When nature becomes therapeutic practice

The relationship between nature and human well-being has long been observed, but over time, this connection has begun to take shape within more structured therapeutic approaches.

This article explores how nature moved from a philosophical idea into an applied practice within psychology and counselling.

The emergence of eco-therapy

One of the earliest frameworks to explore this relationship more directly was eco-therapy.

Eco-therapy began to emerge during the 1990s, as psychologists and environmental thinkers started to explore how human well-being might be connected to the health of the natural environment. Rather than viewing mental health purely as an internal process within the individual, ecotherapy proposes that well-being is also shaped by our relationship with the wider ecological world, and closely linked to the environments we move through in our daily lives.

From this perspective, mental and physical health are not separate, but closely interconnected aspects of overall well-being. Rather than existing in isolation, they can be understood as part of a wider system shaped by both our internal experiences and the external environments we spend time in. These elements remain in an ongoing relationship, continually influencing and responding to one another. In this way, well-being becomes something that develops through cycles of connection, adjustment, and change, rather than something fixed or static.

The term was popularised by ecopsychologist Theodore Roszak, whose work helped establish the field of ecopsychology. Roszak argued that many modern psychological struggles may, in part, reflect the growing separation between humans and the natural environments in which our species evolved.

From this perspective, reconnecting with nature is not simply a leisure activity but a meaningful psychological process that can support emotional health. Roszak described this relationship as a form of ecological belonging, suggesting that humans are not separate observers of nature, but participants within it.

This shift marked an important step, moving the relationship between humans and nature from philosophical understanding toward structured approaches to well-being and therapy.

Forest bathing and international perspectives

While Western psychology was beginning to explore nature-based approaches, other cultures had already developed practices centred around immersion in natural environments. 

One widely discussed example is Shinrin-yoku, often translated as forest bathing. Developed in Japan during the 1980s, Shinrin-yoku encourages people to spend slow, attentive time in forest environments, engaging the senses and allowing the nervous system to settle.

Rather than focusing on physical exercise or structured activity, the practice emphasises presence, noticing sounds, textures, light, and movement within the natural environment, much like what the Kaplans later described as “soft fascination.”

Research into forest bathing has suggested that time spent in woodland settings may reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and support improved mood. Studies have also found associations with reduced cortisol levels, often referred to as the body’s primary stress hormone, alongside improved immune function, and shifts in autonomic nervous system activity toward more relaxed states (Li, 2010).

Although Shinrin-yoku is not psychotherapy in the clinical sense, its growing popularity has helped draw attention to the psychological and physiological benefits of natural environments.

More broadly, these international perspectives highlight that the relationship between nature and well-being is not limited to one culture or framework, but appears consistently across different societies and traditions.

In this way, practices such as Shinrin-yoku helped bridge the gap between traditional understandings of nature and the emerging scientific interest in its effects on mental health.

In my own experience, time spent in natural environments often creates a noticeable shift in pace. There is a softening of attention, a sense of space, and a gradual settling that can be difficult to replicate in more structured environments. I also notice that I tend to sleep more deeply, which in turn allows me to wake feeling more rested the following day.

Nature and mental health research

Alongside the development of eco-therapy and growing interest in practices such as forest bathing, research into the mental health benefits of nature exposure continued to expand.

Building on earlier work in environmental psychology, researchers across psychology, public health, and neuroscience began to explore how natural environments influence emotional regulation, attention, and stress. Questions that were once philosophical or intuitive were increasingly being studied in more structured ways.

Researchers began asking:

• How does time in nature influence attention and mental fatigue?
• Can access to green space reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression?
• Do natural environments support recovery following periods of stress?

A growing body of research suggests that even relatively brief periods of time spent in natural settings could have measurable psychological effects.

For example, studies have found that time spent in natural environments may reduce rumination, a pattern of repetitive negative thinking often associated with anxiety and depression, while also supporting improved mood and cognitive functioning (Bratman et al., 2015).

