Employing the Restorative Capacity of Nature: Pathways to Practicing Ecotherapy Among Mental Health Professionals

Abstract

Mounting evidence for the mental, physical, and behavioral health benefits of exposure to nature has considerable implications for psychotherapeutic practice. Survey research was conducted with a geographically and professionally diverse sample of mental health practitioners (n=231) in order to investigate the personal attitudes and demographic characteristics of those who practice ecotherapy, by incorporating the natural environment into their processes of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Ecotherapeutic attitudes and behaviors were more prevalent among those individuals who received graduate training in environmental psychology, had more positive personal experiences with nature, were female, agreed more with the New Ecological Paradigm, lived in communities with lower population density, lived in states with higher levels of outdoor recreation, and held master's degrees in psychology (relative to PhDs or PsyDs). All these variables exerted unique predictive effects, suggesting that there are a variety of independent pathways contributing to the integration of nature into therapy. Discussion focuses on issues related to the utility and practicality of engaging in ecotherapy, including a consideration of commonly reported obstacles to implementation.