NATURE-BASED SCHOOL

COUNSELING:
INTEGRATING THE BENEFITS
OF NATURE
INTO SCHOOL COUNSELING
PROGRAMS

Arie T. Greenleaf, PhD

Anne-Marie Jones
Ilana Malone
Vicki Kenney
Seattle University

Diseases of
Indoor
Living
Higher rates of obesity
Diabetes, heart disease & cancer
Mental depletion & fatigue
Increased aggression & violence
Loss of emotional control
ADHD
Depression & other DSM-5 disorders
Nature-deficit disorder ~ Louv

Contact with
Nature
Reduces
DSM-5 disorders
Physical pain & risk of morbidity
# of lost work days

Increases
Job productivity & satisfaction
Concentration and impulse control in children w/
ADHD
Academic performance
Healing time after injury/disease
Self-esteem

Theoretical Perspectives
Biophilia Hypothesis

~ Wilson

350,000 generations living in intimate

existence w/ nature
Evolved inclination to affiliate w/ natural world

Attention Restoration Theory

~ Kaplan

Nature provides relief from the effortful attention

inherent in Western living (mental fatigue)

Green Exercise
Outdoor activities
Sample research: 71% significantly less
depressed after daily walk in public parkno
change for walk in mall
Finding: green exercise is as effective as
antidepressants for mild/moderate depression

Horticultural
Therapy
Gardening improves emotional, cognitive and
sensory motor functioning faster recovery from
brain damage
Slows down deterioration in Alzheimers and
dementia patients
Gardeners report higher life satisfaction than nongardeners

Living Close to
Green Spaces
Quantity of green space within 1 mile radius linked w/
increase in general physical and psychological health,
sense of safety, reduced crime, and a decrease in disease
clusters, including anxiety and depression
As proximity declines, rates of loneliness, social support,
and DSM-5 disorders increases

Viewing
Nature
Hospital nature views = recovered quicker, spent
less time in hospital & took fewer pain meds
Prison nature views < behavioral issues w/
inmates
Work views = fewer sick days, less intention to
quit, higher job satisfaction & productivity
Classroom views = students score higher on
math exams

Nature &
Child Development
Contact w/ nature positively
impacts childrens cognitive,
affective, & moral dev.
Less behavioral conduct disorders, anxiety, and
depression
Report higher levels of self-worth

Nature &
Child Development
Activities in green settings
reduced symptoms of ADHD
Activities in indoor and constructed outdoor spaces
exacerbated symptoms
Children w/ a close relationship w/ an animal have
more empathy
Children with autism displayed increased pro-social
behavior when a dog was present

SO WHAT?TOOLS AND
STRATEGIES
FOR SCHOOL
COUNSELOR
S TO USE

What does
incorporating
nature look like.
At the individual
level
At the group level
At the school wide
level
At the family level

...at an
Individual
Level
Walk-and-talk
Sand tray and nature
Gardening
Play Therapy in Nature
Animal Therapy

Walk and
Talk
One on one with the school
counselor.
Gets students moving.
Combines benefits of physical
activity with the benefits of
nature.
Reduces depressive symptoms
and
increases health and overall
mood.

Sand Tray
and Nature

Facilitates communication between child and

counselor.

Alternative way for therapeutic self-expression.

Thoughts, emotions, perceptions, joys, conflicts,

struggles, and fears.

Effective for people who have a history with trauma

or loss, or unresolved family issues.

Gardening & Child

Development
One-on-one with a
student.
Encourages healthy
eating, pride, and
belonging.
Gardening promotes
academic learning,
curiosity, and
investigation.

Play Therapy
in Nature

Play is the most basic form of self-expression.

Unstructured play fosters creativity, social

interactions, imagination, and learned behavior.

Linked to improvements in cognitive, behavioral,

and physical functioning.
Play can expand the ability to think, ask questions, and find

answers. It is uplifting, inhabiting a space between fantasy and

reality, sense and nonsense. ~Crow & Robins, 2012)

Animal
Therapy
Utilizing small pets in a therapeutic and healing
manner.

Gerbils, hermit crabs, small aquarium, ant farms, chicken

coops.

Caring for animals provides a

Sense of responsibility
Respect for life
Encourage nurturing
Educational

Guest speakers

...at a Group Level

Nature Clubs
Ecotherapeutic group
Mindful Walkabout
Buddy Walks

Nature
Clubs
Basic Goals:
Get outside in nature
Gather and share outdoor adventures
Experience the benefits of time spent together
outside

Activities can include maintaining garden,

organizing a school-wide Nature Month, and
going on field trips.
Engage the community

Ecotherapeutic
Group
Ecotherapy is a form of counseling that promotes healing
and growth through interaction with nature and the earth.
Beneficial for students suffering from mild depression and
anxiety.
A group with an ecotherapeutic focus helps students reconnect with nature in a screen-heavy world.

Mindful Walkabout
Incorporating mindfulness into a group counseling.
Reflection
Mindfulness is about self regulation of self, body,
and mind.
Mindfulness techniques
meets core ASCA standards.

Buddy Walks
Mentorship activity pairs older students with younger
students.
Students learn leadership and communication skills, as
well as increased self-efficacy.
Younger students feel a
sense of security in school.
Older students feel a sense
of pride.

at the School-wide
Level?
Collaboration
with teachers
and staff
Nature Month
Curriculum
guidance
lessons

Teacher Collaboration
Teacher In-service to discuss the importance of nature,
what teachers can do in classrooms to incorporate nature
and green classroom activities.

Teachers and counselors can work as allies to see

initiatives implemented help advance programs within the
schools.

Curriculum
Guidance
Lessons can be focused to inspire connectedness to nature.
Using adventure-based counseling can teach and promote
social/emotional skills (conflict resolution, team building, etc.).
Tie to STEM curriculums to cultivate curiosity and interest.

http://resources.spaces3.com/c518d93d-d91c-4358-ae5eb09d493af3f4.pdf

...at the Family Level

Parent Workshops that c onnect parents to
nature opportunities and resources.

Volunteer Opportunities

Parent Workshops
Talk to parents about what they can do to encourage
kids to do at home, how our actions impact
environment, and how nature benefits their children.
Discuss mature oriented activities that families can do
together.
Grow plants, look at the night sky, take field trips.

Volunteer Opportunities
Farm to School: School community
engagement/ideas for school gardens and education
King County Green Team Projects
Students can become environmental stewards at school,
at home, or in the community.

Growing Veterans
ZooCorps
Learn about animal care,
husbandry, and how to
teach others.