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Abstract

Psychotherapy traditionally takes place within an indoor context and is characterized by intentional maintenance of physical and emotional boundaries. Increasing evidence points to the significant therapeutic potential of natural environments in improving client quality of life, elevating mood, enhancing executive function, and as context for interventions designed to address depression, loss and grief, and existential pain. As therapists adapt the therapeutic frame to make space for collaboration with natural environments in their work with clients, ethical considerations must be addressed to promote best practices and to protect client and therapist safety. First, therapists must give attention to issues of competence, seeking out training, supervision, and consultation for novel nature-based therapeutic modalities. Second, client privacy and confidentiality face unique challenges, which must be recognized and mitigated to a reasonable degree. Finally, therapists must remain committed to a dynamic and interactive informed consent process that honors the client's autonomy and agency in the therapeutic process. Key Words: Ethics—Ethical practice—Nature-based therapy—Ecotherapy—Psychotherapy in nature.

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Ethical Considerations for Psychotherapy in Natural Settings

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References