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, supervision and education. This promotes a more reciprocal caring relationship with and for the rest of nature. When relevant, I integrate ecotherapy into my art psychotherapy or counselling/psychotherapy practice. I also offer eco-supervision - nature-based approaches within supervision; and eco personal development and learning.

This has included outdoor experiential learning and workshops, outdoor team building etc, including in international settings. 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).

Eco-practice

A core strand of my practice is eco-practice - promoting eco-creativity and reciprocal caring relationship with the rest of nature, also working with and for nature.

When appropriate, I integrate ecotherapy into my art psychotherapy or counselling/psychotherapy practice. When ecotherapy is synthesised with creative practice, I have also termed this as eARTh-based practice or "eARTherapy" (Sibbett, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2016, etc.) as a nature-based approach that informs my practise of Art Psychotherapy, art therapy 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:

'Environ-mentalization' and
a "therapeutic tetrad".

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)

Photograph (c)CS

'Environ-mentalization'

Committed to eARTh-caring values, Green Care and eco-creativity.

Promoting Green Care and eco-creativity in the curriculum and practice.

Photograph (c)CS

Protogonos, Bronze (c) CSibbett

'Therapeutic tetrad'

(CS, 2002, 2006, 2007)
Client, therapist, art, nature

Kairos

A window of opportunity: fostering creative time & space, with and for nature.

Photograph (c)CS

Photograph (c)CS

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

The Green Man

Blue Fire - Green Man 1 (c) CSibbett

Blue Fire - Green Man 2 (c) CSibbett

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