I have over 24 years experience with individuals, groups, students and teams,
working creatively with and for nature, promoting:
- eco-creativity and wellbeing;
- eco-supervision / eARTh-based supervision - nature-based creative approaches within supervision;
- 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.
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.
eARTherapy
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).
A core strand of practice is eARTherapy - promoting eco-creativity and reciprocal caring relationship with nature; working with and for nature.
"eARTherapy" (Sibbett, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2016, etc.) is a nature-based approach that is a synthesis of Art Psychotherapy, Counselling / Psychotherapy and Ecotherapy - celebrating and fostering eco-creativity with and for Nature. A key aim is to nurture wellbeing, 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)
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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).