Stress is an ever-present challenge for many individuals. From work pressures to personal responsibilities, the demands on our mental health can be overwhelming. While various coping strategies exist, one powerful and increasingly popular method studies continue to support is mindfulness-based ecotherapy (MBE). This approach combines the principles of mindfulness with the healing power of nature to reduce stress, promote emotional […]
The Studies Behind Nature and Stress Reduction: Why Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Works
Anxiety: How Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy Helps
Anxiety affects millions of people worldwide, often leading to overwhelming stress, racing thoughts, and physical discomfort. While medication can help manage symptoms, it doesn’t always address the root causes of anxiety. Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy (MBE) offers a natural and holistic approach to anxiety relief by combining mindfulness techniques with the healing power of nature. In this article, we’ll explore how MBE […]
Why I Left the AAMFT and Joined the American Counseling Association (ACA)
Why leave the AAMFT? As a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), being part of a professional organization is essential to maintaining professional standards, receiving ongoing education, and accessing support resources. For years, I was a loyal member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). It’s a respected organization that provides a wide range of resources for therapists. […]
Animal-Assisted Ecotherapy: Building Bonds for Healing
Animal-Assisted Ecotherapy (AAE) is an innovative therapeutic approach that integrates the healing power of nature with the emotional and psychological benefits of animal companionship. This form of ecotherapy is based on the idea that interactions with animals, such as dogs, cats, or even horses, can significantly improve mental and emotional well-being, reduce stress, and help individuals overcome anxiety and depression. […]
Mindfulness in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects millions of individuals worldwide, manifesting as a debilitating condition that disrupts daily life. Rooted in trauma, PTSD often leads to intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, emotional numbing, and heightened anxiety. Traditional treatment approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication, have proven effective for many. However, mindfulness has emerged as a complementary and transformative practice for managing […]
Connecting with the Goddess
Connecting with the Goddess is symbolic of our own meeting with our own concept of perfection. In Ecospirituality, “perfection” means the ability to accept our darker impulses from the Shadow without feeling obligated to act on them. By recognizing and accepting these parts of ourselves without feeling obligated to do anything about them, we create the capacity to just be […]
Completeness and Perfection
We all long for completeness and perfection to some extent. Every human being on the planet has also experienced occasional feelings of shame, guilt, blame, or inferiority. Such feelings are a natural part of the human condition. They are the source of many of the problems we experience with our relationships, careers, spiritual endeavors, and day-to-day living. As human beings, […]
Thought Streams
Thought streams can impact one’s ability to cross the First Threshold. Setting out on the path by Crossing the First Threshold means being open to new ways of thinking and new ways of being. One way to do this is to change your thoughts by learning to live in the present moment, with intention. Imagine that your thought streams and […]
Nature as Supernatural Aid
Last week we discussed Supernatural Aid. This week we’ll talk about Nature as Supernatural Aid. While there are many forms of Supernatural Aid an ecospiritual seeker could rely on, nature is one of the more convenient ones, since most of us have the opportunity to experience nature in some form. I grew up on a 400-acre farm in the 1960s […]
Ethics and Ecotherapy Webinar
This Ethics and Ecotherapy Webinar covers some of the common ethical challenges unique to the practice of ecotherapy. Ecotherapy usually includes doing therapy outdoors. Therapy in non-traditional settings presents unique ethical challenges. These ethical issues are not usually covered in therapy or counseling graduate school programs. In this course, we will discuss how to address some common ethical issues for […]