Healing Power of Nature !!!

Given the chance, most people would happily spend the afternoon strolling beneath shady trees, in a blooming wildflower meadow, or along a beach listening to the surf. But what if such experiences had an actual effect on our physical health and wellbeing?

The meaning of nature therapy can vary from person to person, but in general, nature therapy involves: a trained, supportive professional, like a therapist a green environment appreciating and exploring nature Recent science is finding evidence that they do. Being active in nature can help fight chronic diseases, relieve stress and depression, promote faster healing, stronger immune systems, and more. And new research is beginning to reveal why: Contact with nature affects us, mentally and physically, right down to our cells.

Ah, nature. It can be peaceful, romantic and refreshing. And, as we’ve recently been reminded, it also has another face, one that’s violent, powerful and destructive.

Most of the time, we’re protected from nature's darker side by our advanced technologies and modern urban life. Where wildfires once raced through every decade or so, for the most part, they’ve been blunted and suppressed.

But while our modern lifestyle keeps us safer, it also increasingly separates us from direct contact with nature. This human/nature separation, a growing number of medical experts say, is contributing to declines in physical and mental health. And, it can leave us especially vulnerable to stress, trauma and anxiety when nature does disrupt daily life, as it recently did here.

In the raw, nature is formidable and challenging. But can nature also be a resource for health and healing? Intuitively, most of us sense it can. Now, science is beginning to bear that out.

What about mental health? If you’ve ever come back from time outdoors feeling happier, less stressed, revitalized and more focused, you’re not alone. A growing body of science is finding there’s a measurable difference when we perform activities out in nature versus indoors.

Multiple studies have shown that adults who exercised in nature had lower levels of tension, confusion, anger and depression than when they exercised indoors. A recent Australian and UK study similarly found that people who visited parks for 30 minutes or more each week were much less likely to have high blood pressure or poor mental health than those who didn’t.

But why? Some of the effects appear to be psychological in origin. Natural scenes and activities can stimulate our sense of awe, making our concerns seem less significant, while stimulating the feeling that we’re part of something larger and grander. This can measurably reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

Scientists also now have tools that allow them to peer in on brain activity, to see what’s actually happening when we’re exposed to nature.

In one South Korean study, scientists used MRI to examine participants’ brains as they viewed either nature scenes or urban scenes. While scenes of nature activated regions of the brain linked to happiness, insight and free-thinking, urban images stimulated regions associated with stress, fear and anxiety.

A recent Stanford study looked at the brains of volunteers who walked in a field of oak trees or along a busy road. No change was observed in the urban walkers, but the nature walkers had suppressed activity in a region of the brain associated with rumination, which frequently occurs with depression.

Natural environments can also aid victims of disasters. People suffering from trauma or life-disrupting events such as hurricanes, floods and fires may benefit from time and activity in nature. In its handbook on psychological recovery for survivors, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network recommends the value of outdoor activities, particularly in groups. Likewise, studies of soldiers suffering from PTSD have shown lasting relief and improvement after participating in nature activities like backpacking and river rafting

Health in nature is also a specific focus at Sonoma County Regional Parks, which in recent years has prioritized culturally relevant and accessible programs to involve children, youth, and families with natural spaces.

Many of us crave the peace and quiet that comes with open, outdoor spaces — and for good reason. Nature allows us to step away from the demands of daily life. It comforts us and calms our nervous system. Being outside renews our spirits, encouraging us to look beyond our immediate circumstances. It also allows us to process difficult feelings in a judgment-free zone, playing a particularly important role with emotional regulation. Quite simply, nature is restorative.

More specifically, research shows that natured-based therapy has a positive impact on eating disorder treatment outcomes. A 2018 study measured the impacts of nature-based therapy for 20 participants with binge eating disorder (BED) against another therapy modality, support group meetings. However, participants who engaged in nature-based therapy found that it was more relatable by them, leading to a clearer transfer of mental health skills into daily life.

Additionally, in 2020, clinicians interviewed eight individuals about their experiences with bulimia nervosa and BED.3 Participants reported that nature helped them reconnect with their bodies and led to greater feelings of calmness. They shared that nature is non-judgmental and engages all the senses. Based on their findings, the authors of this study encourage more research focused on the mind-body connection while in nature as well as the use of nature-based therapy to support patients with eating disorders.

