Why learn about Eco-psychology?

Most of us instinctively know that when we are in contact with nature we feel calmer and overall healthier. This makes sense: human beings have evolved over tens of thousands of years to live in the midst of natural habitats and our organisms are “designed” to respond well to nature.

With a growing number of research studies over the past few decades, we are able to understand what it is about nature that has such positive impacts on our physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing. This knowledge is also shaping policies and practices around community mental health and sustainable human practices.

Learning about eco-psychology means gaining a better understanding of ourselves and the world we enhabit. This allows us to make sense of the variety of emotions we have regarding our place in the natural world, and guides our actions and behaviours towards greater individual, collective and planetary wellbeing.

Nature-based therapy and mental health

Research in the field of eco-psychology is consistently showing the benefits of connecting with the natural world, which include:

• Stress-Reduction

• Ability to shift perspective and reduce anxiety

• Decreased feelings of loneliness and isolation

• Greater appreciation for life

• “Awakening” of our senses through natural stimulation

• Improved mood

• Increased creativity

As a bonus, the more we become aware of how we benefit from nature, the more we are motivated to protect it, thus fostering a sense interconnectedness with the world we inhabit, leading to more sustainable lifestyles.

Why take an eco-psychology workshop?

Through eco-psychology workshops you can come away with learning that is valuable to you and your local and global community:

Learning about eco-psychology means being able to:

• Choose activities and places that maximize the benefits to your physical and mental wellbeing.

• (Re)connect your mind with your body, with other humans, with your environment, and with other forms of life.

• Make changes to your day-to-day surroundings (i.e. home, office, classroom) to harness the benefits of nature.

• Promote activities in your home, workplace, classroom or community that benefit both people and your local eco-systems.

• Develop a sense of deep belonging and of being part of “something bigger”.

• Experience our natural world with ever-growing curiosity and wonder.

• Involve others in appreciating, respecting and protecting our natural habitats.

Eco-psychology and Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence as applied to eco-psychology means being able to name the emotions evoked by being in contact with and learning about our natural world. These emotions may feel good for us: we may feel nurtured, calm, present, energised. Or they may feel troubling, such as the case of eco-grief and eco-anxiety. Working through these emotions can help bring more awareness of how one responds to the world around them, thus enhancing their emotional intelligence and their ability to appreciate their natural environments.

Eco-psychology and Trauma

Eco-psychology can help you understand how to leverage the power of nature in your journey of healing from a traumatic event. Nature can have amazing therapeutic effects, including helping reduce stress responses and re-establishing a sense of trust in yourself and in the world you inhabit. Many people who have experienced trauma, particularly man-made trauma, speak of the great benefits that connecting with nature has on their mental health.

There are also cases in which the traumatic event is itself connected to nature, as is the case of natural and climate disasters. These forms of eco-trauma can be processed through the framework of eco-psychology to help you make sense of the complex emotions you may be experiencing and channel these towards healthy and constructive action.

Eco-psychology and Grief

When we encounter loss, we may find ourselves re-evaluating what is most precious to us. We may find that we contemplate big questions such as “How could this happen?”, “What is the point of living” and “What am I doing on this Earth”? Sometimes these questions feel un-answerable, like they are “bigger than us”. By understanding our eco-psychology, you can learn how to allow nature to nurture you through your grief: connecting with nature can help make sense of the spiritual awareness that often comes with deep grieving and benefit from the restorative effects of being in natural spaces.

If your grief is related to the loss of a natural place that was dear and important to you, an eco-psychology approach to grieving can help you through this complex process so that you can make sense of your eco-grief and understand how you can move forward.

Eco-psychology and Relationships

Very often, when people think of meaningful moments in their relationships with friends, romantic partners, or family, they will remember moments when they were experiencing nature together. What makes these moments meaningful? A strong understanding of eco-psycology can give you the tools to “call on nature” to support you in nurturing your relationships with others. For example, you can understand what activities in nature you can do together, or get creative in constructing a “natural landscape” in your family home to benefit from nature’s restorative effects.

You and your partner can also benefit from entering a more profound and authentic connection through the inspirations of the natural world, thus fostering greater intimacy and a stronger bond. Eco-psychology can also help you explore any differences or conflicts you may have regarding your relationship to nature and the way you experience the current climate crisis.