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Nature Based Therapy

Sahlin, Eva; Palsdottir, Anna Maria

Abstract

Nature Based Therapy Major changes in 1990th in the Swedish labor market, such as downsizing and reorganization led to many employees experienced job over-load and more stress in their workplaces. This is considered one of the main reasons for the dramatic increase in the early 21st in sick leave due to stress related disorders such as depres-sion, anxiety, burnout and the Swedish diagno-sis exhaustion disorder. Lack of established rehabilitations programs in Sweden for individuals suffering from stress related mental disorders and limited treatment success are some reasons for the growing in-terest in Sweden of including Nature Based Therapy (NBT) in rehabilitation programs for this group of patients. NBT´s in Sweden have reported very good results for participants in terms of decrease in sick-leaves and enhance in activity-level. In 2002 Alnarp rehabilitation garden for indi-viduals diagnosed with stress related mental disorders started. The rehabilitation garden is a part of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and is a centre in Sweden for multidisciplinary research concerning effects of NBT for individuals diagnosed with stress re-lated mental disorders. Region Västra Götaland, started 2006 a similar rehabilitation program in the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, “Green Rehab”. This NBT is also linked to research in SLU. Many NBT´s lean on the “Alnarp model” but resources, environmental possibilities or limitation have led to various types with slightly different content. NBT can for instance be ac-complished in a therapeutic garden setting, in the wilderness, a combination of garden and nature, in a green house or on a farm. The program in Swedish NBT embraces two parts; (i) the traditionally used medical rehabili-tation methods for stress related disorders such as body awareness, relaxation, stress man-agement, physiotherapeutic exercises, conver-sational therapy, handicraft and (ii) activities or just staying in garden or/and nature. The NBT´s environment as well as program and activities are designed to meet the special needs required for this group of patients. It leans on the assumption that individuals suffering from severe exhaustion need massive support from specially designed supportive garden/ nature environments as well as from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team with special competencies. Support from a limited number of others, shel-ter from too many impressions and mild sen-sory stimulation are fundamental. This ecologi-cal approach leans on the evolutionary physical, mental and social adaptation of human beings to a life in small groups in nature. Our aims are to understand and explore the effects of NBT on return to work as well as on health and well being. Our research focus on different activities in NBT and their effect on health, an overall understanding about how participants in NBT experience and evaluate their rehabilitation and further, the use of gar-den rooms and their impact on the rehabilita-tion process. There is lack of good controlled studies about the effects and a need of showing evidence about the efficacy of NBT. During 2012/2013 some interesting controlled studies at the SLU will try to give awaited answers about the value of NBT compared to other treatments for this group of patients. For further information please email:: anna.maria.palsdottir@slu.se Nature Based Therapy “Nature based therapies in Sweden have reported very good results for participants in terms of decrease in sick-leaves and enhance in activity level” Page 2 CAPO Newsletter

Keywords

Green Rehab; rehabilitation garden; stress related mental disorders; supportive environment

Published in

CAPO newsletter - Counselling and Psychotherapy Outdoors
2011, Volume: Edition 5, pages: 2-2
Publisher: CAPO Counselling and Psychotherapy Outdoors