Why outdoor therapy?

Jacqueline Craine
Jun 23, 2025
3 min read

Updated: 4 hours ago

The healing power of nature

The healing power of nature

Counselling and psychotherapy have been around for a long time and the benefits of talk therapy are well established (see here). Many people have long known the therapeutic potential of spending time in nature, including physiological benefits as follows -

1. Better quality sleep

2. Lowers blood pressure

3. Slows down breathing

4. Can lower blood sugar

5. Can ease joint pain

More recently some psychological benefits of time spent in nature have been highlighted -

1. Lowers cortisol levels in body which reduces feelings of stress and anger

2. May diminish feelings of anxiety

3. Enhances mood

4. Supports those who are grieving

5. Can ease symptoms of seasonal affective disorder

Outdoor therapy is a relatively new concept, though walk-talk therapy is growing in popularity. Being in nature and using nature as a backdrop is known as a dyadic approach to outdoor therapy, which can have both physiological and psychological benefits. However, engaging our natural surroundings as a shared partner within therapy, for example through forest bathing or incorporating natural materials into craft activities such as hapa zome (here) promotes a deeper connection with nature and is known as a triadic approach to therapy. Immersing oneself in nature has a calming effect on the mind and body and can promote a sense of peace and wellbeing.

Traditional, indoor, face to face counselling doesn’t appeal to all, and an outdoor ‘shoulder to shoulder’ approach might feel more accessible. Spending time in creation can be a great leveller and opens opportunities for a change in perspective. Outdoor therapy offers the option of simply walking and talking (with sit spots on the way), but if a deeper connection to nature appeals to you then grounding and mindfulness practices are a wonderful way of engaging the senses and alleviating feelings of anxiety. For those who enjoy creating, craft activities which incorporate natural materials, can also be used as part of the therapeutic work. There are also opportunities for forest bathing, which simply means immersing yourself in nature in a mindful way, for example sit spotting, using breathing techniques, or even enjoying a hammock experience.

In the fast-paced world we live in, a simpler life is something many people crave. A simple life can begin by making external changes such as baking your own bread, or growing your own veg. Yet, true simplicity begins internally. Outdoor therapy helps to de-clutter the mind and is a great way to begin this change in perspective.

In his book ‘Lost Connections: Why you’re depressed and how to find hope’ (here), Johann Hari talks about important connections that help us thrive as people. Hari dedicates a chapter to nature and how we as humans have become disconnected from our natural surroundings, being more at home now in concrete jungles. This has negative implications to our wellbeing, so getting outdoors and re-engaging with the therapeutic benefits nature has to offer is a step towards healing and reconnection.

An important aspect of grief counselling is working out how to build a new life around significant loss and change. Nature is expansive and offers a rich environment in which to reflect and grieve in a way that best suits the individual. Creation mirrors the experience of dying, of renewal, times of bounty and times of letting go, with its cycle of ever-changing seasons. The outdoors offers space and a change in perspective, which can be helpful when we feel stuck in grief.

Outdoor therapy may not appeal to all, and that is okay. My practice offers the option to experience indoor therapy in the Shepherd's Hut, which is situated in woodland. If you are curious about outdoor therapy, but unsure if it is the right fit for you, a mixed approach may suit you best, by beginning therapy indoors with the option to experience some outdoor sessions.

For those who struggle to get outdoors at the moment, I also offer telephone and online counselling. You can still gain some of the benefits that nature has to offer simply by bringing natural materials into your home, seashells, pinecones, plants, driftwood, feathers, etc. There is evidence which shows that bringing nature into our living spaces can boost productivity, inspire creativity, and even hasten the healing process.