Tag: Farming, Gardening

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Ecotherapy: Using Nature’s Power to Heal

If you’re considering residential rehab, you might be feeling the need to get away from it all. You might also notice that many treatment centers are located in remote, naturally beautiful settings—and with good reason.

Spending time in nature has a powerful calming effect, and can help set you up for success in recovery. Rehab programs around the country employ the healing powers of the great outdoors, with experiential therapies like hiking, beach walks, and adventure outings forming a core part of the curriculum.

Any of these techniques helps you connect with yourself and the world around you: a relationship the recovery journey aims to right.

What Is Ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy, or nature therapy, is a broad term that loosely describes doing any outdoor activity with the goal of recovery. It can take place informally or in a clinical context, in a group or on your own. It’s not officially recognized in the DSM-5, but it is commonly employed by rehabs around the world.

Nature itself has therapeutic benefits.1 In therapies that use nature immersion, patients spend time outside as part of the recovery process. In some programs, these activities have specific therapeutic goals. In others, patients use mindfulness techniques to soak up the peace and quiet of the world around them.

Getting outside can provide perspective that helps with the challenges of recovery.

Learning to Trust Your Instincts

Humans haven’t always lived in urban areas. Only 200 years ago, 90% of us lived rurally. But today, more than half of the global population lives in cities.2 Despite its social advantages, this fast-paced urban lifestyle is stressful.3 Slowing down and grounding are necessary parts of the recovery process.

Engaging with nature has immediate emotional benefits.4 And research suggests that this is due to our evolutionary history. Our early ancestors relied on fresh water and vegetation to stay alive. Over time, we came to associate those resources with a sense of safety. Perhaps as a result, the human brain still responds well to these environments.

By spending time outdoors, you can tap into ancestral memories of safety. And when you feel safe, it’s easier to focus on healing.

Ways to Immerse in the Natural World

As a treatment, nature immersion takes many forms. You might meditate in a forest preserve, enjoy a guided walk, or get your hands dirty in the garden. And your treatment center might offer different outdoor therapies based on their staffing, location, and approach. Talk to your rehab’s admissions team to find out more about their available options.

You can also browse rehabs by activity, including hiking, fishing, river rafting, horseback riding, and more.

Forest Bathing

Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan.5 This is the practice of using all your senses to be present and mindful in a forest setting. When you go forest bathing, you use mindfulness to take in your surroundings. You might focus on the coolness of river water, the scent of fallen leaves, or the sound of birdsong. An expert may guide you through meditation, or you may spend time in the forest alone.

Guided Nature Walks

Some rehabs offer guided nature walks.6 Whereas forest bathing is meditative and mostly unstructured, guided walks are led by certified guides. These are normally group activities.

A guided walk usually lasts for around 2-4 hours, during which you’ll share thoughts with the group as you enjoy the outdoors. Guides invite you to observe the life and landscapes around you, from swaying trees to colorful skies. By focusing on your immediate surroundings, you’ll find it easier to let go of the small things and find a sense of awe for the larger world.

Once the group is emotionally grounded, guides might engage you in a sensory experience like running your hands through the grass or smelling the flowers. This connection with the Earth brings you back into the present, and back into your own body.

Finally, you’ll have time for reflection. Your guide might ask you to meditate or write about the experience. This helps ease the transition back into the rest of your routine. Ideally, you’ll return to it feeling more centered and calm.

Gardening Therapy

You don’t have to be deep in a forest to reap the benefits of nature therapy. Horticulture therapy,7 or caring for plants, is a great way to destress and focus on the present. This is a great option for people with limited mobility, or those who don’t have off-site privileges at their rehab.

Whether you spend time in a garden or just water your bedside fern every morning, plant therapy lets you care for something outside yourself. You can also see the impact your touch has on another living thing. Every new sprout is thanks to your contribution of water, the right amount of sunlight, and attention.

Viewing the Outdoors

In some rehabs, you can enjoy the perks of nature therapy without even going outside. Studies show that just having a nature view out of a hospital window can improve patients’ mental health.8 This is helpful for people with a range of mental health issues. For example, looking at beautiful nature scenes can decrease depression and anxiety.9

How Nature Immersion Helps Recovery

Spending time in nature can improve a wide variety of issues, from chronic pain to anxiety. And studies show that it’s especially helpful for people with certain conditions.

