What is Eco-Art Therapy?
Eco-Art Therapy or Nature-based Art Therapy integrates the principles of Somatic Art Therapy and Community Art Therapy to offer a holistic therapeutic experience. The practice utilises somatic techniques to engage with bodily sensations and movements through creative processes, which promote emotional healing and self-awareness (Hamel, 2021). Eco-Art Therapy simultaneously aligns with Community Art Therapy frameworks by creating shared artistic experiences that empower individuals and groups, which help to foster change and encourage personal growth (Nolan, 2001).
I regularly turn to nature to reconnect with my body, creativity, and a sense of something larger than myself. Through these experiences and my professional development in eco-therapy practice, I've learned how the natural world can be a powerful tool for healing and recovery. In my own artmaking, I often draw inspiration from nature, particularly from water, to explore balance and regulation. When working with others, I provide opportunities to engage with nature to promote a sense of belonging and to underscore that healing is a communal process rooted in connection. Such an approach aligns closely with social justice frameworks by integrating diverse cultural perspectives of one’s connection to their natural environment. I really love Eco-Art Therapy because it importantly supports people to form and celebrate their own meaningful connections to land and community, rather than upholding Western-centric concepts of connections to land, therapy and community practices.
How it works:
Eco-Art Therapy aims to support emotional expression, stress reduction, and personal discovery through creative exploration (Pike, 2021). As written by Amanda Pike (2021), the practice can involve three main branches:
Nature-as-Subject: Creating art inspired by natural landscapes (either in person or from memory).
Nature-as-Setting: Participating in therapeutic activities in natural or green spaces.
Nature-as-Material: Using natural artefacts to make art and assist clients to connect physically with their natural environment.
What are the benefits?
Emotional and Psychological Wellbeing: Artmaking in nature alleviates isolation, depression, stress, and anxiety.
Enhanced Self-Efficacy and Connectivity: Creative processes in nature promote personal empowerment and help to build personal community.
Trauma Recovery: Nature-based art activities offer grounding experiences that help regulate emotions and support healing.
Cultivation of Community and Empathy: Connecting with nature fosters a sense of belonging and develops empathy skills.
Addressing Climate Change and Creative Advocacy:
In addition to these benefits, Eco-Art Therapy also engages with people's feelings and attitudes toward climate change and its implications for both humanity and nature. This approach provides a platform for creative advocacy, helping people address feelings of hopelessness by using creative modalities to spread awareness about environmental issues and their intersection with individual and communal access to international human rights. By integrating themes of climate change into therapeutic practices, clients are empowered to build resilient communities and find agency in confronting global and local environmental challenges. This process not only supports emotional resilience but also fosters a proactive stance in addressing and mitigating the impact of climate change through creative expression.
References
Hamel, J. (2021). Somatic Art Therapy: Alleviating Pain and Trauma through Art. Routledge.
Nolan, E. (2019). Opening art therapy thresholds: mechanisms that influence change in the community art therapy studio. Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 36(2), 77-85. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2019.1618177
Pike, A. A. (2021). Eco-Art Therapy in Practice. Taylor & Francis.
Some examples of my own Eco-Art Therapy practice:
