Nature therapy, also known as ecotherapy, is a term for healthcare treatments that focus on spending time outdoors and experiencing nature. Ecotherapy is part of a comprehensive plan of care to improve mental health under the guidance of a counselor.
Some aspects of nature therapy are well understood, but not all. For example, doctors have long known spending time in direct sunlight can help reduce the symptoms of depression.
Nature therapy takes a wide variety of forms. It can include horticultural therapy (gardening), animal-assisted therapy (equine therapy or dolphin therapy) and other approaches. Gardening is one of the most popular types of ecotherapy in the world.
