Nature as Co-Therapist: Integrating Nature-Based Group Therapy for Adolescents Struggling with Anxiety
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Authors
Carter, Andrea
Issue Date
2025-03-19
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
nature-based therapy , group therapy , grounding , adolescents , anxiety
Alternative Title
Abstract
This paper explores how nature-based group therapy can impact adolescents struggling with anxiety. With rising mental health concerns among youth, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to expand our traditional understanding of sit down talk therapy. The capstone examines various forms of nature-based interventions, including wilderness therapy, adventure therapy, forest therapy, surf therapy, and garden/horticultural therapy through a narrative literature review methodology. The literature review was guided by developmental theory, Kaplan's restoration theory, and the biophilia hypothesis. Findings from recent studies across multiple countries, particularly Norway, South Korea, and the United States, demonstrated that nature-based group therapy can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in adolescents while also improving overall well-being, social connection, and physical health. The literature review reveals that combining the healing properties of nature with psychotherapeutic techniques can provide an innovative and holistic approach to mental health treatment for youth. However, several limitations to this approach were identified, including accessibility concerns, confidentiality issues, privacy in outdoor spaces, weather constraints, and the need for more Canadian research focused on individual versus group programming for adolescents in natural settings, as well as programming that is possible through the winter months. This capstone contributes to the field of counseling psychology by providing evidence-based support for expanding traditional therapeutic spaces to include outdoor settings, potentially offering more effective intervention options for adolescents with anxiety.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess