
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the mountain. Adams turned to an emerging practice called ecotherapy, which applies the
principles of ecopsychology — the study of how the natural world influences mental health.
―I don’t have an office — all my meetings are outside regardless of the weather,‖ said Dennis
Grannis-Phoenix, an ecotherapist in Bangor, Maine who began counseling Adams in 2004.
Hiking, camping, kayaking — each therapeutic session centered on an outdoor activity. Grannis-
Phoenix asked Adams to climb the mountain alone as an exercise in learning to face his fears and
anxieties. Instead of rationalizing his fears, Grannis-Phoenix wanted Adams to embrace them —
something both therapist and patient feel is easier to learn in nature than in an office.
―Nature forces you to confront your immediate circumstances,‖ said Adams. ―Ecotherapy speaks
to you not just through your analytical and verbal capabilities — your body interacts with
nature.‖ In a way, Adams said, interacting with nature is a kind of therapy for both body and
mind.
Science and Skepticism
In the past few years, some ecopsychologists have made significant strides in adding scientific
rigor to their field. What their research suggests so far is that even subtle interactions with nature
provide a range of cognitive benefits, including elevated mood, enhanced memory, and
decreased stress. Staring out a window at pretty scenery can significantly lower one’s heart rate,
for example, and some studies even indicate that hospital windows with views of nature can
facilitate healing. What’s more, nature provides measurably greater benefits than both manmade
environments and simulations of nature. Research demonstrates that walking through the city can
tax our attention, whereas a park restores our concentration and can even improve our
performance on tests of memory.
These findings come from controlled studies that follow the tenets of mainstream psychology.
Despite the new enthusiasm for serious empirical work, many researchers in mainstream
psychology remain cautious about drawing any conclusions that ecopsychological studies cannot
properly support. ―My impression as an outsider is that ecopsychology is a promising but
preliminary field,‖ said Scott O. Lilienfeld, a psychologist at Emory University. ―I wouldn’t say
it’s conclusive, but there are certainly many suggestions that nature may be helpful for short-
term mental health. There’s no question it can have positive effects on mood. I think claims that
nature may be helpful are reasonable, but claims that our technological society or distance from
nature are massively detrimental to mental health go beyond the current data.‖
Parks and Relaxation
According to Thomas Doherty, a clinical psychologist in Portland, Oregon and the editor
ofEcopsychology, research by these second generation ecopsychologists evidences the
measurable benefits of nature for both body and mind. In green spaces, for example, people’s
heart rates decrease, their muscles relax, and they become calmer. It’s the difference you feel
when you leave behind a busy city street for a peaceful park.
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A recent study by Ruckert’s advisor Peter Kahn confirmed these findings. First, Kahn stressed
out his participants by giving them a series of math tests. Then he placed some people in front of
a window overlooking a grassy lawn with trees, others in front of a large plasma television
screen displaying the lawn in real time, and still others in front of a blank wall. As expected,
those in front of the window experienced the quickest drop in stress levels, as measured by their
decreasing heart rate. Participants also spent far more time looking out the window and at the
plasma screen than at the blank wall. But the researchers found an unexpected result.
―Surprisingly, the blank wall and the plasma screen were no different in terms of stress
reduction,‖ said Ruckert. Their study indicates that gazing at an authentic natural space reduces
stress, whereas a digital replica of nature soothes only as well as a boring blank wall.
Ecotherapy Influences
Ecopsychology is informed by systemstheory, terrapsychology, chaos theory, relational, and
traditional theoretical areas. Among others, ecotherapy applies practices such as Joanna Macy's
despair to empowerment work, Molly Young Brown's great turning, and most recently re-
emplacement, terratherapy, and homecoming practices emerging from terrapsychology. Some
practitioners teach and practice ecopsychology exclusively, while many mental health
professionals are now incorporating aspects of ecotherapy into their existing practices.
Ecotherapy Activities
Ecotherapy is based on the theory that nature heals. Patients recovering from surgery heal faster
when they have a window with a view of a tree or garden. Sad seniors brighten instantly when a
baby or puppy comes to visit. Even violent offenders have been shown to behave less
aggressively when they are given a window with a view of the great outdoors. Ecotherapy
activities are intimately tied to nature and the world in its organic state. Long walks in the
country are encouraged for people suffering with depression. Gardening or fishing can help
relieve stress or tension. Helping revitalize or restore a common area in your community can
create a feeling of purpose and hopefulness. Finding a quiet place to observe the beauty of the
living world around you while just existing allows you to slow down and realize your deep
connection to everything. Ecotherapy is a fluid approach that offers a wide variety of activities to
fit your lifestyle and your goals.
Ecotherapy Jobs
Ecotherapists are trained in the specific techniques of ecotherapy and facilitate sessions to help
clients improve their psychological well-being. The role of ecotherapist is that of care
coordinator, acting as a liaison with other medical professionals, to develop a treatment plan that
will ensure all mental, physical and spiritual needs are being met. Ecotherapists design therapy
activities and provide instruction and direction to clients during the treatment. They observe and
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analyze the client’s progress and participation throughout the process and collaborate with the
client to make any necessary changes in the course of treatment. Ecotherapists usually plan
outdoor activities in a structured manner and often act as recreational therapists in some settings,
such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and youth treatment centers.