Anxiety and Stress

If you experience severe stress or anxiety, you might be surprised how much relief a little time in nature can provide. According to experts, “the higher the stress level, the greater the effect” forest bathing has10 on these issues. It can even alleviate physical symptoms. In one study, just watching a nature video lowered viewers’ heart rates.11 If your body is still healing from the effects of addiction, this could be an important part of your process.

Chronic Pain

If you have chronic pain, nature immersion can help with both its physical and mental effects. One study found that nature immersion not only relieved pain;13 it also boosted patients’ immune responses. They also reported decreased symptoms of depression.

Depression

Further research supports nature immersion as a treatment for depression.13 Most people report reduced depressive symptoms after spending time outside. This may be helpful for people with co-occurring disorders, like depression and addiction.

The Power of Nature to Treat Addiction

Nature therapy is a tried-and-true treatment for mental health. A growing body of research supports its use in rehab. And, it specifically benefits people in addiction recovery in several ways:

Reduce Cravings

Cravings put you at risk for relapse.14 And they can occur at any stage of the recovery process. Multiple studies show that after spending time in nature, people have less intense and fewer cravings.15 If this coping strategy works for you, you can use it before, during, and after residential treatment. Nature’s soothing effect is there any time you need it.

Improve Impulse Control

Addiction can damage your attention span16 and interfere with impulse control. This often makes it hard to commit to recovery.

Data shows that engaging with nature reduces impulsivity.17 As a result, ecotherapy might help you stay the course during treatment.

In one study, nature therapy was especially helpful for people recovering from opioid addiction.18

Connect With Yourself and Others

Unhealthy as it is, addiction is a coping mechanism. And when you enter recovery, you’ll need to develop new, healthier strategies. Spending time in nature can be an exciting way to connect with people, without using drugs.

This is also why nature can play an important role in aftercare. Returning to social circles associated with your addiction can increase your risk of relapse.19 By taking up new hobbies—like hiking or biking—you might just build a new, sober community.

Clinical Director Brenna Gonzales explains why The Hope House Scottsdale places so much emphasis on getting outside:

Most people living with addiction are stuck in their houses and are alone. To be outdoors, to reconnect with nature and themselves, gives people the opportunity to experience life again. There are mountains all around The Hope House. Some of the best hikes in Phoenix city are within five minutes of us. We also have a pool that clients can use daily. We take any opportunity we can to get people outside.

“Nature is the biggest distraction we like to have.”

Dr. Thomas Gazda, Medical Director at Soberman’s Estate, talks about how important it is for patients to unplug from distractions and focus on one another:

Residential rehab takes a person out of their normal environment. These days we have so many distractions at our fingertips: our cell phones, laptop, computers, television. There’s just so many distractions out there and we want to try and get away from that here. Nature is the biggest distraction we like to have out here. It’s a peaceful, quiet distraction. Something that can actually get you more in touch with yourself. It also allows for a certain kind of comradery amongst the patients here because they’re living with each other. They get to know each other, there’s a bond that forms.

If you prefer solo adventures, you can still relax in nature alone. Swimming in a body of water, hiking to a viewpoint, or even walking in the park can go a long way toward clearing your mind and bringing you back in sync with life. This valuable you-time creates space for your feelings, even when recovery is challenging.

Relaxing and Reflecting on Your Recovery Journey

The natural world holds many lessons. Simply observing it can help you connect with something greater than yourself. And nature-based therapies take that a step further, teaching you how to accept the present moment. In turn you can learn to accept yourself, just as you are, at every point on your healing journey.

To reconnect with nature during recovery, explore a list of rehabs offering experiential treatment and learn about their locations, housing options, complementary therapies, and more.

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Learning by Doing With Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy lets you heal by doing. Taking part in activities during rehab encourages you to learn new skills, and it can be a lot of fun. But this therapeutic modality offers much deeper benefits. It’s also a way for clients to get to know themselves in different contexts, processing emotions they might not easily access during talk therapy.

When you think of therapy, you may picture a private or group conversation with a trained healthcare provider. That’s an important part of any inpatient rehab experience, but it’s not the only way to heal. Experiential therapy techniques can help you get out in the world, center yourself in your body, connect with your community, and tap into your innate creativity. In the safe and supported environment of rehab, clients can then process these experiences with a talk therapist.

