The Healing Power of Nature: Ecotherapy & Mental Health
The Healing Power of Nature: Ecotherapy & Mental Health
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and motivational purposes only. It is not a substitute for licensed therapy. Content is copyrighted by A Solution B.
What if the peace you’re looking for is right outside your door?
Let’s take a deep breath in—
Not the kind you squeeze in between emails or after the kids are in bed.
A full, grounding breath…the kind you take when the sun kisses your face and the wind reminds you that you're still here in the present moment safe and sound.
If that sounds like a luxury, you’re not alone.
As women, we often carry so much: deadlines, decisions, emotional labor, caregiving, ambition, grief. And somewhere in all of that, we forget the healing that's always been available to us:
Nature.
What is Ecotherapy?
Ecotherapy—also known as nature therapy or green therapy—is a growing field in mental health that encourages time in natural settings to promote healing and emotional well-being. Whether it’s walking in a park, gardening, hiking, or simply sitting in sunlight with intention, ecotherapy reconnects us to the rhythms of the Earth… and ourselves.
It’s therapy that doesn’t always need words.
It’s a silent invitation to come home to your body, your breath, and your being.
Where Therapy Meets the Soil
From May to October, I invite clients into a unique space: a therapeutic garden where healing takes root—literally.
In this outdoor setting, we engage in sessions surrounded by growing food, blooming flowers, and the gentle hum of the Earth doing what it does best: restore. This is more than a beautiful backdrop—it’s a hands-on experience that mirrors your own personal growth.
Planting, harvesting, nurturing, it’s all metaphor and medicine. Clients learn skills that not only support emotional well-being but also promote sustainable practices and food awareness. Many of the women I work with discover that as they care for the land, they’re also learning how to care for themselves.
Addressing Food Deserts with Therapy
This garden isn’t just about therapy—it’s about justice.
In areas where access to fresh food is limited, this space also helps address food insecurity. When you participate in therapy here at A Solution B, you’re contributing to a mission that goes beyond individual healing—you’re part of a growing movement that reconnects wellness with community care.
What the Science Says
Nature isn’t just nice—it’s necessary.
Research shows that spending time in green spaces:
Lowers cortisol (your stress hormone)
Boosts serotonin and dopamine, improving mood and emotional balance
Reduces anxiety and depression symptoms
Improves focus, memory, and creativity
Increases self-compassion and decreases rumination (those negative thought loops)
Even 10 minutes in a natural setting can reset your nervous system.
Why It Matters (Especially for Women)
Women are often praised for our strength,but, at what cost? Burnout?!
Burnout is real.
Emotional fatigue is real.
And so is the guilt that whispers we should be “doing more” “being more productive” even when we’re already doing too much.
Ecotherapy gives us permission to pause.
For women business owners, moms, caregivers, and professionals—especially those navigating trauma, anxiety, or just plain overwhelm—nature becomes a powerful, affordable, and accessible support tool.
How to Start Ecotherapy Without Moving to the Woods
You don’t need a forest. Just intention.
Here are a few ways to begin:
Step outside and ground yourself—bare feet on the grass, 3 deep breaths.
Create a “nature window”—a plant, a small water fountain, or an image of nature where you work.
Take your breaks outdoors—even if it’s 5 minutes.
Practice “earthing” or mindful walking in a natural space.
Start a nature journal— write what you see, hear, smell, and feel.
Bake food from the garden or use whole foods in your meals as a grounding ritual.
Let your healing be simple. Let it be yours.
“There were times when I couldn’t get to therapy, but nature still showed up. It didn’t ask questions. It just let me breathe. That’s why I recommend ecotherapy—it’s healing for your nervous system, your emotions, and your spirit.””
In conclusion: Nature is Still Holding Space for You
You’re not asking for too much.
You’re just asking for quiet. And calm. And breath.
Let the trees hold your worry.
Let the breeze carry your tension.
Let nature remind you that you are part of something whole, steady, and healing.
Your healing is not a luxury.
It’s a birthright.
Feeling Burnt Out or Disconnected? Start Here.
If you're craving a reset but don’t know where to begin, try the Free Burnout Recovery Starter Kit . It's designed to support your healing at your own pace, with gentle steps rooted in nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and whole-person care. Start the free kit today and take the first step toward feeling like yourself again.
Let’s Go Deeper!
If you’re ready to go beyond surface-level self-care and explore the deeper patterns that are holding you back — I invite you to connect with me for therapy. Together, we can explore what restoration truly looks like for you, possibly incorporating nature-based healing and somatic support along the way.
I invite you to explore therapy that not only helps uncover what’s holding you back, but may also include nature-based healing and somatic approaches.
Whether you're a CEO, therapist, entrepreneur, or heart-centered leader — you don’t have to figure this out alone.
👉🏾 Connect with me here Let’s find what restoration looks like for you.
Looking for a structured, high-touch approach?
Consider the CEO Intensive Self-Care Therapy Package — an 8-week therapist-led experience designed to help women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and build sustainable wellness from the inside out.
And if you’re seeking a supportive space to grow alongside other like-minded women, join the Wellness Community on Facebook, a safe and empowering space for conversation, connection, and healing.
You don’t have to do it all alone. Let’s take the next step — together.
Written By: Reynelda Jones, LMSW-C ADS, CIMHP
CEO and Lead Therapist, A Solution B
Works Cited
Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567–8572. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1510459112
White, M. P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J., Wheeler, B. W., Hartig, T., Warber, S. L., Bone, A., Depledge, M. H., & Fleming, L. E. (2019). Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific Reports, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3
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