More than 60% of children in the United States have experienced a traumatic event. These experiences can have a long-lasting and negative impact on overall development. Historically, trauma treatment has been relegated to top-down (talk therapy and cognitive processes) approaches, often dismissing the body's trauma memory. Trauma-informed treatments that employ bottom-up approaches capitalize on multisensory multisystem involvement in trauma recovery. Trauma-informed nature therapy appears to provide both preventative (e.g., developing unique coping skills) and restorative benefits. It provides a whole-brain whole-body approach that has been shown to calm the limbic system, enhance the prefrontal cortex, expand the support network, provide opportunities for physical mastery, and promote the reconstruction of the trauma narrative. A case study will follow the examination of how engaging in nature can promote resiliency and trauma recovery.
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