Ecotherapy & Nature Based Stress Reduction

Transcription

1 Ecotherapy & Nature Based Stress Reduction Thomas Joseph Doherty, Psy.D. Oregon Counseling Association Annual Meeting Silverton, Oregon October 30, 2010

2 Outline of this talk Introduction & Presentation by Thomas (30 min) Experiential Exercise (5 Min) Small group Discussion (10 Min) Questions & Large Group Dialog (15 min)

3 Some of my ground rules and assumptions when talking with people and groups about nature, environmental issues and sustainability...

4 Staying on task "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." John Muir (1911/ 1988). My First Summer in the Sierra. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Sierra Club Books

5 Minding language & defining terms Wilderness? Nature? Connecting with the Earth? What do these mean to the person you are talking to? Can you be sure? How do you know?

6 Respecting others feelings and beliefs But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. -- William Butler Yeats

7 Recognizing Complex Emotions... Complex Emotions

8 And radically different perspectives...

9 Awareness of partisan reasoning And ability to take a trans-partisan position. Westen, D. et al. (2006). Neural Bases of Motivated Reasoning: An fmri Study of Emotional Constraints on Partisan Political Judgment in the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 18,

10 Global Exposure to Climate Change Implications for Social and Environmental Justice

11 And a Diversity of Environmental World Views

12 Example: How people think about Climate Change

13 Global Warming s Six Americas An Audience Segmentation Anthony Leiserowitz, PhD Yale Project on Climate Change Edward Maibach, MPH, PhD Connie Roser-Renouf, PhD George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

14 January 2010

15 June 2010!"#$%&'()''*%+,+%-"+.'+/'-0&'1232'*+,$45-"+.'".'-0&'3"6'78&%"95:

16 Influences on Environmental identity Childhood Experience in natural settings Affiliation with place Affiliation with animals and plants Experience of environmental degradation Social Group Influences

17 Ecotherapy for All?

18 Ecotherapy I Ecopsychology Principles Restorative Natural Settings Stress Management and Attention Restoration Environmental Identity Common Issues in Ecotherapy Ecotherapy Tools and Activities

19 What is Ecopsychology? And why is it following me around?

20 Ecopsychology Studying mind, emotions and experience in the context of ecology and natural systems Exploring the synergy between the human psyche (i.e., mental health) and the health of natural systems A central assumption of ecopsychology is that our inner world and the outer world are intimately connected

21 Ecopsychology expands the context for counseling Ecological Social systems Family systems Inter-personal Intra-psychic

22 Ecotherapy Ecotherapy is an umbrella term for treatment modalities that include the natural world in relationships of mutual healing and growth, and as such is a form of applied ecopsychology. Buzzell, L. & Chalquist, C. (2009). Ecotherapy. Sierra Club Press

23 Ecotherapy s Twin Activities... (1) Utilizing the natural environment in counseling and therapy (2) Recognizing the impacts of environmental issues in the course of counseling and therapy

24 Add the Eco to therapy... Through direct connection with natural environments other species, natural objects, and nature-derived concepts and metaphors

25 Apply Therapy to Environmental Issues... Consciousness raising, stress reduction, emotional expression and resiliency, empowerment and confidence about lifestyle & identity

26 The Common Factor in Eco-Therapies

27 Restorative Natural Environments A Continuum from Nearby Nature to Wilderness Retreats

28 Qualities of Restorative Natural Environments Compatibility Escape Soft Fascination Extent Kaplan S. (1995) The restorative benefits of nature - Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15,

29 Compatibility (Simplicity)

30 Escape

31 Soft Fascination

32 Extent 32

33 Hard Fascination vs Soft Fascination Rush Hour Traffic Country Drive 48

34 Busy Beach

35 Open Beach 50

36 Soft Fascination in the Oregon Garden

37 Popular Interest in Restorative Nature Richard Louv & Nature Deficit Disorder

38 Other Perspectives

39 Stress Management Green views in hospital rooms aid recovery. Healing Gardens & Aquariums are used in medical settings for their stress reduction & health benefits.

40 Evolutionary Approaches Biophilia: Humans are prepared by evolution to have emotional affiliations -- both positive & negative -with nature and other species.