At Hidden River, we provide patients with a beautifully designed facility in a peaceful and natural environment. Our treatment center is situated on 12 acres of rolling hills and large grass fields, speckled with decades-old oak and pine trees as well as a beautiful pond. While exploring the outdoors, patients often see wildlife, including deer, fox, geese, owls, hawks, and squirrels. Plus, our location in the charming and bucolic town of Chester, New Jersey, allows individuals to experience all four seasons and the weather that comes with them, including sunshine, wind, snow, and rain.

The buildings around our campus were built in the 1800s and 1920s and draw on Swiss-style architecture with facades made of various building materials and carved wooden accents. Natural elements, like rock walls and fences, brick drives, and tile roofs, are highlighted within each structure. The 15-bed house includes large windows with panoramic views of our surroundings as well as multiple patios for easy access to the outdoors. Interior features, such as wood balconies and pillars, old-world wood floors, and warm colors, allow patients to feel connected to nature throughout the day, including those cold or rainy days.

We also incorporate nature into our treatment program. Patients participate in mindfulness groups, including daily walks, as part of the psychotherapy component of their care. Moreover, they can join the greenhouse gardening group for additional time spent interacting with nature.

Nature therapy, also called ecotherapy, is the practice of being in nature to boost growth and healing, especially mental health. You might also hear it called green care, green exercise, green therapy, or horticulture therapy. Although people use those terms to describe lots of outdoor activities, they can also be examples of specific nature therapy programs.

Types of Nature Therapy

Because nature therapy programs can include many activities, there are different types of therapies. Some include:

Adventure therapy. This uses activities that explore nature and can be done in an individual or group setting. Rafting and rock climbing are good examples.

Animal-assisted interventions or therapy. Both of these options include spending time with animals. Animal-assisted interventions use locations like farms where you can pet or feed the animals. On the other hand, animal-assisted therapy focuses on building a therapeutic relationship with animals like dogs or houses.

Arts and crafts. Like the name suggests, this type combines creative crafts with nature. You might use your creative skills to paint in a green space, like a park or a forest. This type also includes using natural materials like clay, grass, or wood or using green spaces as inspiration for art.

Conservation. Conservation pairs protection spaces in nature with physical exercise.

Dark nature. Dark nature activities take place at night, so you might practice stargazing, for example.

Green exercise. Here, you’ll do physical activities in green spaces. That could be running, going on a walk, or taking a bike ride, for example.

Therapeutic farming. With this type, you’ll participate in farming activities, so you might grow crops or take care of farm animals.

Therapeutic horticulture. This involves gardening, so you might grow food in community gardens. Sometimes therapeutic horticulture leads to other activities, like selling home-grown crops at a farmer’s market.

Wilderness therapy. This type of therapy works well in a group. You’ll spend time in the wild doing activities like hiking or making shelters.

Not everyone who does nature therapy has a mental health condition. Anyone can reap the benefits of ecotherapy.

You can do nature therapy anywhere, whether you live in rural, suburban, or urban areas. For example, Lung’s practice is in a very urban area, but she often relies on county parks and nearby beaches.

Nature therapy might involve places like gardens, farms, forests, or parks. Usually, nature therapy involves experiencing nature (like taking a walk through the forest) or working in nature (like gardening).

The amount of physical activity you’ll get in nature therapy depends on the person.

Nature therapy can be paired with other options, like:

• Art and creative therapies
• Medication
• Talk therapy 
• “Ecotherapy is one tool that you have to draw on to strengthen and deepen the work that you’re doing with your clients or your patients”.

There's no denying that our health is intrinsically connected to the health of the planet. Without clean air to breathe, nutritious foods to eat, and biodiversity to keep the ecosystems functioning, we would cease to exist. Nature heals and grounds us after the stress of modern life pulls us further away from well-being. So when we think of wellness, Mother Earth is a necessary factor in the equation.

As we enter into warmer months, we'd like to encourage our community to harness the healing power of nature by practicing wellness outdoors and giving back. So we've rounded up three of our favorite ways to use nature for wellness, each accompanied by an action that supports the Earth in return.