The healing effects of nature – why go outdoors?
Ever wondered why we are bombarded with images of nature? From adverts to wellness messages, green spaces provide a ‘feel good’ factor. Many theorists believe we are hard-wired in evolutionary terms to want to make connection with the natural world.
When we take time out in nature, away from work and stressful situations, science now tells us what we have instinctively known for thousands of years, that our nervous systems are relaxed – a green environment offers connection, trust, and safety, ie nourishment for our nervous system.
One of the powerful experiences nature offers is the wonder of reciprocity – the chance to develop a safe and loving two-way relationship with nature, appreciation of all that nature offers us (eg sucking up our unwanted carbon dioxide; a non-judgemental relationship), and what we, as a part of the web of life, can offer nature by developing love, respect and gratitude – emotions that happen to be extremely healthy for us! Ecotherapy offers many tools for helping to develop this wonderful relationship.
I’m passionate about the benefits of working in the great outdoors, and can offer a different way of exploring life’s issues that so often come our way. Adopting reciprocity as a framework for therapy, a multitude of techniques and experiences are made available, in conjunction with my own style of therapy, ie focusing on reordering troubling emotions, our attachments in relationship, and a deepened awareness of how our nervous system influences how we feel – and how we can learn to self -regulate more.
Importantly, Eco-therapy doesn’t only offer ways to understand our issues, from anxiety, depression, trauma and loneliness, but provides powerful ways of effecting change. The kind of change that we all crave, the type that helps us to feel comfortable in our own body. In an ecotherapy session, its you, me, and nature working together to restore you to your true self, the one that’s always there beneath the stress. I offer one to one walks in nature, in a user-friendly landscape. I’m more than happy to talk further, especially as I appreciate it’s a slightly different practice.
KJM Counselling 