Eco-Psychology
Ecopsychology
All people need to experience themselves as part of the natural world, to know they belong and are unified with all of life. Ecopsychology joins psychology and ecology to assist us in remembering we are part of a very big life process and that we are embedded in nature. Ecological, social, spiritual and emotional crises mirror one another. What is harmful to the earth is also harmful to humans, and what benefits and respects the earth brings wholeness and well being into human life as well. It is our birthright and responsibility to restore our understanding of community; to deeply value the preciousness of human existence and also to cherish our utter interdependence with the larger world.
EcoTherapy: Applying Earth-based Healing Practices within Psychotherapy
When people come to our programs, they are often longing for a more soulful, connected and meaningful experience of being human. Through aligning with direct experience, we encourage deeply embodied awareness. We help activate the practice of presence, sensing and aliveness, as well as explore the barriers to this inherent vibrancy.
In ecotherapy, personal stories are respected and held within a larger context, which serves to heal the isolation felt by so many. There is an understanding that one's pain, suffering, beauty and gifts are related to the world, and that the gifts that emerge through one's healing and transformation are needed for the well-being of our communities.
All programs offered through EarthWays fall under the domain of ecotherapy. We also have on staff several psychotherapists who offer ecotherapy specifically within the context of psychotherapy. If this is something you are interested in exploring, below is a list of our practitioners.
Significant experiences in nature with land, plants, and creatures have often been considered merely symbolic in traditional therapy, if considered at all. The guidance, healing and wholeness that can accompany these experiences are then lost and not available for the psyche's full maturation. Creating an environment in which this consciousness of relatedness can flourish is an important aspect of ecotherapy. It may mean teaching clients to be sensitive to how the natural world is communicating with them. Tasks outdoors may be suggested, such as gardening or walking, to help foster more openness, inner quiet and direct interaction with the earth.
EarthWay's staff psychotherapists offering ecotherapy:
Sara Harris MFT (Lic# MU20121)
(707) 824-8230
sara@earthways.info
Susan Kistin MFT (Lic# MFC41902)
(707) 823-1319
susan@earthways.info
Cynthia Morrow MFT (Lic# MFC36737)
(415) 221-6373
cynthia@earthways.info
Vanessa Eyen MFT Intern (Intern# 59998)
Supervised by Megan Rooney MFT
(707) 823-1640, ext. 1012
vanessa@earthways.info