What is Ecopsychology? — Mindsplain

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Mindsplain

8 min readFeb 7, 2021

Ecopsychology sees human psychological wellness as connected to ecology. From this perspective, people are both a part of, and in relationship to, the more than human world. Andy Fisher explains that the capitalist world leaves people feeling ashamed of who they are. This is because people constantly have to strive to become more. As a result, people feel unhappy and disconnected from each other and the environment.

When people reconnect to the more than human world, they feel a deep sense of peace. As people come to their senses they feel at home both in their human bodies and in the natural world. They begin to feel a sense of belonging to the world. They are also able to access powerful feelings and emotions. This leads to deep healing.

How was Ecopsychology Developed?

The conceptualization of ecopsychology began with the work of Robert Greenway, a writer for Abraham Maslow. Greenway came from the academic lineage of pioneering ecologist Walles T. Edmondson.

He discussed his idea that “the mind is nature, and nature, the mind,” with his mentors Michael Breen, Deborah Tannen, Joel Aronoff, Bob Silver, and Art Warmoth. He called his theory psychoecology and introduced it in a 1963 essay at Brandeis University during his graduate studies. Greenway taught on the topic during his tenure as dean at Franconia College and, later, at Sonoma State University in 1968.

Greenway was a mentor to Elan Shapiro. In 1989, Shapiro formed a biweekly psychoecology study group at Berkeley, whose attendees included Fran Segal, Alan Kanner, and Mary Gomes.

The Voice of the Earth

In 1990, iconic cultural historian Theodore Roszak began attending Elan Shapiro’s study group. Roszak started writing about the topic. In it, he rearranged the portmanteau psychoecology into the term ecopsychology. His work was published in 1992 as the book The Voice of the Earth.

Roszak found that his students formed a deep sense of belonging while present within nature. Instead of focusing on guilt or shame at what was happening to the earth, Roszak began to look at the relationship people had to earth.

The Spell of the Earth

David Abram brought ecopsychology into the mainstream with his book The Spell of the Sensuous. He focused on the importance of experience, and how spending time in the more than human world brought human beings ‘to their senses’. He also showed the impacts of development on indigenous people. His work showed how people ‘live in psyche’, or are part of a greater, more than human community. Explaining that we live and breathe alongside numerous other beings, Abram explains the importance of recognizing our embodied intelligence. His initial work was released in the 1990s.

Radical Ecopsychology

Andy Fisher extended the definitions of ecopsychology to include the impacts of capitalism on the human psyche. He explains that we live in a world where self, environment, and economy are connected. Andy Fisher explained that it is important not only to explore that which makes us happy (ecological being) but also that which makes us unhappy. He sees capitalism as a means of exploiting both human beings and the earth. His book Radical Ecopsychology: Psychology in the Service of Life was released in 2003 and revised in 2013.

Andy Fisher’s current work focuses on Ecopsychology as liberation psychology, with space for the voices of marginalized groups such as indigenous groups, and speaks of the importance of decolonized voices. One such decolonized voice is Gloria Anzaldua, who wrote during the 1990s and 2000s. She focuses on the spirit present within all life and indigenous traditions that recognize this life force.

What is the Theory of Ecopsychology?

Ecopsychology recognizes that humans both shape and are shaped by the more than the human world. Many human societies have separated themselves from nature, creating an artificial divide. This depletes the natural joy and spontaneity that people feel while residing in the world. It also dulls our senses. Ecopsychologists believe that as the more than human world dies off, we feel deep but often unconscious grief at the losses we face.

Key Ecopsychology Theorists

Robert Greenway developed the concept of psychoecology — the forerunner of ecopsychology — based on the principle that “the mind is nature, and nature, the mind.”
Theodore Roszak renamed the concept ecopsychology and suggested that people naturally belong to the world and that this belonging enables people to move through times of crisis.
David Abram explains that when we come to our senses, using our embodied intelligence to navigate through the world, our empathy is deepened.
Her book Sight and Sensibility: The Ecopsychology of Perception, describes how our relationship with the natural world can restructure the neural networks that arouse and shape our perception and connection to our environment.
Deborah Du Nann Winter In Ecological Psychology: Healing the Split Between Planet and Self, asserts that because environmental problems are mainly caused by human behaviors, beliefs, choices, and values, psychology is an essential part of problem-solving.
Ralph Metzner wrote about the importance and healing power of harmonizing the mind with the ecosystem in Green Psychology: Transforming Our Relationship to the Earth.
Andy Fisher explains that we have a deep sense of wonder and a natural relationship with the more than human world. However, capitalism breaks this relationship down, causing pain.
Carl Anthony explores how the exploitation of land and the exploitation of human beings was linked together, beginning with large scale plantation farming and the introduction of slavery. He explores the need for just communities who treat the land with respect.
Bill Plotkin a Jungian therapist, explains that the human soul is deeply connected with nature. He shares that our natural path is to find solace and growth within the wild mind.
Ian McCallum a Jungian therapist, explains that people have a natural affinity with plants and animals. Without nature, people lose their sense of joy and wholeness.
Jeffrey Rink shares that just by taking human beings into nature, they can awaken, enabling self-growth and deep healing.
Howard Frumkin suggests that deepening scientific inquiry into ecopsychology could lead to important advances in clinical epidemiology; that is, more science could establish the connection between mental and physical disease and estrangement from the natural world.

What are the Benefits of Ecopsychology?

Ecopsychology creates an embodied awareness of what it means to be fully alive. In the more than human world, all beings belong. By spending time in the more than human world, human beings can move away from the social hierarchies which cause so much pain. They can return to their embodied intelligence, their deep sensual natures, and embrace enlivened being.

Mindfulness
Self Exploration
Social awareness
Connection to nature, self, and a wider community

Which Eco Therapies are Available?

Some of the types of eco therapist that are available are:

Wilderness Retreats
Animal Encounters such as swimming with dolphins
Nature Walks

Evidence Supporting The Effectiveness of Ecopsychology

General well-being. According to a 2014 study, psychical activity and exposure to nature have significant benefits for human health. It has been shown to improve psychological well-being, relieve stress, improves mood, enhances life skills, lower mental fatigue, increases concentration, and decrease aggression.
Resilience building. Data from a 2013 study found a moderately positive correlation between our experience of connection to the natural world and our perceived psychological resilience.
Post-traumatic stress. A study from 2011 showed that therapeutic recreation showed promise as a contributing factor to the healing process for veterans with post-traumatic stress.
Nervous system recovery. There is evidence that contact with nature provides many health benefits. For example, a study of 240 married couples found that pet owners have a lower baseline heart rate, blood pressure, faster recovery, and lower cardiovascular reactivity to stressors.

Where Can I Find An Ecopsychology Oriented Therapist?

Ecopsychologists are trained psychotherapists who incorporate a variety of ecological concepts into their practices. There are many ecopsychologists in different areas.

Many organizations include a list of trained practitioners recognized within the field. These include:

Some of the leading ecopsychologists, such as Bill Plotkin and Andy Fisher, also offer wilderness retreats. Jeffrey Rink provides ecopsychology retreats in Cape Town.

Final Thoughts on Ecopsychology

Ecopsychology offers an excellent opportunity to explore how you would like to live in this world as an embodied human being. Your journey will be unique to you, but as you establish a deeper sense of belonging to the more than human world, there will be no looking back. An experienced Ecopsychologist will guide you towards creating profound changes within your life. You will improve your mental health and make new contributions to the more than human world.