Ecopsychology in Coaching: Reconnecting with Nature for Mental Wellness and Personal Growth
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- Jan 21
- 6 min read
As our lives become increasingly busy, heavily reliant on 'digital' and disconnected from the natural world, many are experiencing a discombobulation; that manifests as anxiety, burnout, and a lingering feeling that something vital is missing. Ecopsychology coaching offers a deep and beautiful solution to this modern malaise, by reweaving our connection with the natural world and tapping into ancient wisdom about human-nature relationships. Supporting you to reclaim habits that feel more organic and fulfilling.
Understanding what a fancy sounding word like Ecopsychology means in being and doing as a human.
Understanding Ecopsychology in Coaching
Ecopsychology recognises that our psychological health is deeply intertwined with our relationship to the natural world. When I discovered this amazing modality I felt like I had found the missing piece to my coaching. This coaching approach integrates environmental awareness with personal development, and emotional regulation creating a holistic framework that addresses both individual well-being and our relationship with the planet. And something pretty amazing, it involves little dialogue, because a lot of what you experience is connection and change within.
I simply facilitate ways to explore and then help you reflect on this deepening sense of self-awareness and knowing.
Ecopsychology is something that I weave into teams, individuals and couples I coach and is at the centre of all the events we deliver at Where the Mind Grows. It's a natural flow in an approach outdoors, something that requires us to be within a Natural setting to truly compound experiences.
Rather than viewing nature as merely a backdrop for coaching sessions, ecopsychology positions it as an active participant in your discovery and growth process.
Who Benefits From Ecopsychology
Over my years of coaching people in the woods, I have found that an approach that includes Ecopsychology particularly resonates with people who might have led themselves to be high-achieving professionals, who are experiencing burnout from constant digital connectivity, rushing about, professional challenges and commitments and spend most of your time within indoor work environments.
Often your heavy focus on work leads you to compromise your time for yourself, or you find your habits go in peaks and troughs but work always seems to take up more space in your mind than you'd like to admit.
Those who share this experience with me, also share that they find themselves wunderlusting for that cabin in the woods, a simpler existence. A self-soothing escapism.
Unlike these options, ecopsychology helps you truly ground, not hide away.
Helping you find answers and strategies to really deep feelings and stories that perpetuate problems in your life.
Nature-Based and Integrative Coaching has also been a great support for some of the Individuals I’ve worked with who share that they are struggling with eco-anxiety and climate grief.
Ecopsychology offers you a chance for some resources to help process environmental concerns.
Many of the clients I work with outdoors, also share a yearning inside for purpose and meaning beyond traditional measures of success, they need a space to ‘figure stuff out’ and find ways to make the changes their gut and heart desire. Beyond their head-strong frowns.
Clients often describe feeling disconnected from their bodies and natural rhythms and Ecopsychology can share ways to ‘find yourself’ and ‘centre’. and follow rhythms in more alignment.
This might be shifting routines, redesigning your business, or identifying the seasons of your inner psychology as well as that surrounding you.
In addition to this, Ecopsychology can be of value for 'urban dwellers' or people with limited outdoor space experiencing nature deficit disorder,(separation from nature) particularly valuing retreat events at WTMG for a chance to switch off and reset.
Over the years I’ve also found an increasing interest in Ecopsychology and my outdoor delivery from Entrepreneurs and leaders wanting to align their work with environmental values.
And then of course, there of those like myself - who separated from Nature for some time, when somehow adulthood got in the way - and you feel the grapple of nostalgia inside for that wild-hearted part of you that is longing for freedom and creativity that Nature embraces you in!
Ecopsychology coaching proves especially effective for:
Career burnout and stress management: Nature-based practices offer amazing ways to reduce cortisol levels ( the stress hormone) and restore natural energy rhythms. Clients learn to recognise and honour their need for rest and renewal by observing natural cycles.
Anxiety and depression: The approach helps people I work with develop a sense of groundedness and connection that can counteract feelings of isolation and overwhelm. Time in nature significantly reduces anxiety responses and improves mood; there is a plethora of research to support this now.
Decision-making and life transitions: Natural metaphors and wisdom provide frameworks for understanding change and transformation. You’ll gain clarity by observing natural processes of growth, death, renewal and change. Supporting resilience too.
Purpose and meaning: Connecting with nature often helps clients reconnect with their core values and sense of purpose. Many discover how their individual story fits within the larger web of life.
Impact on Health and Mindset
The integration of ecopsychology into coaching creates shifts in both physical and mental well-being and I believe it enhances my own approach as a practitioner as I reap these benefits too and commit to Ecopsycholoigcal practices in both work and life.
Here are some of the benefits I love to ‘geek out’ about
Physical Health
Improved sleep patterns through alignment with natural light cycles
Enhanced immune function from exposure to natural environments
Reduced blood pressure and stress hormone levels
Increased physical activity through outdoor engagement
Better respiratory health from time spent in natural settings
Mental Wellbeing
Greater emotional regulation and stress resilience
Enhanced creativity and problem-solving abilities
Easier to focus and find clarity
Deeper sense of connection and belonging
Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
The Coaching Way
Ecopsychology coaches have a variety of ways and techniques to facilitate change and self-leadership. This typically includes a mix of
Outdoor coaching sessions that allow direct engagement with natural environments
Nature-based mindfulness and emotional regulation practices that help clients develop present-moment awareness
Metaphorical work using natural processes to understand personal challenges
Storytelling, Creativity and Bushcraft all traditional body and mind activation techniques that help you interact playfully and freely with your surroundings.
Sensory awareness or somatic exercises that rebuild connection with the body and environment
Environmental or land-based connection that align personal growth with ecological restoration
Regenerative Leadership & Biomimicry frameworks that learn from Nature and see Nature as a teacher.
All of which you can expect at Where the Mind Grows!
Much of the evolution of Ecopsychology derives from Global Indigenous practices and communities who have lived as part of the Land and Nature - you may find as you engage in a nature-based approach you become more curious to discover these nations' practices, beliefs and ways of life considering how you can weave them into your own modern-day too.
For the Modern Professional
What makes ecopsychology particularly relevant for many of the millennial and Gen X clients I work with is its ability to bridge the gap between our tech-driven lives and our innate need for natural connection.
As a coach integrating this natural approach, I help clients develop practical strategies for incorporating nature connection into busy lives, whether through morning re-connected practices, lunchtime nature walks, or weekend wilderness experiences or in the strategies you adopt for mindset, emotional regulation and mental health.
The approach also addresses the unique challenges of:
Digital overwhelm and the need for authentic connection
Work-life flow in an always-on culture
Environmental concerns and eco-anxiety
Desire for meaningful work that contributes to planetary health
Need for sustainable self-care practices & lifestyle
Processing and regulating emotions in a world that often over-looks making time for this
As we face increasing environmental challenges and technological acceleration, ecopsychology coaching offers a beautiful pathway to both personal and planetary health.
The more time we see ourselves with Nature - the deeper we care for it too.
By reconnecting with nature's wisdom, clients discover not just relief from modern stressors, but a deeper sense of purpose and belonging in the world and a way of activating kindness and compassion in our lives. This approach reminds us that our well-being is inseparable from the health of the natural world, and that by caring for one, we contribute to helping the other.
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To find your own way back to Nature and explore ways to weave a life of wild connection.
Book a FREE discovery call or check out coaching packages here or the retreats page here
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