Nature-based Therapy
Healing doesn't always happen within four walls. Nature-based therapy combines the depth of traditional psychotherapy with the restorative benefits of being outdoors, offering another path toward calm, connection, and meaning.
"Be still and listen
to the voices that belong
to the stream banks and the trees
and the open fields.
Find your hope, then,
on the ground under your feet."
WENDELL BERRY, "A Poem on Hope"
What is Nature-based Therapy?
Nature-based therapy uses the natural environment as a tool to work toward your therapeutic goals. Nature-based therapy, also called ecotherapy or forest therapy, has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, improve mood and emotional resilience, decrease feelings of stress, and increase feelings of overall wellbeing. Best of all, the connections you build to the outdoors can serve as an ongoing source of grounding, no matter where your path takes you.
While most therapy sessions are offered via secure telehealth, nature-based sessions provide an opportunity to step outside when it feels like a good fit for your goals. Some clients choose to alternate between virtual and outdoor sessions, while others prefer one approach consistently.
Nature-based therapy may be a good fit if you...
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Feel calmer after spending time outdoors.
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Find it easier to talk while walking than sitting face-to-face.
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Feel mentally drained by work, caregiving, or constant demands.
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Want to reconnect with yourself after a season of stress or burnout.
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Are looking for a therapy experience that integrates mind, body, and environment.
Benefits of Being Outdoors
Spending time in nature is a powerful restorative tool for the brain. Nature gently supports healing by…
Calming the nervous system: Reducing physiological stress and helping your body shift out of “survival mode”.
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Brain activity associated with repetitive worry decreases and your stress hormones drop.
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Sunlight stimulates production of serotonin, the brain chemical that helps you feel calm, focused, and emotionally stable.
Restoring attention: Giving your busy mind a chance to recover from constant demands and overthinking.
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Nature's gentle stimuli, like rustling leaves or moving water, hold our attention without effort, helping our brains recover from the fatigue of daily tasks.
Creating connection: Helping you feel more grounded, present, and connected to yourself and the world around you.
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Natural sights, scents like pine, and the feel of fresh air pull your awareness out of your head and into the present moment.
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The sense of awe inspired by the natural world strengthens feelings of empathy and belonging.
How Nature Helps with Anxiety
Our nervous system evolved outdoors. Reconnecting with the natural environment can help restore our balance when stress and anxiety feel overwhelming. Time in nature can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation and recovery. When this system is activated, your heart rate slows, breathing deepens, and the body shifts away from the chronic stress response that fuels anxiety.
Sometimes all it takes is a walk outside to soften the noise within and reconnect with what matters.
Is Nature-based Therapy Right For Me?
You don't need to be an experienced hiker or even consider yourself "outdoorsy" to benefit from nature-based therapy. Sessions are tailored to your comfort level and physical abilities. Whether we take a gentle walk on a shaded trail or spend time sitting quietly in a peaceful outdoor space, the goal isn't exercise. It's creating an environment that supports reflection, regulation, and healing.
Session Options
Walk-and-talk therapy
We meet on a quiet local trail and walk at a comfortable pace while talking through whatever feels most important that day. Walking side by side often makes difficult conversations feel more natural, while movement and fresh air support emotional processing.
Mindfulness-based sessions
Sometimes the most meaningful work happens when we slow down. Together we'll use guided mindfulness, grounding exercises, and gentle observation of the natural world to help settle the nervous system and reconnect with the present moment.
Good to Know
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Sessions take place in carefully selected parks and trails in the Durham, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough areas.
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We'll choose locations that match your comfort level and accessibility needs.
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Weather, privacy, and safety are always considered when planning sessions.
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Nature-based therapy is optional and can be combined with traditional telehealth sessions.
If nature-based therapy feels like a good fit, we’ll create a plan together that supports your goals, comfort, and pace. From choosing a location to talking through safety, privacy, and logistics, I’ll help you feel prepared so you can focus on what matters most: showing up for yourself and your healing.