Date of Conferral

11-11-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Jonnie Lane

Abstract

This grounded qualitative study explored the common themes of ecotherapy in practice. The research problem was the limited understanding of how counselors implement ecotherapy in clinical practice, hindering the field’s ability to fully integrate nature-based approaches into mental health treatment. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore counselor perspectives on ecotherapy using the biophilia hypothesis and Swarbrick’s wellness model. The research questions focused on how licensed mental health counselors understood, implemented, and evaluated the impact of ecotherapy. Qualitative data were collected through an online survey with open-ended questions from 15 licensed counselors across the United States who use ecotherapy. Inclusion criteria included counseling licensure and at least six months of experience using nature-based interventions. Data were analyzed using axial coding to identify themes and subthemes related to research questions exploring counselor understanding, implementation, and evaluation. Findings suggested counselors’ understanding of ecotherapy is rooted in the healing connection between humans and nature, mindfulness, grounding, and somatic awareness. For implementation, practices were used to promote emotional regulation and self-awareness. Evaluation themes varied. Recommendations include developing counselor-specific competencies and expanding research of its practical foundation in alignment with traditional therapeutic functions (e.g., assessment). Implications for positive social change include identifying the foundation for systemic competencies that can span organizational layers, thus promoting equitable care for individuals whose insurance company may not otherwise support.

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