An exploration of the relationship between wellbeing and the natural environment
Ecotherapy is a broad term used to describe ways of engaging with the natural environment that recognize the psychological and social dimensions of human experience.
Wellbeing is viewed within relationships between people, place, and the systems they inhabit
Time spent outdoors has historically been embedded into daily life through movement, work, ritual, and community. In contemporary settings, ecotherapy offers a framework for reconsidering how distance from natural environments, stimulation, and accelerated pace shape our attention and perception.
Nature as a therapeutic place and tool for enhancing service users’ engagement in mental health services: A comprehensive synthesis of evidence
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829224001722
The effectiveness of nature-based therapy for community psychological distress and well-being during COVID-19: a multi-site trial
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-49702-0
‘Into the Wild’: A meta-synthesis of talking therapy in natural outdoor spaces
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735820300295
Nature as therapist: Integrating permaculture with mindfulness- and acceptance-based therapy in the Danish Healing Forest Garden Nacadia
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13642537.2012.734471
Therapists face several obstacles when using nature as a clinical tool. These include inconsistent session protocols, limited training in outdoor risk management and animal‑assisted ethics, safety and liability concerns (for example, weather, terrain or client mobility), accessibility challenges for clients without nearby green space or reliable transport, and uncertainty about billing, documentation and maintaining confidentiality in public settings.
What are the existing barriers?
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