Eco-practice
I have over 30 years experience with individuals, groups, students and teams, working creatively with and for the rest of nature, promoting:eco-practice in art psychotherapy, counselling and education. This promotes a more reciprocal caring relationship with and for the rest of nature. I also offer eco-supervision / eARTh-based supervision - nature-based creative approaches within supervision; and eco personal development and learning.
This has included outdoor experiential learning and workshops, outdoor team building etc. Formats have included: half days, days, residential weekends, short courses.
Evidence for Nature and Wellbeing
Visit the online ASLA resource detailing many research studies on the Health benefits of nature.
Other resources include: A review of nature-based interventions for mental health care (Natural England, 2016) - a recent report on research by the University of Essex and Mind (a leading UK mental health charity).
See also e.g. The mental health benefits of nature exposure (2015); Connecting with nature offers a new approach to mental health care (2016) and the Children and Nature Network.
Eco-practice
A core strand of my practice is eco-practice (eARTherapy) - promoting eco-creativity and reciprocal caring relationship with the rest of nature, also working with and for nature.
"eARTherapy" (Sibbett, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2016, etc.) is a nature-based approach that informs my practise of Art Psychotherapy, Counselling / Psychotherapy, supervision and training - celebrating and fostering eco-creativity with and for Nature. This aligns with Ecotherapy principles and theories. A key aim is to nurture health, creativity and Nature; underpinned by and committed to 'earth caring' values. It features:
Ecotherapy is a nature-based therapeutic approach that is informed by ecopsychology. It can support wellbeing and help create better relationships with nature, ourselves and each other. For more details, see MIND's summary: What is Ecotherapy?; and also see our Resources page for other sources of information.
"Earth's the right place for love" (Robert Frost, Birches)
Promoting Green Care and eco-creativity in the curriculum and practice.
In a 2016 Report on A review of nature-based interventions for mental health care, Bragg and Atkins (2016, p.12) summarise that "nature-based interventions have been termed ‘green care’ (Pretty, 2006; Hine et al., 2008a,c; Sempik et al., 2010; Sempik and Bragg, 2013), ‘ecotherapy’ (Mind 2007, 2013; Bragg et al, 2013) or simply ‘nature-based interventions’." They propose that "the term ‘Green Care’ should be used to describe the range of activities that fall within the scope of nature-based interventions for individuals with a defined or diagnosed need." (Bragg & Atkins, 2016, p.viii).
Townsend, Mardie and Weerasuriya, Rona (2010) The benefits of contact with nature for mental health and well-being. Beyond Blue Ltd: Melbourne, Australia.
Bragg, R. and Atkins, G. (2016) A review of nature-based interventions for mental health care. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number204. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/4513819616346112