Anxiety Treatment

Polyvagal-Informed Eco Therapy combines polyvagal theory, which focuses on how the nervous system responds to safety and threat, with the healing power of nature to help reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being.

Eco Therapy uses nature as a healing tool, recognizing the deep connection between humans and the natural world. Spending time in nature can activate the body’s calming systems and help regulate the nervous system, reducing anxiety.

How Polyvagal-Informed Eco Therapy Helps with Anxiety:

Regulates the Nervous System: Nature can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and counteracting anxiety-driven fight-or-flight responses.
Grounding and Presence: Nature helps bring individuals into the present moment, reducing anxious, ruminative thoughts through grounding sensations like feeling the breeze or walking on grass.
Restores Social Engagement: Eco Therapy can involve social interactions in nature, promoting feelings of safety and connection, which help regulate the nervous system.
Nature’s Calming Influence: The natural environment has a soothing effect on our body’s rhythms, helping regulate stress and anxiety.
Breathwork and Movement: Practices like deep breathing, walking meditation, or gentle yoga in nature help balance the nervous system and promote calm.
Mindful Connection: Being mindful of nature—like the colors, sounds, or textures—shifts focus away from anxious thoughts and fosters a deeper connection with the world.

Practical Ways to Integrate Polyvagal-Informed Eco Therapy:

Grounding: Stand or sit barefoot on natural surfaces like grass or dirt to feel more connected and reduce anxiety.
Sensory Exploration: Engage your senses—listen to birds, feel tree bark, or watch the movement of leaves to ground yourself.
Breathwork in Nature: Practice deep breathing exercises outside to calm your body and mind.
Eco-Therapy Sessions: Work with a therapist who uses both polyvagal theory and nature to help you manage anxiety.

By combining polyvagal theory with nature’s calming effects, Eco Therapy offers a holistic way to manage anxiety, helping you find a sense of safety, relaxation, and emotional balance.