Healing with Nature: Ecopsychology and Eco-Distress, with Carol Bartels, LMFT

As Earth Day approaches, it is a great time to reflect on how a client’s relationship to the natural world is a vitally important aspect of systems work. Research in the field of Ecopsychology illustrates that when we are disconnected from nature, we are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, loneliness and emptiness.  In addition, climate change is having a profound effect on client’s sense of security and hope for the future, leading to Climate Distress or Eco-Anxiety. When therapists and clients engage more deeply with nature, we can find resilience and perhaps surprisingly, some interesting solutions to our problems of living. In this presentation, you will get an overview of what Ecotherapy is and a basic understanding of Climate Distress.  You will engage in activities that will help you bring some principles of Ecotherapy into your work with clients whether in the office, online, or outdoors.

Educational Learning Objectives

1.      Participants will enumerate at least 2 ways that nature affects mental health.

2.      Participants will be able to articulate at least two ways that treating Eco-Anxiety differs from treating regular anxiety.

3. Participants will be able to utilize at least 2 ecotherapy interventions that can be integrated into any other form of therapy.

4.      Participants will identify at least 5 resources to learn more ecotherapy interventions or get training in Ecotherapy.

BIO:

Carol Bartels is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Long Beach. She is certified in Ecotherapy through the Pacifica Graduate Institute and has, for the last 3 years, worked with clients in office and outdoor settings to enhance their relationship with nature and treat climate distress. Carol’s love of gardening and her own relationship with nature is her source of balance, resilience and creativity. In the past, Carol has been a DBT therapist and is committed to evidence-based practices.