NATURE-BASED SCHOOL

COUNSELING:
INTEGRATING THE BENEFITS OF
NATURE
INTO SCHOOL COUNSELING
PROGRAMS

Arie T. Greenleaf, PhD

Anne-Marie Jones
Ilana Malone
Vicki Kenney
Seattle University

Would you rather be here

or here?

Which office would you choose?

Choose your screensaver

or this one?

Presentation Guide
1. What is known about nature and well-being?
2. Why should you care about nature as a school counselor?
3. How can you incorporate nature into your work?

What percentage of Americans live in

cities/suburbs?
A. 17%
B. 42%
C. 69%
D. 82%

What percentage of most Americans

lives are spent indoors?
A.
B.
C.
D.

22%
49%
73%
90%

The average American child can recognize how

many corporate logos versus how many plants
or animals native to their region?

A.
B.
C.
D.

25 logos and 75 plants/animals

65 and 50
200 and 25
1000 and 10

American children spend ___ minutes per week

outdoors, compared with ___ hours electronic
media?
A. 300 minutes outdoors/5 hours media
B. 180 minutes outdoors/12 hours media
C. 120 minutes outdoors/30 hours media
D. 30 minutes outdoors/52 hours media

Children are X times more likely to play a video

game than ride a bike?

A.
B.
C.
D.

1X
2X
4X
6X

Diseases of Indoor
Living
Higher rates of obesity
Diabetes, heart disease & cancer
Mental depletion & fatigue
Increased aggression & violence
Loss of emotional control
ADHD
Depression & other DSM-5 disorders
Nature-deficit disorder ~ Louv

Contact with
Nature
Reduces
DSM-5 disorders
Physical pain & risk of morbidity
# of lost work days

Increases
Job productivity & satisfaction
Concentration and impulse control in children w/ ADHD
Academic performance
Healing time after injury/disease
Self-esteem

Theoretical Perspectives
Biophilia Hypothesis ~ Wilson
350,000 generations living in intimate
existence w/ nature
Evolved inclination to affiliate w/ natural world

Attention Restoration Theory ~ Kaplan

Nature provides relief from the effortful attention inherent in
Western living (mental fatigue)

Green Exercise

Outdoor activities

Sample research: 71% significantly less depressed after

daily walk in public parkno change for walk in mall
Finding: green exercise is as effective as antidepressants
for mild/moderate depression

Horticultural
Therapy

Gardening improves emotional, cognitive and sensory

motor functioning faster recovery from brain damage
Slows down deterioration in Alzheimers and dementia
patients
Gardeners report higher life satisfaction than nongardeners

Living Close to
Green Spaces

Quantity of green space within 1 mile radius linked w/ increase in

general physical and psychological health, sense of safety, reduced
crime, and a decrease in disease clusters, including anxiety and
depression
As proximity declines, rates of loneliness, social support, and DSM-5
disorders increases

Viewing
Nature

Hospital nature views = recovered quicker, spent less

time in hospital & took fewer pain meds

Prison nature views < behavioral issues w/ inmates

Work views = fewer sick days, less intention to quit,

higher job satisfaction & productivity

Classroom views = students score higher on math exams

Nature &
Child Development
Contact w/ nature positively
impacts childrens cognitive,
affective, & moral dev.
Less behavioral conduct disorders, anxiety, and
depression
Report higher levels of self-worth

Nature &
Child Development
Activities in green settings
reduced symptoms of ADHD
Activities in indoor and constructed outdoor spaces
exacerbated symptoms
Children w/ a close relationship w/ an animal have more
empathy
Children with autism displayed increased pro-social behavior
when a dog was present

SO WHAT?TOOLS AND
STRATEGIES FOR
SCHOOL
COUNSELORS TO
USE

Group Share: What

activities are you
doing or can you do
to incorporate
nature into your
School Counseling
program?

What does
incorporating nature
look like.
At the individual level
At the group level

At the school wide

level
At the family level

...at an Individual
Level
Walk-and-talk
Sand tray and nature
Gardening
Play Therapy in Nature

Animal Therapy

Walk and Talk

One on one with the school counselor.
Gets students moving.
Combines benefits of physical activity
with the benefits of nature.
Reduces depressive symptoms and
increases health and overall mood.

Sand Tray and

Nature

Facilitates communication between child and counselor.

Alternative way for therapeutic self-expression.

Thoughts, emotions, perceptions, joys, conflicts, struggles, and

fears.

Effective for people who have a history with trauma or loss,

or unresolved family issues.

Gardening & Child

Development
One-on-one with a student.

Encourages healthy eating,

pride, and belonging.
Gardening promotes academic
learning, curiosity, and
investigation.

Play Therapy in
Nature

Play is the most basic form of self-expression.

Unstructured play fosters creativity, social interactions,

imagination, and learned behavior.

Linked to improvements in cognitive, behavioral, and physical

functioning.

Play can expand the ability to think, ask questions, and find answers. It is

uplifting, inhabiting a space between fantasy and reality, sense and nonsense.
~Crow & Robins, 2012

Animal Therapy
Utilizing small pets in a therapeutic and healing manner.
Gerbils, hermit crabs, small aquarium, ant farms, chicken coops.

Caring for animals provides a

Sense of responsibility
Respect for life
Encourage nurturing
Educational
Guest speakers

...at a Group Level

Nature Clubs
Ecotherapeutic group

Mindful Walkabout
Buddy Walks

 Basic Goals:

Nature Clubs

Get outside in nature

Gather and share outdoor adventures
Experience the benefits of time spent together outside

Activities can include maintaining garden, organizing a

school-wide Nature Month, and going on field trips.
Engage the community

Ecotherapeutic
Group

Ecotherapy is a form of counseling that promotes healing and

growth through interaction with nature and the earth.
Beneficial for students suffering from mild depression and anxiety.
A group with an ecotherapeutic focus helps students re-connect
with nature in a screen-heavy world.

Mindful Walkabout
Incorporating mindfulness into a group counseling.
Reflection
Mindfulness is about self regulation of self, body, and mind.
Mindfulness techniques
meets core ASCA standards.

Buddy Walks
Mentorship activity pairs older students with younger students.
Students learn leadership and communication skills, as well as
increased self-efficacy.
Younger students feel a
sense of security in school.
Older students feel a sense
of pride.

at the School-wide Level?

Collaboration with
teachers and staff

Nature Month
Curriculum guidance
lessons

Teacher Collaboration
Teacher In-service to discuss the importance of nature, what
teachers can do in classrooms to incorporate nature and green
classroom activities.

Teachers and counselors can work as allies to see initiatives

implemented help advance programs within the schools.

Curriculum
Guidance

Lessons can be focused to inspire connectedness to nature.

Using adventure-based counseling can teach and promote

social/emotional skills (conflict resolution, team building, etc.).
Tie to STEM curriculums to cultivate curiosity and interest.

http://resources.spaces3.com/c518d93d-d91c-4358-ae5e-b09d493af3f4.pdf

...at the Family Level

Parent Workshops that connect parents to nature
opportunities and resources.

Volunteer Opportunities

Parent Workshops
Talk to parents about what they can do to encourage kids to do at
home, how our actions impact environment, and how nature
benefits their children.
Discuss mature oriented activities that families can do together.
Grow plants, look at the night sky, take field trips.

Volunteer Opportunities
Farm to School: School community engagement/ideas for
school gardens and education

King County Green Team Projects

Students can become environmental stewards at school, at home, or
in the community.

Growing Veterans
ZooCorps
Learn about animal care,
husbandry, and how to
teach others.

Questions?
Thank You!