Nature As co-therapist
As a therapist, I have always been drawn to the healing power of nature. Whenever possible, I integrate nature into my work, not just as a backdrop but as a co-facilitator in the therapeutic process. Over the years, I have seen profound transformations take place when individuals and groups step outside the walls of traditional therapy settings and immerse themselves in the natural world. Nature itself becomes a therapist, offering wisdom, grounding, and perspective in ways that no office setting ever could.
The Research Behind Nature’s Healing Power
Science continues to affirm what many of us instinctively know—being in nature is deeply restorative. Research shows that time in green spaces lowers cortisol levels, the body's stress hormone, within as little as 20 minutes (Frontiers in Psychology, 2019). It also helps regulate the nervous system, lowering blood pressure and heart rate while boosting immune function through phytoncides, natural compounds released by trees (Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 2010). These physiological changes alone make nature an invaluable tool in therapy, helping clients feel calmer, more centered, and more receptive to processing emotions.
Beyond the physical benefits, nature significantly impacts emotional well-being. Studies have found that spending time outdoors reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression (Nature, 2015) and helps with PTSD recovery by promoting nervous system regulation (Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2018). Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku), adventure therapy, and eco-therapy have all been linked to improved emotional resilience and increased mindfulness (Mindfulness, 2017). When clients engage with nature in a therapeutic way, they tend to feel more grounded, more present, and better able to regulate their emotions.
The Transformational Shift in the Wilderness
Taking individuals and groups into the wilderness has provided some of the most profound therapeutic experiences I have witnessed. I have seen people shift into a more natural state—one that is unfiltered, intuitive, and deeply connected. Nature has a way of peeling away the layers of pretense, offering people a space where they can simply be.
There is something about being outside of one’s normal environment that allows for deeper self-exploration. People often become more expressive, more vulnerable, and more open in ways that don’t always emerge in an office setting. Nature acts as a universal language, understood by all but comfortable for few at first. It challenges us, just as therapy does, by taking us out of our comfort zones and pushing us toward growth.
I have also noticed that in group settings, nature fosters a unique kind of connection and community. Away from digital distractions and societal expectations, people begin to show other parts of themselves—parts that are often hidden or suppressed in day-to-day life. They become more present, more attuned to their surroundings, and more attuned to one another. Group therapy in nature allows for a kind of raw, honest connection that is often harder to cultivate in a traditional setting.
The Spiritual Component of Nature-Based Therapy
In my opinion the most profound aspects of using nature in therapy is its spiritual dimension. When we immerse ourselves in the natural world, it becomes clear that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. Nature reminds us of the cycles of life, death, and renewal—a process that mirrors the personal transformations we go through in therapy. The trees that shed their leaves each fall, the rivers that carve through rock over time, the way the sky stretches infinitely beyond what we can see—all of it points to a greater, timeless rhythm.
Spending time in nature reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles. It humbles us, showing us that we are one piece of a vast, interconnected world that has existed long before us and will continue long after us. It teaches us to accept imperfection, just as we accept the crooked branches of a tree or the ebb and flow of the tides. Nature holds space for us in a way that few things can, offering a sense of belonging, perspective, and reverence for something greater than ourselves.
Encouragement to Seek Nature’s Healing
If you are a therapist, I encourage you to integrate nature into your practice in whatever way you can—whether that means incorporating walk-and-talk sessions, mindfulness exercises in a park, or full immersive retreats in the wilderness. If you are someone seeking healing, I encourage you to step outside more often, sit in the stillness of nature, and allow yourself to reconnect. Therapy does not have to be confined to four walls—sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs happen under an open sky, beside a flowing river, or in the quiet embrace of the forest.
Nature is a therapist, a guide, and a healer. The more we learn to listen to it, the more we learn about ourselves.
By Chase Counts, LPC-S