Study Summary

This peer-reviewed qualitative study examined participant experiences in a 6-week, 90-minute-per-week ecotherapy program delivered by licensed clinicians in a suburban park setting. The program blended mindfulness/relaxation, ACT, forest bathing, guided group processes, and ecopsychology-based psychoeducation. Five consistent outcomes emerged from consensual qualitative analysis: stress reduction, being present, shift in perspective, deepened relationship with nature, and transcendence/awe. Together, these point to a dual pathway of benefit: nature supports regulation (calmer, less reactive, more grounded attention) while also fostering meaning and connection (awe, belonging, reciprocity). These findings help explain how ecotherapy heals and why brief, park-based programs can scale accessibly in communities.

Key Findings

• Participants reported less reactivity and more calm/grounding; being outside became a go-to strategy for stress and anxiety.

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• Nature reliably pulled attention into the present through sensory engagement, supporting mindful awareness.

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• Experiences of awe/transcendence and stronger relationship with nature appeared as common, healing factors.

Program studied

CNIT"s  "Nature Therapy for Wellness" ecotherapy series in a large suburban park, integrating Level-1 (regulation) and Level-2 (ecocentric/meaning) practices