Eco-therapy is a form of therapy that considers our relationship with nature as part of the healing process. It integrates nature-based healing into psychological therapy approaches, recognising that the connection with nature can plays a central role in our wellbeing Phobias are not flaws in your character. They are learned fear responses, and learned responses can be unlearned. With the right approach, patience and support, it is absolutely possible to loosen a phobia’s grip and reclaim parts of your life that fear has taken over.
Exposure is the key to healing
For each step, stay on it until the anxiety has gone away completely. Then repeat this step again and again until it no longer triggers anxiety. Your mind might play tricks on you here and make you think that your anxiety will keep rising endlessly. But when you put this to the test you will see that this cannot happen. If you stay with the anxiety, without avoiding it, for long enough, you will see that anxiety rises to a certain point, peaks, and slowly starts going back down, even though you remain in the presence of the feared object.
What Does Eco-Therapy Do?
For each step, stay on it until the anxiety has gone away completely. Then repeat this step again and again until it no longer triggers anxiety. Your mind might play tricks on you here and make you think that your anxiety will keep rising endlessly. But when you put this to the test you will see that this cannot happen. If you stay with the anxiety, without avoiding it, for long enough, you will see that anxiety rises to a certain point, peaks, and slowly starts going back down, even though you remain in the presence of the feared object.
When loved ones get involved?
- Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. I am practising not knowing
- If they do not, you feel alone and panicky.
- This detachment goes against the evolutionary
- If they do not, you feel alone and panicky.
- Eco-therapy provides a framework for addressing.
A key principle of eco-therapy is the observation that disconnection from nature has contributed to the modern mental health crisis (Divya, & Naachimuthu, 2020). As society becomes increasingly urbanised, many people live in artificial environments, leading to a sense of alienation.
Retraining the alarm system
It is acknowledged that psychological well-being and sense of identity can be shaped by our interactions with the natural world. Nature’s inherent ability to calm the mind and body is increasingly supported by research, which links exposure to green spaces with reduced stress, enhanced mood, and improved cognitive function (Grilli, & Sacchelli, 2020). This principle underpins many eco-therapeutic practices, from simple nature walks to wilderness retreats.