41 Ecological Psychology Our perceptual systems find a fit or niche in natural settings Natural Affordances

42 Spirituality

43 The Research

44 Landscape and Human Health Laboratory (LHHL) -- Attention Restoration

45 Attention Deficit Symptoms & Green Spaces Landscape and Human Health Laboratory (LHHL)

46 Human Interaction With Nature and Technological Systems Lab hints/

47 Ecopsychology Journals Ecopsychology journal in 2nd year European Journal of Ecopsychology - first issue in press Other Environmental Psychology Journals... The Trumpeter (Deep Ecology), Journal of Environmental Psychology, Environment & Behavior, Journal of Fostering Sustainability, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences...

48 Ecotherapy Research campaigns_and_issues/ report_and_resources/ 835_ecotherapy

49 UK Mind Study Percentage of people who experienced improvements, no change or worsening in feelings of self-esteem, depression and tension following the outdoor and indoor walks. improvement no change got worse self-esteem 90% 17% outdoor walk indoor walk 5% 39% 5% 44% depression 71% 45% 23% 33% 6% 22% 71% 29% 0% tension 28% 22% 50%

50 Resources on the Web University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The Landscape and Human Health Laboratory (LHHL) - A multidisciplinary research laboratory dedicated to studying the connection between greenery and human health The Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council -- A resource on wilderness therapy research sponsored by professional programs and run through Western Washington University

51 Web-based Resources Fostering sustainable behavior - A resource on Community-Based Social Marketing featuring community and business program Ecotherapy: The green agenda for mental health - One of the few controlled studies of ecotherapy, sponsored by the UK MIND program, a leading mental health charity for England and Wales

52 Nature-based Stress Reduction

53 Natural Settings Promote a Relaxation Response

54 Key Point: Nearby Nature Restorative benefits are also associated with Parks, Gardens, Backyards, House Plants...

55 Common Issues Addressed in Ecotherapy

56 Ecotherapy for Counseling Issues Adjustment & Developmental Transitions Depression Anxiety Stress / Time pressure Attention Issues Couples Issues Child-Adolescent Issues Compulsive Behaviors Low Self Esteem Others?

57 Environmental Issues in Therapy: Some assumptions Individuals may be experiencing: 1. Consciousness-raising regarding environmental issues and their personal impact 2. Dissonance between their lifestyle and developing ecological values 3. Possibly clinically significant health symptoms (e.g., stress, worry, hopelessness, and depression)

58 Common Environmental Issues in Therapy Making ethical life choices -- Green Guilt Grief & loss -- Solastalgia Worry -- Eco-anxiety Lack of connection -- Nature Deficit Disorder Consumers & Happiness -- Voluntary Simplicity Couples & Raising Children -- Green Fights

59 Ecotherapy Tools & Activities

60 Ecotherapy Practices Ritual Horticultural therapy Nearby nature News Fasts Outdoor Retreats Conscious Consumption Validating Spiritual Beliefs

61 Place mapping

62 Creating an Eco-Genogram Sources of resiliency Sources of conflict

63 Use of Ritual & Expressive Modalities Mark a life transition Let go of a painful experience Celebrate a positive event

64 Restoration in nature

65 Sustainability Inventory Nature & Sustainability Connection with nature: Contact with the outdoors, green spaces, and other species Importance Low High Satisfaction Comments: Being a Naturalist: Knowledge of local ecosystem, weather patterns, and natural history Importance Low High Satisfaction Comments: Sustainability: Comfort with your level of consumption and ecological footprint Importance Low High Satisfaction Comments:

66 Integrating Ecotherapy into Counseling Educate clients about restorative benefits of nature connection for stress and focusing and performance Take a natural history as part of the intake process Ask client to go out into natural setting to reflect on a question or important decision (maybe an issue where they are stuck ) Assign client a Place Bonding exercise over time Meet client outdoors Conduct a meditation experience in the outdoors, acknowledging & emphasizing sensory experience Assign an environmental restoration project as a therapeutic practice

67 Bringing Nature into the Office Nature photos and art Plants and fresh flowers A water feature or fountain A sand tray or other tactile objects Window views and natural light or air movement Natural objects (e.g., rocks, shells, feathers, wood) Highlighting the sustainability features of your building

68 Visualization: A Restorative Natural Setting

69 Small Group Sharing

70 Preview of the Workshop... Behavior Change Ethics & Diagnosis Working with Complex Emotions & Defenses Outdoor Exercises (Weather permitting) Sustainability as a Therapeutic Goal Ecotherapy Demonstration Working with Children Case Studies or Role Plays Working with Activists & Enviro Pro s We may go outside: Dress for the weather!

71 Questions & Dialog

72 Good Luck. Keep in Touch!

73 Contact: Thomas Joseph Doherty