Author: Joelle Rabay
Nature offers a wealth of healing and wisdom for those who choose to connect with it. However, in today’s world, many people find themselves spending more time indoors, engaged in activities like video games and social media, rather than enjoying outdoor pursuits. This shift has contributed to increasing stress levels and rising mental health challenges. Reintroducing nature into our daily routines could offer a much-needed respite and help restore balance to our lives.
What is Nature Therapy?
Nature therapy, or ecotherapy, entails being in nature to boost healing and personal growth [1,2]. Being in nature helps improve mental and physical health as people feel more calm, energized, and relaxed outdoors and in natural green spaces [3]. Nature therapy is a cost-effective, less intrusive and a practical approach to promoting mental health [3].
Types of Nature Therapy.
There are different types of nature therapy activities. Some include:
- Therapeutic farming. Individuals participate in farming activities such as caring for animals or growing crops [1,2].
- Therapeutic horticulture, such as gardening. This type of therapy also includes activities such as selling produce at farmer’s markets [1,4].
- Adventure therapy. Involves engaging in challenging outdoor activities like rock climbing or rafting. These activities typically occur in a group setting and are designed to push individuals out of their comfort zones, fostering personal growth and resilience [1,2,4].
- Wilderness therapy. While similar to adventure therapy, wilderness therapy focuses more on immersive, prolonged experiences in nature, such as hiking, building shelters, and learning survival skills. These activities are often aimed at promoting self-reflection and team-building within a group setting [1,2,4].
- Green exercise therapy. Here, individuals engage in various physical activities in green spaces, such as walking, running, or bike riding [1,4].
- Animal-assisted therapy. This entails spending time with animals like dogs or horses, focusing on the positive emotions and therapeutic benefits that come from interacting with them [1,2,4].
- Arts and crafts in nature. In this type of therapy, people use their creative skills to make art in nature using nature-inspired materials such as soil, leaves, or wood [1,4].
- Dark nature. This occurs at night and includes activities such as stargazing [1].
Benefits to Mental Health
Research shows that spending time in nature helps improve mental health by reducing stress and enhancing sleep quality [1,5,2]. For instance, it relieves anxiety and depression and improves the overall well-being of individuals [1,6,7]. Spending time in nature also helps enhance cognitive functioning, attention, and mood [3,6].
Spending time in nature can help individuals manage and regulate chronic stress by mitigating its adverse effects [3,5]. Exposure to natural environments enhances people’s ability to reflect on daily challenges and promotes positive emotions [5]. Additionally, nature has a calming effect on the nervous system, activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body’s “rest and digest” functions. This activation helps lower heart rate, reduce muscle tension, and decrease the production of stress hormones like cortisol. As a result, the body is better able to transition into a relaxed and restful state, leading to improved sleep quality and overall well-being [3].
Being outdoors in nature also allows people to build a community and gain social contact with others who enjoy similar activities like green exercise, adventure, wilderness and horticulture therapy, among others [3,5]. It helps improve interpersonal skills, promotes behavioral change, and boosts self-esteem [2]. Nature also helps buffer the impacts of social isolation or loneliness, enhancing well-being.
Bringing Nature Indoors
Access to nature might be limited during the cold winter and for people with mobility problems. However, people can still access nature conveniently by bringing its benefits to their workplaces and homes in different ways. These include:
- Decorating with photographs or paintings of nature. They can choose natural scenes, lush gardens, or beautiful landscapes as the view of these can help reduce stress levels [4,5].
- Adding plants in their home spaces.
- Listening to soothing nature sounds such as rain sounds, ocean waves, or waterfalls enhances relaxation, creates a calm mood, and improves cognitive performance [4].
Conclusion
Nature therapy has been found to be beneficial to many people, including those with mental health challenges. The various forms of nature therapy can either promote physical activity or encourage relaxation, both of which contribute to improved mood, better health, and a reduction in stress and disease risk. By spending more time in nature and appreciating green spaces, individuals can embrace the therapeutic benefits that nature offers for overall well-being.
Editors
Almokhtar Albakoosh, Katya Krykunova, Majd Al-Aarg (Editor-In-Chief)
Designer
Web design by Majd-Alarg
Additional Credits
References
- Laguaite, M. Do You Need a Nature Prescription? [Internet]. WebMD; 2021April 13. Available from https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy
- Brown, H. What Is Nature and Ecotherapy & How Does It Work? [Internet]. Positive Psychology; 2021 Oct 7. Available from https://positivepsychology.com/nature-therapy/
- Weinberg, J. L. What is Nature Therapy, and How Can You Practice It to Boost Your Health? [Internet]. Rupa Health; 2023 Nov 29. Available from https://www.rupahealth.com/post/what-is-nature-therapy-and-how-can-you-practice-it-to-boost-your-health
- Field, B. How Nature Therapy Helps Your Mental Health. [Internet]. Verywell Mind; Updates 2022 July 29. Available from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-nature-therapy-helps-your-mental-health-5210448
- Mind. Nature and mental health [Internet]. England: Mind UK; 2021, Nov. Available from https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/nature-and-mental-health/how-nature-benefits-mental-health/#:~:text=Nature%20and%20mental%20health%20problems,with%20mild%20to%20moderate%20depression
- Weir, K. Nurtured by nature. Monitor on Psychology [Internet]. 2020 April 1; 51(3), 50-56. Available from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
- Joschko, L., Palsdottir, A. M., Grahn, P., & Hinse, M. Nature-based therapy in individuals with mental health disorders, with a focus on mental well-being and connectedness to nature—a pilot study. International journal of environmental research and public health [Internet]. 2023 Jan 25; 20(3), 2167. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9914984/
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