Ecotherapy in Clinical Practice

Reimagine mental health through ecological relationship.

Mental health professionals are increasingly encountering the psychological consequences of environmental change. Clients present with eco-anxiety, grief, anger, despair, numbness, disconnection, and displacement-related trauma, alongside more traditional concerns such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Against this backdrop of ecological change, ecotherapy offers a powerful framework for addressing both individual suffering and the ecological realities that shape mental health.

Drawing from somatic psychology, trauma-informed care, and multiple therapeutic orientations, Rachel Jordana Horodezky provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory, research, and practice of ecotherapy. Beyond simply conducting sessions outdoors (or even indoors with plants), ecotherapy positions the natural world as an active therapeutic partner, informing assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and intervention. The book integrates a growing body of research on nature's role in nervous system regulation, fostering resilience and meaning making, and recovery. It offers practical strategies for integrating nature into psychotherapy in ethical, culturally responsive ways. Through case studies, experiential exercises, and clinical tools, readers will discover how to restore clients' connection with themselves, their communities, and the living world. 

Both visionary and practical, this essential resource helps clinicians harness the restorative power of the more-than-human world in their work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.

Introduction: The Case for Ecotherapy

Part I. Theory and Research Supporting Ecotherapy

• Chapter 1. What Is Ecotherapy?
• Chapter 2. Embodiment in Nature
• Chapter 3. Nature and the Treatment of Trauma
• Chapter 4. Cultural Contexts in Nature

Part II. Ecotherapy in Clinical Practice

• Chapter 5. Developing the Therapeutic Framework
• Chapter 6. Diagnosis and Case Conceptualization
• Chapter 7. Eco-Anxiety
• Chapter 8. Displacement Trauma
• Chapter 9. Eco-Grief
• Chapter 10. Collective Healing and Group Work
• Chapter 11. Closing the Container
• Chapter 12. Ethics, Supervision, and Clinician Regulation

Conclusion: Returning to Relationship

Appendix A. Informed Consent

Appendix B. Safety Practices in Outdoor Work

Appendix C. Additional Resources

References

About the author

Rachel Jordana Horodezky, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist, mother, humanistic therapist, and founder of the Center for Embodiment Medicine, an integrative psychotherapy practice in California. She specializes in ecotherapy, expressive arts, embodiment, and trauma-informed care. Dr. Horodezky trains clinicians in embodiment medicine, a holistic approach that helps people reconnect with their bodies, relationships, communities, and the natural world as pathways to healing. Through professional training and immersive continuing education retreats in Hawaii, she helps clinicians deepen their clinical presence, creativity, and capacity for embodied healing. Learn more at Center for Embodiment Medicine websiteopens in new window.