Stress Down, Presence Up, Awe Real: CNIT’s Ecotherapy Study Is Now Peer-Reviewed

Clinician-led ecotherapy session in a suburban park: participants gather in a circle to practice mindful attention and nature-based skills.

Quick take: A new peer-reviewed study coauthored by our founder, Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan, analyzed a brief, 6-week ecotherapy program delivered by licensed clinicians in a suburban park. Participants consistently reported three headline outcomes: lower stress/reactivity, stronger present-moment attention, and experiences of awe and deeper connection to nature.

Why this matters: The findings suggest nature heals through two complementary pathways:

1. Regulation — calming the nervous system and reducing reactivity

2. Meaning — cultivating awe, belonging, and reciprocity with the more-than-human world

Together, these changes support resilience that clients can feel and sustain.

What we studied

• Format: 6 weekly sessions (~90 minutes) in a local park

• Facilitation: Licensed clinicians trained in nature-informed therapy

• Practices combined: Mindfulness/relaxation skills, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy principles, guided forest-bathing style attention practices, reflective group process, and ecopsychology-based psychoeducation

• Approach: We used qualitative methods to analyze participants’ experiences across the series

What participants reported (the big three)

1) Stress & reactivity down

People described feeling calmer, more grounded, and less reactive—often noticing that “a few minutes outside” became a go-to strategy for managing anxiety and stress between sessions.

2) Present-moment attention up

Nature reliably drew attention into the here-and-now through sensory engagement (sight, sound, touch, smell). This helped participants interrupt worry loops and restore mental clarity.

3) Awe & deeper connection to nature

Many spoke about moments of awe—a felt sense of being part of something larger. That shift in perspective often came with gratitude and a desire to care for the places that care for us.

In short: skills + place + guided attention → calmer bodies, clearer minds, and experiences of meaning.

Why this is encouraging for communities

• Accessible setting: Benefits emerged in a suburban park, not a remote wilderness—good news for scalability and inclusion.

• Brief dose, real impact: Six weeks is short enough for busy lives and institutional pilots (employers, colleges, clinics, parks).

• Whole-person change: The combination of regulation + meaning supports symptom relief and deeper motivation for healthy habits.

What this means for you

For clients & families: Nature-based sessions aren’t just “nice to have.” They can reduce stress, improve presence, and cultivate awe—skills and states you can carry into daily life.

For clinicians: The outcomes align with established frameworks (e.g., attention restoration; stress-reduction) while adding ecocentric elements (awe, reciprocity). CNIT’s trainings help you deliver both regulation and meaning in ethical, trauma-informed ways.

For employers, schools & health systems: Park-based programming can complement EAPs and wellness initiatives with measurable stress benefits and focus support. Pilot a 6-week group to enhance well-being and team resilience.

For park & community partners: Programming in ordinary parks works. We can co-design series that meet public-health goals while deepening community connection to local green spaces.

How CNIT is integrating the findings

• Expanding Foundational Training and specialty modules so clinicians can replicate the protocol ethically and effectively

• Growing Nature-Based Stress Reduction groups and partnerships with parks, campuses, and employers

• Continuing research and inviting collaborators to strengthen the evidence base

Read the study & get involved

• Plain-English summary & next steps: natureinformedtherapy.org/research

• Publisher DOI (APA PsycNet): 10.1037/hum0000402 (access may require subscription)

• Bring a CNIT program to your organization or park: Inquire Here

FAQs

Is the full paper open access?

The APA publisher page may require institutional access. Our Research page provides a clear summary and links. If you’re a clinician or partner who needs details for program adoption, contact us.

Do participants need to be outdoorsy?

No. Sessions are designed to be approachable, trauma-informed, and accessible in typical city and suburban parks.

Can clinicians learn this approach?

Yes—see our Foundational Nature-Informed Therapy training and ongoing mentorship options.

Can employers or parks host a 6-week series?

Absolutely. We’ll tailor the format, accessibility, and risk management to your site and audience.