Ecotherapy
(or Nature Therapy):
Recreational Therapy (RT) Treatment Technique
- Summers, J. K., & Vivian, D. N. (2018). Ecotherapy - A Forgotten Ecosystem Service: A Review. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1389. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01389
About Ecotherapy
What is Ecotherapy (Nature Therapy)?
- Ecotherapy involves doing activities outdoors in nature for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of health conditions.
View Educational Video from South Dakota Public Broadcasting:
How May Recreational Therapy (RT) Help Me Using Ecotherapy Treatment Techniques?
View Educational Video from Brigham Young University (BYU):
How We Provide Ecotherapy
- Inclusion Therapies utilizes our Lake Travis center yard and a variety of central Texas public park locations for nature experiences including bird watching, gardening, hiking, walking, and other activities. Clients and therapist team will follow safety policies and procedures (e.g., wear helmet for all activities on wheels, wear safe shoes, maintain hydration, etc.) and adhere to "leave no trace" practices.
- In collaboration with the therapist team, the client will select an Ecotherapy experience of their choosing relating to their healthcare outcomes. For example, someone experiencing generalized anxiety when visiting new locations may engage in a walk at a park they have never been to (for a timed duration).
Evidence
- "There is growing evidence to suggest that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits. Proximity to greenspace has been associated with lower levels of stress (Thompson et al., 2012) and reduced symptomology for depression and anxiety (Beyer et al., 2014), while interacting with nature can improve cognition for children with attention deficits (Taylor and Kuo, 2009) and individuals with depression (Berman et al., 2012)."
- Pearson David G., Craig Tony, The great outdoors? Exploring the mental health benefits of natural environments,
Frontiers in Psychology, Vol 5, 2014 at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01178, DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01178, ISN 1664-1078.
- "An under-appreciated service provided by ecosystems is strengthening childhood development through interaction with nature to enhance childhood cognitive and physical development.[...] Deprivation of these exposures to natural ecosystems can diminish a child's development and eventually their underlying quality of life."
- - Summers JK, Vivian DN, Summers JT. The Role of Interaction with Nature in Childhood Development: An Under-Appreciated Ecosystem Service. Psychol Behav Sci. 2019 Nov 5;8(6):142-150. PMID: 32802912; PMCID: PMC7424505.
- "Nature-based interventions, such as ecotherapy, are increasingly used as therapeutic solutions for people with common mental health problems." - Hinde S, Bojke L, Coventry P. The Cost Effectiveness of Ecotherapy as a Healthcare Intervention, Separating the Wood from the Trees. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 4;18(21):11599. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111599. PMID: 34770112; PMCID: PMC8582680.
"We conclude that socially prescribed nature therapy can improve biopsychosocial wellbeing and is a potentially important intervention for mental illness."
- Thomas T, Aggar C, Baker J, Massey D, Thomas M, D'Appio D, Brymer E. Social prescribing of nature therapy for adults with mental illness living in the community: A scoping review of peer-reviewed international evidence. Front Psychol. 2022 Dec 6;13:1041675. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1041675. PMID: 36562055; PMCID: PMC9765656.
- "Natural ecosystems provide important services upon which humans depend. Unfortunately, some people tend to believe that these services are provided by nature for free; therefore, the services have little or no value. One nearly forgotten ecosystem service is ecotherapy – the ability of interaction with nature to enhance healing and growth. While we do not pay for this service, its loss can result in a cost to humans resulting in slower recovery times, greater distress and reduced well-being."
- - Summers, J. K., & Vivian, D. N. (2018). Ecotherapy - A Forgotten Ecosystem Service: A Review. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1389. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01389
