WELLNES S
Ecotherapy How a focus on nature is changing therapy for kids By Gina Rich
“Join me on a dog walk,” I said to my kids one afternoon. They sighed as if I had suggested they spend the day memorizing the library’s card catalog system. But their moods lightened once we were outdoors. My children, ages 10 and 12, skipped and meandered, stopping to collect wildflowers and laughing as our dog chased tiny frogs between puddles. We’ve long recognized that playing outside is good for kids, just as I did that day. “Nature-deficit disorder,” a concept introduced by journalist and author Richard Louv in 2005, underscores the importance of access to green spaces. A growing number of studies indicate that exposure to nature benefits kids in different ways, such as by lowering stress and promoting better cognitive development. Ecotherapy — also called nature therapy or green therapy — goes further by encouraging structured, purposeful interactions with nature to improve mental health. “You’re bringing an aspect of mindfulness and intentionality to being outdoors,” says Amy Lajiness, LCSW, an ecotherapist and psychotherapist in San Diego who counsels adolescents, adults and families. Here’s what experts say about why ecotherapy works and how to introduce it to kids. Nature as a co-therapist There is no standard training or certification required to become an ecotherapist, but many practitioners are mental health professionals who have completed additional work in nature therapy. Ecotherapy is a broad term for a range of activities, such as caring for animals, tending a garden or participating in a wilderness program. Practitioners often incorporate ecotherapy into conventional talk therapy by holding sessions outdoors and letting nature serve as a co-therapist.