With Nature in Mind

Acknowledgements. Disclaimer. Foreword by Lindsay Royan, Head of Psychological Services, Barking and Dagenham. Preface. Part 1. ECOTHERAPY: what it is and how to do it. 1. Introduction. Entering the Forest. 2. Deeper into the Forest. 3. Doing Ecotherapy in our Work. Part 2. EVIDENCE: a review of the effectiveness of nature on our health and well-being. 4. The Evidence from Evolution and Ecological Systems. 5. The Evidence from Body and Mind Studies. Physical Health. Mindfulness. 6. The Evidence for Specific Environmental Factors. The Effects of Changes in Light. The Effects of Negative Ions. The Effects of Natural Sounds. 7. The Evidence for Social Differences. The Effects on Children. The Effects on People with Dementia. The Effects on Communities. The Effects on Mental Health and Well-being. Part 3. ACTIVITIES. 8. Introduction. Useful Resources. References. Further Reading. Index.

Research suggests that modern urban environments can have negative effects on mental health whilst contact with green spaces can have positive effects. This timely book, drawing on wealth of research evidence, is an excellent guide to the theory and practice of ecotherapy. It deserves to be read by researchers, practitioners, trainers and students.