Other research has linked access to green space with lower levels of psychological distress and improved overall well-being (White et al., 2019), while experimental studies have shown that even brief exposure to natural environments can lead to measurable reductions in stress and improvements in attention (Berman et al., 2008).

There is also growing evidence to suggest that regular contact with nature may be associated with reduced risk of developing common mental health difficulties, alongside improvements in emotional regulation and resilience (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018).

Together, these findings helped strengthen the idea that nature could play a meaningful role within therapeutic contexts, not only as a backdrop, but as an active contributor to wellbeing.

From concept to practice

As research and interest in nature-based approaches continued to grow, therapists began exploring how natural environments might be more intentionally integrated into their work.

Some approaches developed into structured programmes, such as wilderness therapy and outdoor behavioural interventions. Others took a more integrated approach, where traditional counselling methods were adapted to take place in natural settings rather than clinical rooms.

Walking therapy began to emerge as one such approach, where working side-by-side in natural environments can create a different therapeutic dynamic than sitting face-to-face in a room. Movement, fresh air, and changing surroundings can support reflection in a way that often feels less pressured or formal.

Some research has suggested that walking and movement may support cognitive processing and emotional regulation, while natural environments can further enhance these effects by reducing stress and supporting attentional restoration (Berman et al., 2008; Bratman et al., 2015).

Emerging neuroscience research also suggests that time spent in natural environments may influence brain activity associated with rumination and emotional regulation. For example, studies have found reduced activity in areas of the brain linked to repetitive negative thinking, alongside patterns associated with improved mood and cognitive functioning (Bratman et al., 2015).

These benefits can often be felt relatively quickly, even after short periods of time spent in natural settings. However, there is also growing evidence to suggest that more consistent exposure to natural light and outdoor environments may support longer-term processes, such as the regulation of circadian rhythms. Over time, this can contribute to improvements in sleep quality, energy levels, and overall well-being.

Many practitioners have observed that clients sometimes find it easier to speak openly when conversation unfolds alongside movement and shared attention to the surrounding environment.

As these approaches continued to develop, what had once been a largely intuitive or culturally embedded relationship with nature was increasingly being recognised within psychology, healthcare, and counselling as something that could be more intentionally integrated into therapeutic work.

Nature as a therapeutic setting

As these approaches continued to develop, natural environments began to be understood not simply as a backdrop for therapeutic work, but as an active part of the process itself.

Rather than being separate from the therapeutic relationship, the environment can influence the pace, tone, and direction of the work. The movement of light, the rhythm of walking, and the presence of natural sounds can all shape how attention, emotion, and reflection unfold.

In this way, nature can support a form of therapeutic engagement that is less structured, yet often deeply containing. The environment offers both space and subtle guidance, allowing thoughts and feelings to emerge at a pace that feels manageable.

For some, this can create a sense of ease that may be more difficult to access in traditional indoor settings. The shared experience of moving through a landscape can also reduce the intensity of direct eye contact, making it easier to speak openly.

Over time, these small shifts can support deeper reflection, emotional processing, and a more regulated nervous system. In this sense, nature becomes not just the setting for therapy, but a quiet and consistent participant within it.

What becomes clear is that nature is not simply a passive setting, but something that can actively support processes such as attention, emotional regulation, and recovery from stress. These effects may be just one part of a much broader relationship between human wellbeing and the natural environment.

As these ideas continue to develop, the connection between humans and the natural environment is being understood in increasingly integrated ways across psychology, healthcare, and counselling.

From this perspective, mental and physical health are not separate but part of a wider system in which multiple elements interact. Our internal experiences, the environments we move through, and the ways we are supported all play a role in shaping overall well-being. These elements do not operate in isolation, but in an ongoing relationship with one another.

In this sense, processes such as healing and recovery may be less about finding a single solution and more about supporting a range of interconnected factors over time. Change often emerges gradually, through the combined influence of internal reflection, external environments, and relational support.

Seen in this way, our connection with nature may be less of an optional extra and more a meaningful part of how we begin to restore balance within a wider system of well-being.