Description: Wellbeing and Therapy in Natural Environments introduces students to the theoretical and practical foundations of promoting wellbeing through guided activities in natural settings. The course draws on psychology, pedagogy, environmental education, nature-based interventions, mindfulness, and therapy-informed approaches. It explores how contact with green and blue spaces can support relaxation, emotional regulation, cooperation, self-reflection, nature connectedness, and psychological resilience. Current research suggests that nature-based activities may contribute to improvements in mood, anxiety, depression, stress recovery, hope, and subjective wellbeing, although outcomes depend on the type of activity, facilitation, participant needs, and context. The course is delivered as a one-day experiential outdoor block in nature. Students will take part in structured individual and group activities, including sensory awareness, mindful walking, grounding, reflective tasks, cooperative exercises, and creative nature-based practices. Special attention will be paid to the ethical and safety aspects of working outdoors, including psychological safety, boundaries of non-clinical helping practice, informed participation, accessibility, and risk assessment. References: Lumber, R., Richardson, M., & Sheffield, D. (2017). Beyond knowing nature: Contact, emotion, compassion, meaning, and beauty are pathways to nature connection. PLOS ONE, 12(5). Richardson, M., Dobson, J., Abson, D. J., et al. (2020). Applying the pathways to nature connectedness at a societal scale: A leverage points perspective. Ecosystems and People, 16(1), 387?401. University of Derby Nature Connectedness Research Group. (2022). The Nature Connection Handbook.
After completing the course, students will be able to: 1. Explain key concepts related to wellbeing, resilience, nature connectedness, green and blue spaces, and nature-based interventions. 2. Describe how natural environments may support psychological restoration, emotional regulation, social connection, and self-reflection. 3. Distinguish between therapeutic, therapy-informed, educational, recreational, and wellbeing-oriented uses of nature-based activities. 4. Design a short nature-based activity focused on relaxation, cooperation, reflection, or resilience-building. 5. Facilitate selected outdoor activities with attention to group dynamics, psychological safety, ethical boundaries, and participant needs. 6. Identify basic risks connected with outdoor experiential work and propose appropriate safety and accessibility measures. 7. Reflect on their own experience of being in nature and critically evaluate the potential and limits of nature-based approaches in educational and helping professions.
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Lumber, R., Richardson, M., & Sheffield, D. (2017). Beyond knowing nature: Contact, emotion, compassion, meaning, and beauty are pathways to nature connection.
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Richardson, M., Dobson, J., Abson, D. J., et al. (2020). Applying the pathways to nature connectedness at a societal scale: A leverage points perspective..
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