The Use of Nature as a Part of the Healing Process - Thesis Example

Download file to see previous pages Critics, though, argue that humans sometimes seek out pets and humanize them, creating compliant little “people” instead of creating a relationship with nature (June McNicholas, et al. 2005; James Serpell, 2000).  As a result, assessments of the existing methods for ecotherapy should be related through a view of the current literature and should reflect both the supporters and critics of the different ecotherapy options.    Severe environmental issues such as deforestation, tacitly suggest that we are losing our relationship with nature. In addition, oppressive economic conditions predispose people to be more susceptible to all sorts of distress. Therefore, it will be argued in this paper that people must strengthen their relationship with nature and that this connection should be fully integrated as a therapeutic practice. The fundamental concept of ecotherapy and its therapeutic power states that for us to heal ourselves and reconnect to our inner voice, we have to reconnect to nature (Howard Clinebell, 1996).     Establish the thesis statement. It is the primary thesis of this paper that people have the potential to overcome their distress. What is more, they can dissolve the defensive separation between spirit, mind, and body through the mutual connection between their inner values and the environment. Therefore, physical healing, psychological problem-solving, and spiritual awareness can unite under one experience.  Sophia Adamson and Ralph Metzner (1988) suggested that Western societies usually deal with their psychological problems in a rational and socially beneficial way and stated that the traditional procedure follows a medical model that includes drug treatments administered on a regular schedule. The bond between doctor and patient is isolated and restricted. This clinical method breaks the individual’s self-consciousness for healing, which consequently changes his attitude towards his body, illness, and recovery.  This paper will explore the processes of encountering and interpreting the natural world around us and how we can establish a better understanding of our problems. In addition, the paper will show how ecotherapy provides us with an alternative explanation and cure for the actions and emotions that shatter our life experiences. During our lives, there are moments when we feel alone, anxious, or overwhelmed by our daily “battles” and unable to cope with the problems or find the right path. Mark Jordan (2009) recommended that ecotherapy will permit us to acquire new ways of understanding ourselves and that we can fully integrate this understanding into our lives for the better.   Explain the question(/issue to be addressed-hypothesis-problem statement.) Ecotherapy is a combination of the ideas of ecopsychology and psychotherapy  Ecotherapy can be viewed as a unification between the ideas of ecopsychology and psychotherapy. This is so because the fundamental concept behind ecotherapy is our connection to the environment that surrounds us. Ecotherapy teaches us how to heal our troubles while reconnecting to the natural world. Furthermore, ecopsychology focuses on the lost connection between our soul and the natural environment. To heal ourselves we have to first try to manage the current ecological issues. ...Download file to see next pages Read More