What is Ecopsychology?

Ecopsychology explores the foundations of the human/nature relationship and the essence of being human. It seeks to re-establish the human psyche as rooted to the earth and our health as entwined with the earth’s health.

Ecopsychology was a counter response to the wider human/nature divide, and the theory of 17^th Century philosopher Descartes, called Cartesian dualism which shaped the worldview of philosophy, medicine and science.  The Cartesian split separates the human mind from the body, the mental from the physical, and the human psyche from nature, mechanising humanity and the natural world. This theory stripped away our spiritual connection and integration to nature and led to humans viewing themselves as observers and dominators of nature, rather than connected with nature.  The challenges facing human health and wellbeing stem from this disembodiment, disconnection and separation from our fellowship with earth. 

A collection of psychological thinkers and therapists refuted this split and challenged the human-centred sphere of modern psychology with the philosophy of Ecopsychology: to reconnect humans and nature and repair our fractured bond to recognise how human health is intrinsically intertwined with ecological and environmental health.

Ecopsychology invites a deeper connection, compassion and understanding of the natural world and our place in it. It’s a calling to serve the wider earth community and realise the mutual benefits of a synergetic, meaningful and reciprocal relationship, for boosting human health and wellbeing, and as an awakening to the damaging environmental consequences of our actions, so we may strive to rectify them.

The word literally means the study of the dwelling place of the mind and soul and is a profound remembering of our own nature, and that we are nature. Andy Fisher clarifies the approach in his book Radical Ecopsychology as the ‘psyche in relation to its earthly or natural home, its native abode’’. The goal is to bridge the historical and cultural gap between psychology and ecology, towards an accepted interconnectedness of everything, where the needs and wants of the natural world are shared with and met as those of humanity.

‘Eco’ relates to our home. We are a small part of a huge earth ecosystem, not better than or separate from, but part of the same whole. We are meant to live in tune with the rhythms of nature as guardians, not conquerors.

‘Psyche’ relates to the mind, soul, human health, happiness, compassion, curiosity and connection to us and the world. Our inner nature and greater nature are interwoven.

‘Ology’ is an expansion of our curiosity into knowledge and understanding, so that we may live a more aligned, grounded and instinctive life, compelled to protect and work alongside nature.

Ecopsychology aims to reconnect, restore and recreate our innate love for all life, leading to an eco-centric indigenous worldview, where we find wellness, healing and purpose, and live in reciprocal relation with the land, as opposed to viewing nature as inanimate, in service to us and a resource and commodity we can deplete, control, own and destroy. 

It focuses on the interconnectedness of everything and emboldens us to remove pre-conceptions of our separation from the natural world, to realise that we are instead rooted in the natural world and have a responsibility to pro-actively care for and live in community with nature. “In simple terms, we cannot restore our own health, our sense of well-being, unless we restore the health of the planet.”

At its core is the awakening of humans as nature and not separate from nature.  It explores what it is to be human and more deeply connected to humanity and nature through a spiral framework integrating the soul, inner nature, physical body, psychological experience, social and environmental relationships, outer nature and spirit.

The ideology behind ecopsychology is a recognition that our sanity is ‘grounded in the reality of the natural world’ (Andy Fisher). The ecological crisis is caused by a split from this reality. To restore the health of the planet and manage the crisis we must reconcile and reconnect with the earth.

We must create a globally activated concern for life and recover and rediscover how humans are an integral part of nature and nature is an intrinsic part of us. Humans and the natural world are interconnected in experience and we carry the abuse and devastation of both human and more-than-human experience in our bodies, minds and souls: we embody it and hold it within our psyches. 

The heart of the practice of Ecopsychology is to repair the fragmentation of modern living that positions humans as detached individuals, separate from the world, into embracing our innate wholeness and interconnectedness with the earth. 

We must cultivate a recollection of ancient knowing, where living in reciprocity and respect of nature is fundamental and intrinsic to our nature.  This is a call to action, to return to, care for and embrace all nature, inner and outer, as one for the greater good of humanity and the living world.

I weave ecotherapeautic and ecopsychological practices and awareness into my nature connection, Tree Babies and Kids and wellebing walks. Experience a deeper connection with nature and remember that you are nature with Elms Wellbeing's community of connection, support and nature integration.