Ecotherapy, also known as nature-assisted or green therapy, is a term used to describe therapeutic interventions or practices which use the power of mindfully interacting with nature to facilitate healing & personal growth. It is based on the understanding that humans are part of the natural world & possess an innate love of nature & a desire to maintain a deep & meaningful connection with it. Increased exposure to natural settings is seen as integral to reawakening consciousness of this intimate relationship, enabling improvements in health & wellbeing to occur.

The focus of ecotherapy is on the nature-based activity, not the person or their mental or physical condition, although traditional psychotherapeutic techniques may be incorporated into the client’s exploration of their emotional relationship with nature (ecopsychotherapy) to assist with specific mental health challenges & cultivate personal awareness. Whilst nature is always central to the healing process, ecotherapy may be experienced in indoor or outdoor settings & modified to allow for individual needs & preferences.

Examples of guided or formal ecotherapy sessions include forest bathing (shinrin-yoku), wilderness/adventure therapy, animal-assisted or pet therapy, horticultural or farm therapy, & outdoor movement classes.

There are numerous, well-researched mental, emotional, physical, & social benefits of ecotherapy, including increased energy, improved emotional regulation & calm focus (cognitive restoration), greater self-confidence & adaptive coping skills, healthier personal relationships, sensory fulfillment, enhanced longevity, & a renewed sense of purpose.