“Green therapy”: the healing power of nature

At the next stage in the development of civilization, humanity is making an attempt to return to its origins – to the bosom of nature, from where it came out. “Green” or ecotherapy is the practice of ecopsychology, the formation of which we owe to the American historian, culturologist and counterculture theorist Theodore Rozzak. Today, ecotherapy is one of the areas that is gaining popularity in the West and in Russia.

We are part of an ecosystem

The concept of ecotherapy is quite obvious: since humanity is part of the living world of the planet, our psyche cannot exist separately from the entire ecosystem. Therefore, synchronization with it helps to stabilize the psychological and physical state of a person. Thus, the essence of ecotherapy is a connection with the biosystems of the Earth, which, according to many experts, have the ability to self-balance.

“Adjustment” to the rhythm of the living planet helps a person to bring the psyche and some aspects of physical health into a healthy balance. “I had the opportunity to spend 10 days in Costa Rica to recuperate. There I very quickly realized how much for me, a city dweller to the marrow of my bones, such a connection with nature was necessary, writes psychotherapist Sam Louis. “It gave me the opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and reconnect with my deepest essence.

On walks in the national park of Costa Rica, I saw many animals, insects and plants. And, unlike my other trips, where I acted as a tourist and a consumer, this one was completely different in terms of sensations. Instead of “taking” – that is, eating, drinking, seeing and settling in – I turned on. Through my inner self, I became part of the natural world and natural beauty. Touching the world that has remained exactly like this for many centuries, feeling that I am a part of it has become a deep and powerful experience for me.”

Evidence of Effectiveness

Even on a speculative level, it is not difficult to appreciate the benefits that being in nature brings to us. Having become a direction in psychotherapy, it has also undergone scientific study. Numerous studies have confirmed that ecotherapy can indeed be effective. One of them, led by psychologist Terry Hartig, looked at the effect on 3 control groups of three types of recreation: walking in nature, walking in the city, or listening to music while sitting indoors.

The decrease in the level of anger and the general improvement in the emotional state were noticeably more intense in the participants of the first group after spending time in nature. Another study was initiated by the mental health charity Mind. It showed that a walk in nature reduced the symptoms of depression in 71% of the participants.

For comparison, those who spent time in shopping centers, this figure was only 45%. Not only what a person sees in the natural environment has a beneficial effect on the psyche. All other sense organs are involved in the process, and this synergy provides the maximum benefit of “green” therapy. But even a separate effect on vision, hearing and smell gives positive results.

Listening to nature sounds like water and birdsong helped participants recover from psychological stress faster than listening to freeway noise, according to another study. And the smell of fruits distributed in the hospital led to a decrease in depressive mood in patients.

Available features

Direct and full access to nature is not possible for everyone and not always. Therefore, ecotherapists offer patients at least a partial practice – for example, hang up photo landscapes to improve mood and life satisfaction.

One of researcher Roger Ulrich’s projects confirmed that patients who had heart surgery were better able to cope with anxiety and were less likely to need medication after pictures of trees and bodies of water were hung in the intensive care unit.

Another researcher, Rachel Kaplan, scientifically proved the fact that office workers whose window view was “green” were more likely than others to report job and life satisfaction. Also interesting is the data from studies involving children – those who lived near the corners of nature showed better abilities for concentration, attentiveness and self-control than those who grew up surrounded by concrete.

After children diagnosed with ADHD spent time in nature, they experienced noticeable improvements in their condition compared to those who stayed at home or walked in the city. Indoor flowers at a child’s workplace, according to experts, have a positive effect on creativity, improve productivity and flexibility in problem solving. Healthy contact with pets reduces levels of aggression and arousal in children and older adults with Alzheimer’s disease.

Directions of ecotherapy

Some specialists practice ecotherapy as the main direction in working with clients and patients, while many, having appreciated its undoubted advantages, have included ecotherapy in their methodological arsenal as one of the treatment options. The term “ecotherapy” itself is an umbrella term and includes several rather different techniques. Some of them require the presence of a psychotherapist, others are effective when working in groups, and still others are ideal for healing retreats.

Here are some of the most popular green therapy practices:

1. Meditate in nature

Classes are held in nature – for example, in the park, sometimes in a group. Participants choose an object that attracts them, such as a tree, and spend a few minutes reflecting on how it relates to them and what they can learn from it. Thus, an elderly person suffering from a loss of self-worth can build self-esteem by meditating on the old trees in the forest. The lesson often ends with sharing – an exchange of impressions and ideas.

2. Gardening

Good old gardening is used by ecotherapists to treat stress, burnout and substance addiction, and in cases of social isolation in the elderly. In Chicago, special programs have been developed for war veterans, thanks to which patients cope with post-traumatic stress syndrome by growing flowers and vegetables.

3. Animal Therapy

Animals, one or more, may also be involved in the healing process. Hippotherapy has long been known as an effective practice for people with autism spectrum disorders and other conditions. And playing with a dog, as studies confirm, reduces the level of aggression in a person and reduces arousal.

4. Exercise outdoors

Walking, jogging, cycling and yoga in the park promote oneness with nature and are often recommended for dealing with stress, depression and temper tantrums.

5. Nature conservation activity

Actual care for nature – for example, planting trees – helps to find purpose and feel hope, optimism. Usually this activity is carried out in groups. It uplifts the mood through a sense of belonging to the group and socialization.

The growing number of people living in cities and isolated from nature, suffering from various disorders, including depression and anxiety, the effectiveness and availability of “green” treatment, and the vogue for everything “eco” – suggest that ecotheparia will become more and more and more popular.