I have always been interested in the healing that happens in nature; when we swim in a lake, put our feet in sand, or dig in the dirt. Mother Earth is indeed called mother for a reason. She holds us, feeds us, and nurtures us in many ways throughout our life.
Right now, in the spring of 2021, it feels like we are all emerging from a very long and cold winter where we have all spent so much more time inside because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of tremendous stress and isolation, the weather is now shifting, vaccinations are happening more and more, any many businesses are opening up. This is an important moment in our worlds history. One when many are eager to do more and see more but also one of continued and learned fear as well as uncertainty. Right now a walking session with a therapist can be a powerful way to connect in person, socially distance, and feel the support of the natural world.
To learn more about the profound effects of social isolation on our nervous system take a listen to this recent Onbeing episode.
I have been doing walking sessions for sometime though during the pandemic they became an important option in a time of social isolation, great anxiety, mounting depression, and tremendous grief. The ability to walk with a therapist or client in person when we haven’t been able to meet in person during most of the last 12 months has felt very powerful.
I tend to meet clients near my office, a familiar and somewhat distanced place to all of us right now and then we walk along the east river in Manhattan for our session. The open and outside environment is supportive and inspiring. I plan to continue to offer walking sessions long after this current COVID-19 crisis. The healing power of nature is palpable to me and those I walk with. When was the last time you walked with a friend or family member? What do you remember about that experience?
The research about nature and the benefits of nature on the human mind and body are many. To read more about nature therapy and the benefits of being in nature check out these resources:
- Research study showing the positive impact of time in nature on college students
- Child advocate and author Richard Louv has written three critically acclaimed books: Last Child in the Woods, Nature Principal, and Our Wild Calling
- For other blogs written by Alison Pepper LCSW about nature therapy
