Ecotherapy and Climate Stress
Ecotherapy or nature healing are important therapies that help with the increasingly prevalent climate stress. Eco-anxiety, known as climate anxiety or climate grief, is experienced worldwide. Many people are suffering from environmental disasters or are anxious about them occurring. Additionally, countless people are spending their days on electronic devices and are becoming ill because of prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields and living out of harmony with nature. Many are not spending enough time in green spaces or quiet reflection to heal from the effects of technology and electrosmog (electromagnetic radiation) exposure. Because of this tremendous imbalance, nature healing, or ecotherapy, has evolved out of necessity for our health and the health of our planet.
Ecotherapists Promote Healing in Nature and Indoors
Ecotherapy is gaining broad acceptance as an effective way to encourage people to benefit from nature’s healing power. For example, some ecotherapists work with people directly in nature. Others promote forest bathing and other nature immersion techniques. Some may do in-door exercises to optimize their clients’ healing. I may use guided imagery involving nature to promote healing. Ecotherapy is also helpful to anyone struggling with anxiety or trauma, whether past or present.
Additionally, ecopsychologists encourage clients to awaken to the healing energy of nature and to practice being in nature more often. A rapidly growing number of healthcare providers are recommending nature therapies for their clients. Please see my Blog, Coping with Climate Anxiety, to learn additional effective strategies to reduce stress.
“A growing body of research points to the beneficial effects that exposure to the natural world has on health, reducing stress, and promoting healing. Now, policymakers, employers, and healthcare providers are increasingly considering the human need for nature in how they plan and operate” — Jim Robbins
Ecotherapy Benefits Ourselves and the World
Ecotherapy is an essential part of the holistic health model. Additionally, ecopsychology integrates psychology with ecology while promoting sustainability. By recognizing our fundamental unity with our natural environment, we grow awareness of the need to protect the earth. Significantly, this improves psychological well-being while helping heal the world. Other ways to help ourselves and our planet include purchasing local organic whole foods as much as possible, choosing healthy, sustainable seafood, and reducing consumption of non-sustainable meats.
Fortunately, we can grow some of our food in our yards or community gardens and become involved in and support organizations aligned with our ideals and purposes. Another ecotherapy example is donating to World Central Kitchen, wck.org, to help feed the world’s increasing number of hungry people. The Good Life book proves that those who help others have more excellent health and happiness than those who do not. Finally, eating consciously and with gratitude for our blessings has tremendous health benefits and is essential for nurturing our entire being.
Ecotherapy Resources
- Pope Francis: A Journey towards full sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology
- Eco-Anxiety article
- Yale Environment 360 article on ecopsychology and health
- Earth.org article on Climate Anxiety
- Forest Bathing and Mental Health, article by Karolina Zaremba, CN
- Trees and Healing article
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Article on Attention Restoration Theory
- All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis – Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K Wilkinson (Editors)
- The Earthbody Institute, training in ecotherapy
- A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety–Sarah Jaquette Ray
- Article on listening to birdsong improving mental health
- Yale article and video on how climate anxiety is spurring climate action
- Ewg.org, Environmental Working Group; great website for learning about clean and sustainable meat, fish, foods, cosmetics, and much more
- NRDC.org Natural Resources Defense Council: NRDC works to safeguard the earth, its people, plants, animals, and the systems that sustain us.
- Citizen’s Climate Lobby – Support carbon pricing and learn how to talk about climate change.
- Thirdact.org is a great organization for people over 60.
- Earthjustice.org, Support legal defense of the earth.
- Worldwildlife.org World Wildlife Fund website
- Natureserve.org, Over One-Third of Species and Ecosystems in the United States are at Risk of Disappearing.– a New Report
- Charitynavigator.org, Highly rated environmental nonprofits
- wck.org, World Central Kitchen
- The Good Life, Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger MD and Marc Schulz Ph.D. Research documents that giving to others increase health and happiness.
- Prince Charles’s article on climate change
- NYTimes article on food waste. US households waste 30% of their food, contributing to climate change significantly.
Ecotherapy Summary
By deepening our connection with nature and the earth, we become increasingly aware of the need to protect it. I hope some of these ecotherapy resources will inspire you to be in nature more often and support the healing and our planet.
Ecotherapy and Health Links
For more information about my work, see irisheal.com,
Resources, Health Information, Blogs, Nature Healing,