For many people, this is a valuable way to work through emotional triggers. You’ll learn what does and doesn’t work for you, relating recent events to your personal history. Then you can set new goals for your next session of experiential therapy, gradually getting better at navigating new situations. There are many different types of experimental therapy, and depending on where you go to rehab, you may be able to choose from a wide variety of activities. It’s important to choose a type of therapy that will support your healing process.

Types of Therapeutic Activities and Expression

If you want to try experiential therapy, look for a rehab center that offers specific programs you’re interested in. If you find physical exercise to be especially healing, you might want to go rock climbing or river rafting. If you enjoy connecting with nature, you may prefer hiking or equine therapy. And if you find meaning in the arts, you can even visit museums while you’re in treatment. There are countless options available.

However, it’s important to remember that rehab is not a vacation. Not every experience will be available to every client, or at every facility. You can rely on your clinical team to help you decide which ones are a good fit for you.

Athletic Activities

Research shows that exercise has a positive impact on addiction recovery.3 It’s not only physically healthy; it’s also a way to remind yourself that you’re a capable person. By overcoming new challenges, you’ll create memories that remind you of your own strength. If you can literally scale a mountain, it may be easier to face the peaks and valleys of the recovery journey.

Sierra Tucson rockclimbing
Rock climbing is one of the many athletic activities available at Sierra Tucson in Tucson, Arizona.

These experiential therapies aren’t just metaphors for your future success. In a practical way, they also give clients a break from talk therapy. By stepping into a new context, you’ll gain insights that just aren’t as accessible in talk therapy. Jerry Vaccaro, President of All Points North Lodge in Colorado, explains that these activities are intended “to help clients incorporate what they’ve just learned. If you think about it, if somebody who’s been through an intensive burst of treatment in a week goes skiing, that activity allows them to unplug and process what they’ve just been through and enjoy themselves.”

Adventure Therapy

Many people approach recovery as a spiritual journey. And in the right context, experiential therapy can be a transcendent experience. Residents of White River Manor, in South Africa, are invited to go on safari. As Giles Fourie, Director and Co-owner, describes it, “safaris through the Kruger National Park are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of people. To experience wildlife in its natural habitat is so unique and so special. It’s liberating. It’s almost spiritual in nature.”

White River Manor safari
Guests at White River Manor in South Africa have the opportunity to partake in unique experiences like a once-in-a-lifetime safari.

And if South Africa isn’t right for you, there are other places to find adventure. At The ‘Ohana, in Hawaii, clients visit “the famous volcano of the island. They will tour the rim of the volcano as well as visit lava tubes. They will be immersed into nature; connecting to the earth and the power which it holds. Clients will experience a therapeutic group session along their journey as they reflect on how things are constantly changing. Volcanoes beautifully illustrate the process of rebuilding and reshaping.”

Looking into a volcano can be a spiritual experience for anyone, whether or not they’re in recovery. Having these experiences surrounded by your cohort, and supported by staff members from your rehab program, is an extremely powerful experience. These adventures offer you a new perspective on your own life, as well as on the world around you.

Art Therapy

Many people misuse substances in order to avoid dealing with negative emotions that they’re afraid to feel or express. The creative outlet of art therapy allows you to engage with those feelings without being subsumed by them. In this modality, clients “use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings.” This engaging, cathartic experience offers clients new tools for self-expression.

After inpatient rehab, it’s important to find healthy, sustainable ways to fill your time. Ideally, you’ll replace past behaviors with new activities that you find meaningful. For many people, art is the answer. This practice is both versatile and accessible—art therapy may include visual art, music, writing, or psychodrama. Once you return home, you can continue any of these activities, either on your own or in community.

Art isn’t just for artists. There’s great value in the act of creation, whether or not you intend to share your work in public. Preliminary research has even found a correlation between creativity and self-esteem.1 Art therapy is an opportunity to not only learn a new skill, but also to learn more about yourself.

The Philosophy Behind the Experiential Approach

Any activity, from adventure outings to ziplining, can be an opportunity for emotional growth. Dr. Ryan Drzewiecki, Director of Clinical Operations at All Points North Lodge, says, “the way you do one thing is the way you do everything—or at least, there’s something to learn from the way that you experience everything. So we periodically pause during activities and say, ‘What’s going on for you right now? What are you noticing?’ And we’re able to use that as a therapeutic opportunity to look at what’s happening.”

