School, work, relationships: stress is everywhere. The solution? It may be more accessible than you think. Moravian University is now offering ecotherapy as an option at the Counseling Center. Assistant Director of Counseling Services Josh McSparin is a licensed professional counselor who integrates nature into his therapeutic approach.
“Being outdoors in a natural setting, away from built environments, can also be a healthy reminder that human beings are a part of nature no matter how hard we try to artificially separate ourselves,” McSparin said. “[It’s] a philosophical re-orientation that can lead to a wiser relationship with the planet we call home.”
Taking place in natural environments around campus, specifically along Monocacy Creek, McSparin’s ecotherapy sessions blend traditional talk therapy with outdoor immersion. Rain or shine, he leads students out to the trail that runs along the Monocacy Creek, allowing them to go at their own pace. He walks with his client while they discuss the various stressors in their life. Throughout the session, McSparin pauses to allow time for mindfulness activities, such as meditation.
During their outdoor sessions, students often notice something that resonates with the challenges they are facing.
Stating that “observing natural cycles, weather, wildlife behavior, etc., as a metaphor is an integral part of the ecotherapy process,” McSparin guides clients to find the hidden messages in nature.
Lasting typically an hour, sessions ultimately encourage clients to explore themselves and their emotions with a deeper understanding of their place in the natural world.
Ecotherapy urges clients to focus their senses, giving them the space to reflect on their emotions. Being outdoors helps with this process as the peacefulness of nature can quiet mental distractions, creating a space for thoughtful, emotional reflection. By focusing on the natural world, clients can then begin to better process their own thoughts and feelings with a sense of clarity and calm.
While these sessions may not align with every client’s busy schedule, making time for this kind of therapy can bring a wide range of benefits that truly help to bring solace to those who are experiencing stress, McSparin contends.
Research bears him out, showing that being in nature can lower a person’s blood pressure, decrease cortisol levels, and enhance creativity and cognitive function. A group of studies even found that a “connection to nature can elicit the deepest well-being.”
Other research suggests that exposure to nature allows for long-term happiness, kindness, and overall well-being for oneself and those around them. Regardless of one’s reason for attending a session, the benefits exude far beyond a peaceful stroll in the woods.
Those numerous outcomes have been experienced by Moravian students, who report that ecotherapy sessions have made them feel more grounded, less stressed, and better connected to their emotional and mental well-being.
One Moravian student recalled that the physical act of moving through nature allowed him to feel “unstuck” from himself and his problems, according to McSparin. Other students reported that the changing seasons and foliage throughout their semester-long sessions improved their emotional state.
While some found meaning in the change that time naturally brings, others found meaning in the symbols of nature. One student, observing a blooming tree during their session, stated, “I realized that as this tree was growing, I was growing with it.”
A 2016 Nielsen Total Audience Report found that an “increasing reliance on technology, combined with a global trend toward urban living,” is leading us to spend less time outdoors.
Whether it’s hiking the Monocacy Trail, walking through the historic Moravian village near South Campus, or just sitting under a tree in the Main Quad, the simple act of communing with nature can help us regain our emotional equilibrium.
For those looking to find more information on nature-based therapy at Moravian, contact the Counseling Center at Moravian University at 610-861-1510 or reach out to their services at [email protected]. Additionally, appointments can be made online through the Student Health Portal. For more information on nature therapy and counseling as a whole, feel free to explore the following links for more insight into the benefits of this mindful practice.
