ECOPSYCHOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE IN RELATION TO NON-HUMAN NATURE.
MINDFUL RESTORATION'S APPROACH TO WELLNESS IS ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT HUMANS ARE AN INTRINSIC PART OF NATURE AND THEREFORE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LIVE IN RECIPROCITY WITH THE NATURAL WORLD THAT SUSTAINS US.
BY UTILIZING PRACTICES THAT ILLICIT THE NOTICING OF PATTERNS, METAPHORS, AND SYMBOLS IN NON-HUMAN NATURE, INDIVIDUALS EXPLORE THEIR BELIEFS, VALUES, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES THAT INFORM AND INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR AND RELATIONSHIPS. INDIVIDUALS SPEND INTENTIONAL TIME IN NATURAL PLACES OR ENGAGING WITH NON-HUMAN NATURE THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE AWARENESS. EACH INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO DEVELOP SKILLS AND DEEPEN THEIR AWARENESS OF CONNECTIONS WITH SELF, OTHER INDIVIDUALS, SYSTEMS, AND NON-HUMANS (NATURE, I.E., ANIMALS, LANDSCAPES, WATER, LAND, AIR, ETC.)
THE PROCESS RELIES HEAVILY ON ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES, SETTING INTENTION, AND EXPANDING WORLDVIEW. WHILE INDIVIDUALS GROW AND EXPAND THEIR SELF-AWARENESS BY EXPLORING YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IDENTITY. THIS ENHANCES THE INDIVIDUAL'S INHERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. IN A NUTSHELL, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES IN NATURE, THEY CARE ABOUT PROTECTING, PRESERVING, CONSERVING, AND RESTORING THE NATURAL WORLD WE ARE A PART OF.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIELD INFORMS THE PRACTICE AND APPLICATION OF ECOTHERAPY. ECOTHERAPY BASED PRACTICE OFTEN INCLUDES THE ELEMENTS OF NON-HUMAN NATURE AND THE PERSON'S RESPONSE TO THE ELEMENT OF NATURE.
ECOTHERAPY OFTEN AIMS TO HEAL AND REPAIR AN INDIVIDUAL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE, PROCESS DESPAIR, EXPERIENCE GRIEF AND LOSS OF NATURE, AND/OR IGNITE AN INDIVIDUAL'S ENVIRONMENTAL IDENTITY.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL IDENTITY IS HOW AN INDIVIDUAL VIEWS THEMSELVES AS PART OF NATURE INCLUDING THEIR IMPACT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND CONNECTION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND CYCLES OF NATURE.
*CLICK HERE TO READ A GREAT ARTICLE FROM THE SIERRA CLUB ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD AND APPLICATION.
