What is Nature Therapy? and How Can It Help Me?
Nature therapy, also known as ecotherapy, is a type of therapy that involves spending time in nature to improve mental and physical health. It is based on the concept of using nature to help us heal, especially psychologically. Instead of spending time enjoying and benefiting from the natural environment, we are spending more and more time on screens and online. We do not spend time outside as much as we did before to decompress, let off steam, or recharge. We may no longer bike through a meadow or play games at the lake, for example, as we did when we were children. We’ve replaced those leisurely activities with more time spent on social media and video games. The ramifications are we are a stressed-out society with a variety of mental health maladies.
Nature therapy can take many distinct forms, but often involves meaningful exposure to nature. Here are some examples of nature therapy techniques:
- Brief Nature-Based Experiences: Short and enjoyable excursions (of less than one day) into nature. Includes day hikes, forest bathing (forest trips for relaxation and pleasure), and wandering (unstructured exploration of the environment).
- Nature Meditations: Purposefully relaxing in and observing nature, often focusing on present nature features.
- Nature Ceremonies: Celebratory activities or rituals expressing gratitude to or cultivating closeness with nature, especially conducted outdoors (e.g. singing and drumming; tea circles; incense or candle-lighting; campfire chants).
- Nature Arts and Crafts: Creating arts and crafts outdoors, especially using natural materials (e.g. painting on leaves or rocks; jewelry-making with local shells; sculpting with collected twigs and clay).
- Horticultural Therapy: Working with plants for relaxation (e.g. gardening; flower arranging).
- Care Farming: Stewardship and tending of animals, crops, and woodlands.
- Animal Therapy: Spending quality time with animals for relaxation.
- Green Exercise: Group exercises in nature (e.g. outdoor yoga). May also entail physical activities associated with conservation work (e.g. planting trees).
- Adventure Therapy: Strenuous outdoor group activities (e.g. rafting; climbing).
- Wilderness Therapy: Multi-day, skills-building group activities in remote outdoor settings (e.g. survival camping).
Nature therapy has been shown to benefit the psychological, physical and social well-being of different patient cohorts. Evidence of physiological, psychological, social, vocational and quality of life benefits from participation in nature-based therapies was evident in the literature 1. Studies show that the effects of nature may go deeper than providing a sense of well-being, helping to reduce crime and aggression. A 2015 study of 2,000 people in the United Kingdom found that more exposure to nature translated into more community cohesion and substantially lower crime rates 2.
Here are some easy ways to incorporate nature therapy into your daily routine:
- Add plants: They not only remove toxins from the air, but research shows that people who spend time around plants have lower levels of stress and anxiety 3.
- Decorate with paintings or photographs of nature: Choose pretty landscapes, lush gardens, or natural scenes. In yet another study, researchers found that even looking at pictures of nature can help reduce stress 3.
- Use soundscapes and download apps: There are many apps available that offer nature sounds, such as birds chirping, waves crashing, and rain falling. These sounds can help you relax and feel more connected to nature 3.
- Take a walk in nature: Even a short walk in nature can help reduce stress and improve your mood 3.
- Try forest bathing: Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice that involves spending time in a forest and immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. It has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood 3.
Incorporating nature therapy into your daily routine can be a simple and effective way to improve your mental and physical health. Whether it’s taking a walk in the park, spending time in your garden, or simply looking at pictures of nature, there are many ways to connect with nature and reap its benefits. So, next time you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try spending some time in nature and see how it makes you feel.
I hope this article helps you understand what nature therapy is and how it can benefit your mental and physical health. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask!