The Green Glow Up!

Ecotherapy, aka nature therapy/ green therapy, is a therapeutic practice that involves spending time in nature to improve mental and emotional well-being.

Benefits:

1. Reduced Stress - Nature helps lower cortisol levels.

2. Improved Mood.

3. Enhanced Focus- Can improve concentration and attention - the “restorative effect.”

4. Physical Health.

5. Encourages sustainable behaviours.

6. Social Interaction - Reduces feelings of isolation.

Studies:

1. A study in Environmental Science & Technology - 20 min in nature can significantly reduce stress levels.

2. Research from the University of Essex, showed a 71% improvement in mental health after engaging in nature-based activities for just a few hours.

3. Studies have supported Attention Restoration Theory - A study in Psychological Science found that individuals who walked in a park performed better on cognitive tasks than those who walked in urban settings.

4. Journal of Affective Disorders - significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, highlighting its potential as a complementary treatment.

Practises:

1. Guided walks or hikes in parks, forests, beaches or nature reserves

2. Gardening

3. Animal-Assisted Therapy- Visit farms, NGO’s or wildlife sanctuaries.

4. Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku)

5. Eco-Art Therapy

6. Nature-Based Outdoor Retreats

7. Outdoor Mindfulness Practices-Like yoga or meditation.

Did You Know?

1. Acknowledged since ancient times, various cultures have integrated nature into their healing practices, utilising herbs, outdoor rituals, and natural settings for spiritual and physical health

2. In the 1800s, the concept began to formalise with the rise of the mental hygiene movement. Figures like Florence Nightingale emphasised the importance of a healthy environment for healing (mental health care)

3. The term emerged in the 1990s, popularised by psychologists like Howard C. Frumkin. Research began to quantify the positive effects.

4. In the late 20th /early 21st centuries, it gained traction as a legitimate therapeutic approach. Included into mental health treatment plans.