"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
-Jon Muir
Ecotherapy
In our backyards, natural wonders abound. Old-growth forests, towering peaks, fertile fields, blooming parks and abundant shorelines are just outside our doors. Research has shown that forming an intentional relationship with the natural world and spending more attuned time in it can aid both physical and mental health.
We offer therapy that harnesses the power of nature — not only to encourage positive emotional and behavioral changes, but to create a life-long relationship with the outdoors that’s always there to tap into when seeking solace.
Earth Medicine
Nature Based Counseling Approaches
What is Ecotherapy?
Ecotherapy is a therapeutic modality that strives to help adults and children develop meaningful connection with the earth. It can encompass many practices aimed at integrating nature into your life. With busy work schedules, reliance on digital devices and social media, it’s easy to drift away from the ancestral pull of nature in favor of the indoor world. Ecotherapy, sometimes called green care, is a tool therapists can use to strengthen the clients’ progress.
What kind of activities would I do?
Meditative walks, day hikes with opportunities to process the internal and external experience, potting and growing seeds, wild edible foraging, talk therapy in a park or garden, conservation volunteering, starting the session with a gentle jog, doing arts and craft outdoors, Japanese forest bathing (using senses to be more mindful of nature), forest bingo with kids, rock painting, and beach combing are all examples of how nature can be integrated into therapy.
Where would Therapy Take Place?
Your therapist will discuss location options that practically make sense for you and that you have an interest in. We have a couple easily accessed trails in Quilcene and Brinnon we like for walking and hiking, and there are numerous beach options in the region. Meeting at a park is possible, too. There’s a nice green space outside our office, or, if it’s raining, sometimes nature can be brought indoors! We are working with local farmers and wild crafters to open up options for locations and activities.
Benefits of Nature Based Therapy
Intentional interactions with green space have restorative effects on the mind. Benefits include anxiety reduction, improved mood, increase in memory recall, and alleviation of trauma symptoms. Connecting with the soil, rivers and the trees sets a foundation to develop introspection. Dedicating time for the outdoors fosters physical activity, and if done with others, improved social connections, both of which play key roles in our emotional and behavioral health. If everyday stress feels overwhelming, ecotherapy can provide relief. It is an approach offering immediate and long-term benefits.
Wild Peninsula Beauty
Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.