When the Outdoors Feels Easier than an Office
If sitting across from a therapist in an office feels awkward or disconnecting, you’re not alone. Nature-based therapy offers a gentler alternative — one that invites the natural world to be part of the process.
Also called eco-therapy, this approach might mean walking through a park, sitting under a tree, or spending time near the ocean. It’s built on the understanding that we’re part of nature — and that reconnecting with it can help us feel more grounded, open, and whole.
When the Outdoors Feels Easier
For many people, the movement, fresh air, and sounds of nature make it easier to relax and talk. Walking side by side often feels less intense than sitting face-to-face, allowing conversation and reflection to flow naturally. The environment itself offers comfort and grounding — helping you feel less “on the spot” and more at ease.
A Gentle Way to Reconnect With Feelings
If connecting to your emotions or body sensations feels overwhelming, nature can offer a safe in-between space. Instead of focusing directly on what’s happening inside, we might explore feelings through the world around you:
If this emotion were weather, what would it be?
How might a tree, stone, or river express what you’re feeling?
Nature becomes a kind of mirror — helping emotions surface gradually and safely.
What It Can Look Like
Nature-based therapy is flexible. It might look like:
A walk and talk, where movement supports ease and flow.
Sitting under a canopy of trees, listening to rain while processing hard things.
Lying in moss or grass, feeling supported by the earth.
Creating with natural materials or simply noticing patterns in light, waves, or leaves.
Each session adapts to what you need—quiet, playful, reflective, or creative.
Nature as Co-Therapist
In this approach, nature isn’t just scenery — it’s an active partner in healing. Many people find this resonates with their values or spirituality, reminding them they’re part of something larger. The natural world helps us reconnect not only with ourselves, but with the wider web of life that sustains us.
Nature-based therapy offers a gentle, grounded way to heal—through movement, presence, and connection. It’s not about escaping life; it’s about returning to it, supported by the living world around you.
If you’ve been searching for a counsellor and nothing has quite clicked yet, I’d love to connect and see if this approach feels like a good fit for you. You can learn more about my approach, or you can reach out for a free 20-minute consult at hello@shapeshiftcounselling.ca.
