- Oxford Library of Psychology
- The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Dedication
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editor
- Contributors
- Introduction: Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Foundations of an Ecological Approach to Psychology
- Environmental Perception: Wayfinding and Spatial Cognition
- Environmental Attitudes
- Environmental Values
- Justice and the Allocation of Natural Resources: Current Concepts and Future Directions
- Children and Nature
- Emotions and Environment
- Place Attachment
- Environment and Identity
- Cultural Differences in Environmental Engagement
- Cities
- Residential Places and Neighborhoods: Toward Healthy Life, Social Integration, and Reputable Residence
- Work Environments
- School Environments
- Health Care Environments
- Correctional Environments
- Natural Landscapes
- Extreme and Unusual Environments: Challenges and Responses
- Noise
- Response to Environmental Disasters
- Environmental Injustice, Collaborative Action, and the Inclusionary Shift
- Therapeutic Uses of Nature
- Restorative Environments
- Healthy Physical Activity and Eating: Environmental Supports for Health
- Environmental Epiphanies: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Applications
- The Natural Environment in Residential Settings: Influences on Human Health and Function
- The Development of Conservation Behaviors in Childhood and Youth
- Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior
- Protecting Natural Resources: Psychological and Contextual Determinants of Freshwater Conservation
- Collaborative Processes in Ecosystem Management
- Learning Our Way Out of Unsustainability: The Role of Environmental Education
- Psychology and Climate Change: Beliefs, Impacts, and Human Contributions
- Conclusions: Directions for the Future
- Index
Abstract and Keywords
It has been proposed that our growing separation from nature is a driving force behind a multitude of physical, psychological, and emotional ailments pervasive in modern-day society. This chapter provides an overview of the therapeutic use of nature. The history of this use, including the rise of the camping movement, is reviewed to provide the foundation for modern day programs and practice. A theoretical framework of the wilderness experience illustrates how various factors present in nature-based experiences work to restore mental fatigue and revitalize mind, body, and spirit. A review of wilderness therapy programs provides a practical example of how wilderness experiences are integrated with clinical treatment models to effectuate change in adolescents and young adults. The chapter concludes by describing emerging programs and other therapeutic uses of nature, including nature-based programs for cancer survivors and returning veterans, and rites of passage programs for people seeking renewed perspectives on their lives.
Keywords: nature, therapy, wilderness experience, restoration, treatment, adolescents, ecopsychology
Keith C. Russell Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
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- Oxford Library of Psychology
- The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Dedication
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editor
- Contributors
- Introduction: Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Foundations of an Ecological Approach to Psychology
- Environmental Perception: Wayfinding and Spatial Cognition
- Environmental Attitudes
- Environmental Values
- Justice and the Allocation of Natural Resources: Current Concepts and Future Directions
- Children and Nature
- Emotions and Environment
- Place Attachment
- Environment and Identity
- Cultural Differences in Environmental Engagement
- Cities
- Residential Places and Neighborhoods: Toward Healthy Life, Social Integration, and Reputable Residence
- Work Environments
- School Environments
- Health Care Environments
- Correctional Environments
- Natural Landscapes
- Extreme and Unusual Environments: Challenges and Responses
- Noise
- Response to Environmental Disasters
- Environmental Injustice, Collaborative Action, and the Inclusionary Shift
- Therapeutic Uses of Nature
- Restorative Environments
- Healthy Physical Activity and Eating: Environmental Supports for Health
- Environmental Epiphanies: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Applications
- The Natural Environment in Residential Settings: Influences on Human Health and Function
- The Development of Conservation Behaviors in Childhood and Youth
- Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior
- Protecting Natural Resources: Psychological and Contextual Determinants of Freshwater Conservation
- Collaborative Processes in Ecosystem Management
- Learning Our Way Out of Unsustainability: The Role of Environmental Education
- Psychology and Climate Change: Beliefs, Impacts, and Human Contributions
- Conclusions: Directions for the Future
- Index