Experiential therapy engages different parts of the brain,2 and can be extremely beneficial when combined with other modalities. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply your insight from talk therapy in a new environment, and often in group settings. This way, clients can practice not only making safe choices, but also building healthy relationships. Even if you go off-site, everything you do during rehab takes place within a protected, supported context. Think of experiential therapy like riding a bike with training wheels. You’ll be exposed to new stimuli, and you’ll probably be a little uncomfortable. There’s a lot to learn from that discomfort. And you can trust that your therapists and support staff will be there to keep you on track, even if you get triggered.

Not every therapeutic modality is right for every client, and it’s ideal to find activities that best suit your learning style.4 According to one popular theory, there are four major learning styles: visual, aural, verbal, and kinesthetic. If you’re a verbal learner, for example, you may want to focus on talk therapy instead of learning martial arts.

However, you may be surprised to see which types of therapy suit you best. Rehab is a time to get to know yourself better than you have in the past and let go of negative preconceptions. As you reconnect with your most deeply held values, you just might get excited to try new things.

Limitations of Activity-Based Treatment Techniques

It’s important to note that experiential therapy isn’t right for everyone. For example, many people arrive at rehab with post-acute withdrawal symptoms. These clients may not be ready for strenuous activity, or even to go off-site with a group.

On the other hand, you may prefer a program without any group activities. Some clients, especially celebrities and high-level executives choose to attend private rehab facilities which treat only one client at a time. These facilities may offer adventure therapies, but that context won’t allow you to learn about group dynamics in quite the same way.

Experiential therapy is absolutely not a substitute for talk therapy. These excursions are valuable for many reasons, not least of all because you can return to talk therapy afterward and process your experience. This is true before, during, and after rehab. Joining a rock climbing gym is a great idea for some clients, but it should be combined with some sort of clinical care.

What This Means When You’re Choosing a Treatment Program

Finding the right kind of experiential treatment is a very personal process. Some people may benefit from stepping outside their comfort zones, trying exciting new activities they’ve never had access to before. Others may want to hone a skill, or return to a hobby they once loved. There’s no right or wrong way to choose an activity to focus on; there’s just the right way for you.

As you look into rehabs, be mindful of what type of treatment you find in various locations. Your preferences may also inform the geographical area of your program. If you live in Texas and want to go skiing during rehab, for example, it probably makes sense to travel to a new place.

It’s quite common for rehab facilities to only offer certain experiences to certain clients. You may be required to complete part of the program before you can participate in off-site outings. For example, Futures Recovery Healthcare offers a number of programs for people with different needs. Clients in their adventure therapy program, Rise, take part in a 10-day on-site stabilization program before joining other activities.

Futures Recovery Healthcare Rise
Futures Recovery Healthcare’s Rise program offers a uniquely active, adventure-based approach to recovery.

Create Meaning Through Experience

Rehab is an opportunity to make big changes. And in order to change the way you feel, you’ll almost certainly begin by changing what you do. Rather than just setting down old behaviors, it’s important to refill your time with activities that give your life purpose. Cultivating that sense of fulfillment makes recovery more sustainable. What you do in experiential therapy may or may not become your new favorite hobby: you might just discover that you hate surfing, and get excited to return home to the Midwest. Regardless, each of these experiences serve to teach you more about yourself.

To learn more about the many activities you can try during treatment, connect with a rehab offering experiential therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Experiential Therapy

What is experiential therapy in rehab?

Experiential therapy is a therapeutic modality that encourages healing through hands-on activities and experiences. It goes beyond traditional talk therapy and allows clients to engage in activities like rock climbing, equine therapy, or art therapy. These experiences help clients learn new skills, process emotions, and gain insights in a different context, leading to deeper personal growth and self-discovery.

How does experiential therapy benefit addiction recovery?

By engaging in physical activities and adventures, such as athletic activities or adventure therapy, people in recovery can boost their self-esteem, develop resilience, and gain a new perspective on life. Art therapy, for example, provides a creative outlet for self-expression and exploring emotions. These therapies complement talk therapy, helping clients develop healthy coping mechanisms and build stronger relationships.

How to choose the right experiential therapy for rehab?

When choosing an experiential therapy for rehab, it’s important to consider your interests and preferences. Look for rehab centers that offer specific programs aligned with your goals, such as outdoor adventure or music therapy. Discuss with your clinical team to determine which activities are suitable for your healing process. Remember, not every therapy is suitable for everyone, and it’s essential to find activities that resonate with your learning style and contribute to your overall well-being during the recovery journey.