• What is ecotherapy?
• What happens in ecotherapy?
• What types of ecotherapy programme are there?
• How can I get involved in a programme?

What is ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy is a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature. There isn't one single definition of ecotherapy, but it's often used to describe a regular, structured activity that:

• is led by trained professionals (sometimes therapists), who are there to support you
• focuses on doing an activity, rather than on your health
• takes place in a green environment
• is related to exploring and appreciating the natural world
• involves spending time with other people, although you can always choose to interact at your own pace.

You might do an ecotherapy programme on its own, or alongside other treatments such as talking therapies, arts and creative therapies and/or medication.

>Debbie experienced depression and panic attacks as a result of workplace bullying and redundancy. Read her blog about how ecotherapy saved her life.

Being at a supported gardening project has transformed my life and saved the life of my partner who had attempted suicide four times before she regained hope.

What happens in ecotherapy?

This short film introduces the main ideas behind ecotherapy, and explains how using nature and the outdoors can improve mental wellbeing:

Ecotherapy can take place in both rural and urban settings, including parks, gardens, farms and woodlands. It involves varying amounts of physical activity, depending on the type of programme. It can include activities that focus on:

• working in nature, such as a conservation project, gardening or farming
• experiencing nature, such as enjoying the views on a walk or cycling through woodland.

Some ecotherapy sessions follow a set structure, and incorporate types of talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Others can be more informal, or vary depending on the time of year and what work needs doing. People in the group may or may not have experience of mental health problems, but the main focus is usually working together on the shared activity.

>Wayne, a former serviceman, has depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Read his blog about how a nature project helped him to manage his mental health problems.

I do ecotherapy to get sunlight onto my skin and into my mind. It shines light through the dark fog of depression.

What types of ecotherapy programme are there?

Ecotherapy programmes can involve a wide range of activities. For example:

I have depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Doing ecotherapy has allowed me somewhere that is my safe place, a place of my own, where I can be quiet and peaceful. The act of growing and caring for something else helps me to stop thinking about what is going on in my head.

How can I get involved in a programme?

If you'd like to find an ecotherapy programme in your local area, you could:

• Explore our useful contacts page.
• Contact your local Mind, and ask if they run any ecotherapy programmes you could join. (Find your nearest local Mind on our online search page.)
• Ask your GP. They might be able to refer you to a local programme. This is sometimes called 'social prescribing' or 'green prescribing'. (See our page on talking to your GP about your mental health for tips.)

Some ecotherapy programmes require a referral – this might need to come from your GP, or they might accept a referral from another professional you see regularly. Costs involved can vary, although some programmes are free.

This information was published in May 2018 – to be revised in 2021. References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information see our page on permissions and licensing.