Nature Therapy

One on one therapeutic sessions in the woods using nature as a resource to support mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

There is ongoing research to prove the wholistic benefits of spending time in nature, so integrating counselling within the environment of the woods can be a powerful and supportive tool to enhance the therapeutic experience. We would use the connection of the wood to support the therapy through different modes of communication such as enhancing our senses, using nature as a mirror or metaphor, using nature as symbolism and as a means to engage the creative side of ourselves.

Benefits of working / being in nature include:

• Enhanced mental wellbeing
• Reduced stress levels through encouraging us to ‘rest and digest’ (parasympathetic nervous system)
• Increase in NK (natural killer) blood cells to support the immune system
• Normalise blood pressure
• Reduces heart rate and improves HRV
• Improves the quality of sleep

There is ongoing research led by various universities in the UK and throughout the world (University of Derby in partnership with The Forest Bathing Institute, University City of London, Japan, South Korea and Thailand) to monitor the effects of spending time within the forest.

The woods that I use also have covered spaces so that we can choose to work partially undercover but still within the natural setting to get the benefits of being outdoors.