Why Ecotherapy Has a Place in My Personal Wellness Practice

Therapists have good days and bad days, just like everyone else. It’s human to struggle at times. I have moments when I feel overwhelmed, when my inner critic is a little louder, or I notice I am at the edge of my window of tolerance. 

Through cultivating a deep and meaningful relationship with myself, I have been able to uncover what works to ground me. In addition to my own personal therapy, I’ve realized that one of the most reliable interventions I keep returning to is nature. 

Not because it magically solves all my problems. 

Not because I walk away feeling radically transformed. 

But because our natural world asks very little of me. 

It doesn’t expect me to be productive. I don’t need to show up in a specific way or have all the answers. Being in nature is simply an invitation to be present. 

Sometimes this looks like going to Elk Island or the River Valley with my dogs. It can be sitting beside the lake at Hawrelak Park with a journal or a sketch book. Other times it’s simply stepping outside my office doors for a few minutes between counselling sessions. 

Edmonton River Valley facing Wayne Gretzky Drive

I’ve noticed when I spend time outdoors, things begin to shift for me.

My breath slows. My thoughts become a little less tangled. And I feel more connected to the world around me and I feel more connected to myself. 

Rundle Park in the Edmonton River Valley

Everything moves in seasons. Many trees don’t have leaves all year. The North Saskatchewan River doesn’t flow at the same speed or level every day (as evidenced by all the rain we have had). The Crab Apple Tree across from my house only blooms for two weeks per year. 

As humans, we are often expected to be consistently productive, remain emotionally and psychologically steady, and always feel strong and capable. Nature reminds us that rest, change, uncertainty, and renewal are all a part of being alive. 

This has become an important part of how I care for myself. It’s also helped to shape my counselling practice. 

While ecotherapy involves intentionally incorporating nature into therapeutic work, my appreciation for nature extends beyond any particular intervention. It has influenced how I think about healing itself. 

Healing isn’t always about fixing or changing things. Sometimes it’s about creating enough space and permission to notice and revel in what is already there. Radical Acceptance is a core tenant of my therapeutic work and my personal approach to wellness. 

Radical Acceptance doesn’t mean approving of painful experiences or giving up on change. It means acknowledging reality as it is, rather than exhausting ourselves fighting against what has already happened. When we stop using our energy to argue with reality, we create space to decide what comes next.

Mactaggart Sanctuary in Southwest Edmonton

Here are a few concrete reasons why I love Ecotherapy: 

1. Any Amount of Time in Nature is Valuable

Life is busy. I get it. It can often seem unrealistic to consider adding one more commitment to our already overflowing plates. The good thing about Ecotherapy is that it does not have to take up very much of your day. 

What would it be like for you to get up Sunday morning, make a tea or coffee, and sit on your deck, front step, or on a bench in the park in your neighbourhood? 

Take 5 minutes of uninterrupted time to notice your surroundings using your 5 senses. 

• See if you can find something in the greenspace around you that you have never noticed before. 

• Notice the parts of your surroundings that you eyes are naturally drawn to.

• What do you notice around you that is alive, flourishing, growing?

• What do you notice that is resting, in hibernation, or in a state of stagnation?

Check in with yourself before and after this exercise.

• What do you notice about yourself?

• Do you feel more rested, content, energized?

• Do you feel restless, anxious, or unsure?

2. It Can Be Free

Sometimes we romanticize the idea of Ecotherapy to the point it becomes inaccessible and unrealistic. We envision road trips to Jasper where we disconnect for the whole weekend; spend time camping beside Whistlers Mountain; and hiking along the Athabasca River. This is a lovely idea but Ecotherapy does not need to have a price tag attached to it. 

We have so many incredible greenspaces right here in Edmonton. Not only does Edmonton have the largest continuous urban parkland in North America (our River Valley), we also have community parks in almost every neighborhood in the city. 

There is nothing wrong with going on an expensive nature retreat or wilderness getaway, but it’s not necessary when just a bit of mindfulness and intention can bring you closer to truly seeing the beauty and potential of our local neighbourhoods. 

3. Ecotherapy Invites Gentle Movement Instead of Demanding Exercise

For as long as I can remember, we’ve been told that exercise is good for us. 

We have heard it from BowFlex and Shake Weight Commercials in the early 2000s; from gym teachers; the wellness industry; social media influencers with perfect morning routines; and often from well-meaning family members. 

The message itself isn’t wrong. Our bodies benefit quite a bit from movement. But with all the noise of diet culture, we stopped hearing “movement is helpful” and started hearing “you are never doing enough.” It stopped being about caring for ourselves and became another source of guilt and shame. 

One of the many things I love about having an ecotherapy practice is that it offers a different relationship with movement. 

When I am wandering through Rundle Park and Gold Bar Park, I am rarely thinking about my step count, heart rate, or whether I am exercising “hard enough.” 

I am noticing the sound of the leaves in the wind. 

I am watching the Black Capped Chickadees fly from branch to branch. 

I am watching my dog roll around on the sand and silt at the edge of the North Saskatchewan River. 

I am going at a comfortable pace and honoring my body’s needs along the way. For the days I know my energy levels are low, I drive closer to where I want to spend my time in nature, take lots of breaks, and rest on one of the many benches provided by the City of Edmonton. 

My Ecotherapy practice reminds me that movement does not need to be earned, optimized, or tracked to be worthwhile.

Moving our bodies simply because it feels good or we want to be in a beautiful place is enough. 

It’s the kindest and most compassionate way I have ever cared for myself. 

Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary just outside of Edmonton

If you're curious about incorporating nature into your mental health care, we can work together to create an ecotherapy plan that fits your life, values, abilities, and comfort level. We'll also explore any barriers that make spending time in nature feel difficult. Whether it’s accessibility, chronic pain, time, finances, weather, or even past experiences, we can find realistic ways to help you build a more meaningful connection with the natural world.