Not Always in the Office - A Nature-Based Therapy Blog: Written By Marilyn Laughlin, LCSW, RYT-500, Certified Nature Therapy Guide

anewleaftherapy
Jul 14
3 min read

Nature-Based Therapy and Attention Restoration

As humans, over time 99.99% of our time was spent in nature. Our urban existence is much more recent in our history. The theory of Biophilia asserts that all humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life, suggesting an inherent affinity for the natural world.

People who do feel a natural inclination toward spending time in nature tend to have a positive view of nature, and a cognitive and emotional bond to the natural world determines their level of nature- connectedness. Nature connectedness is defined as feeling connected to nature, or understanding our lives as part of the natural world and its positive association with psychological well-being.

Attention Restoration Theory (ART) was developed by Rachel Kaplan & Stephen Kaplan from their research (1989, 1995). ART asserts that we replenish our cognitive resources, improve our attentional capacities, and enhance our ability to concentrate on academic tasks as well as improve productivity after spending time in nature. Being in nature is a way of making space for ourselves, away from the demands and mental clutter of work and time spent on screens. It aids in restoring our attention capacity. They describe two types of attention:

Directed attention and focus (capacity of the brain to focus on a specific stimulus or task). This capacity is limited and causes fatigue; and
Involuntary attention - the automatic and effortless capture of attention by external stimuli and effortless attention (natural occurring stimulus - bright colors, rushing water sounds, birds singing, things that exist and require no effort to see and appreciate).

Exposure to nature may lead to an improvement in alertness from low or high levels or stimulating alertness after fatigue. Sustained attention performance (work or school) is dependent on an appropriate level of alertness.

3 forms of Alertness

Phasic Alertness - Short-term readiness to make a response following a warning signal

Examples: sudden loud noises, bright lights, touch, or burst of pain

Tonic Alertness - Baseline readiness linked to circadian rhythm and wakefulness

Examples: driving, working, studying

Intrinsic Alertness - voluntary readiness independent of external influences

Examples: following a conversation, avoiding obstacles

In the practice of Nature-Based Therapy, nature is perceived as a safe space where people can gradually connect with themselves. Being in the forest, or other natural environment, can lower cortisol and help regulate the nervous system (emotions) through soothing and calming (parasympathetic) instead of fear, anxiety and drive (sympathetic).

Greenery and natural beauty, sunlight that gives a serotonin boost, and gardening, all can cultivate tranquility that is calming. Seen as a nonthreatening environment, mindfulness practices (meditation, Yoga), or guided walks in nature, aid in releasing body anxiety or tension.

Research on Nature-Based Therapy

Photos of parks and nature photos are more restorative than photos of urban settings (architecture, historical buildings)

Looking at pictures of a towering tree for one minute resulted in higher awe scores and more pro-social helping behaviors afterward than viewing a building of the same height.

3-day Forest Bathing program found an increase in natural killer cells in the body compared to 3 days of city walking

A 90-minute walk in nature reduced the level of rumination and activities of the subgenal prefrontal cortex (location of emotional regulation and reward mechanisms in the brain).

Most helpful for anxiety, one of the most common health problems in the world. Also reported helpful for depression, stress, and anger

Women living in green-rich areas have a 12% lower mortality rate than those in green-poor areas

Frequent visits to nature are related to greater social cohesion.

Reflection in natural settings can evoke profound emotional responses that enable people to feel vulnerable enough for successful emotional processing in talk therapy