Neurodivergence meets nature

Nature isn’t just pretty, it’s medicine.

The first time I sat under a tree with no agenda, I felt something click in my adhd/asd brain.  It wasn’t about mindfulness or meditation, it was about finally being somewhere that didn’t demand anything from me.

Unmasking in nature can feel like a safe space to help regulate a frazzled ND nervous system, with ADHD nature can act as a stimulant without the crash and with autism acts as a low-demand, low sensory-overload environment.  In fact, outdoor spaces can act as containment for big emotions and therefore a safe space to start exploring them in therapy.

 Nature can act as my co therapist.  I base my work from a yurt with outdoor space within beautiful countryside.  This means whatever the weather we can be connected to nature and depending on the client, I offer a mix of sitting within the yurt and/or walking.  Eco therapy isn’t about hugging trees or climbing mountains (unless of course you want to) it’s about reconnecting with a world that moves at a different pace, you don’t have to act a certain way, sit still, or even make eye contact.  There’s no pressure and I follow your pace and your comfort levels, taking quiet moments whenever needed.

In short, eco therapy often reduces performance pressure, allowing clients to unmask, stim or process at their own pace using nature as a partner in healing.

How you can practise eco therapy solo? 

Eco therapy doesn’t mean just disappearing into a forest.  You can practice creating a space for yourself anywhere. 

• A garden, balcony, or windowsill with plants
• A park bench, river path or bowl of water by a window.

Start by connecting with your senses, remember it’s not about performing, it’s about experiencing,

• What can I hear right now?
• What textures can I feel (leaf, bark, grass)
• What’s one pattern I notice
• Is there a smell in the air?

f your mind races, that’s okay.   All you are doing is accessing bottom up sensory input that can quietly help you re-regulate over time and help still your nervous system.  A useful mantra to try is ‘I’m not here to fix anything. I’m just letting myself be’. 

Remember, you’re not therapising yourself ,   simply giving yourself green space to just b

Thanks for reading.