In our modern lives, “busy” has become a default setting. We navigate a digital landscape of endless notifications, back-to-back meetings and the relentless pressure to achieve. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the cost of this pace. Beneath the hustle there is often a quiet, persistent yearning – not just for a break but for a deeper kind of connection: a way to connect back to our wild self.
I recently spent an immersion day with Dave Talamo, founder of Wilderness Reflections and a pioneer in the field of eco-psychotherapy. Immersing myself in this work served as a powerful reminder: while we focus so much on connecting with others, we often neglect our connection to ourselves and in particular, the living world around us.
Nature as the Co-Therapist
We often treat nature as a backdrop for exercise or a “pretty view” but eco-psychotherapy invites us to see the Earth differently. Nature holds its own ancient wisdom. It doesn’t rush, yet everything is accomplished. It mirrors our own cycles of growth, decay, and rebirth.
In my practice, I believe in the power of nature as “Co-Therapist”. When we take therapy outside the four walls of a traditional room:
- Wind becomes a prompt for what we need to let go of.
- Tree offers a lesson in groundedness and resilience.
- Bush allows us to recognise our own new growth.
For those who feel a strong pull toward the natural world, or for those who feel completely disconnected from it, I am pleased to offer eco-psychotherapy sessions: an opportunity for you to truly be present and connect.
By working with nature as a partner in our sessions, we create a unique space to explore your internal landscape while being held by and learning from the external one. It is a path toward healing that recognises we are not separate from the environment but a vital part of it.
If you are feeling the weight of the “busy” and find yourself yearning for a more grounded way of being, perhaps it’s time to step outside. Please get in touch if you feel drawn to having a session within Nature.
(Note: eco-psychotherapy sessions have a different time/fee schedule.)