Somatic Ecotherapy: Heal, grow and deeply connect with nature
My approach to somatic ecotherapy
Nature is your therapist - she supports you to find her calm in yourself, to find her greater perspective, and rest in the felt sense of belonging, of being part of the All. Somatic ecotherapy reduces stress, softens anxiety, lifts mood, and eases overwhelm.
Somatic ecotherapy at Eco Heal is an invitation to be with what’s real—in you and around you. We meet at a quiet, accessible outdoor location and move at your pace. Together, we might walk slowly, or sit beneath trees, enjoying the pleasure of our senses in deep listening to the birds, the breeze, the trees, the sky. We might simply be for a time, with our breath and bodies, and engage in simple nature-based practices. Each session is co-created, honoring your boundaries, needs, and comfort with the outdoors. Expect steady support, clear consent, and gentle guidance.
Some of the benefits of somatic ecotherapy
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Relieves depression; increases happiness factor.
- Releases trauma that is stored in the body without reliving traumatic events
- Improves cognitive function - can restore attention, improve memory, and enhance problem-solving skills.
- Regulates the nervous system - reduces sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) arousal and activates the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest).
- Supports improved sleep quality - by regulating circadian rhythms and reducing psychological distress.
- Deepens your sense of belonging - reduces feelings of isolation, and creates a sense of belonging to, and feeling at home in the world. Finding one's place in the natural world.
- Supports healing one's ecological Identity - healing the wounds of separation from the environment, restoring a sense of ancestral and ecological identity.
(All of these benefits have been studied and documented, and all, and more, are experienced by the people I've worked with.
My story with ecotherapy
I discovered ecotherapy in 2012 when I attended a weekend retreat, based in the work of Joanna Macy and John Seed. We gathered at Moora Moora, a large cooperative community in Mount Toolebewong, Victoria. It was here that I experienced my first ‘conversation’ with a tree. We were encouraged to enter the trail and find the being that called us. My being was a gorgeous, towering, Mountain Ash. Read more...
Why choose somatic ecotherapy with me
guifiI offer personal and compassionate care. You’re met with warmth, curiosity, and no judgment. My work is trauma-aware and paced. We check in often and only do what feels safe for you. Offering you a choice in locations - quiet green spaces with options for shade, seating, and privacy, trails by the beach or river, headlands above the ocean, walks and places to sit as you choose. Clear safety practices: Weather plans, risk checks, first aid, and consent at every step. Inclusive and accessible: Routes adjusted for mobility, energy, and sensory needs. Evidence-informed: Mindfulness, guiding your sensory and somatic awareness, engaging nature connection practices to support nervous system regulation and to establish a depth of feeling one with nature that you may never have experienced before.
A bit about my training in somatic ecotherapy
I was very fortunate to train with Rob Engels of Wild Reverence in the Blue Mountains NSW. He speaks of his training and of somatic ecotherapy work as…
"An immersion into two profoundly powerful paradigms of healing and wholeness: somatic inquiry and ecotherapy… a rich, experiential exploration of the body’s wisdom in relationship with the living Earth… fostering healing, connection, and growth.
The journey (of somatic ecotherapy) weaves together psyche (mind), soma (body), and soil (earth), inviting a deep and experiential exploration of the synergy between somatic work and ecotherapy. Through this integration, a new way of being in relationship with nature—through the doorway of the body—is made possible…
It invites you into the art of deep listening: to your inner landscape, to the more-than-human world, and to the stories that flow between the two.
This multidimensional attunement empowers you to hold deep, spacious presence for what is emerging in you ... Rooted in the spirit of deep ecology, Somatic Ecotherapy is a wild remembering: that we are not separate from the earth but living expressions of the web of life. (From the website of Wild Reverence, which introduces the inspired work of Rob Engels.)
I've added Rob's website to the references page if you'd like to read further ...
One-on-one Somatic Ecotherapy Sessions
2 hour immersion sessions in a calm, local, green or blue space. We blend mindfulness, traditional and contemporary grounding and sensory practices, to relax the nervous system and newly, deeply, connect with nature.
120 mins one-on-one $130 Concession $100
Group Somatic Ecotherapy Sessions
Sessions for Groups of 2 or up to 5
Book your own group session, or join one of my planned group sessions.
Rates and dates will be posted shortly
Ecotherapy FAQs
What can I expect during an ecotherapy session?
We’ll meet at a pre-agreed park or garden, check in about your needs, and co-create a session plan. Options include walking, quiet sitting, simple sensory and grounding practices, or creative reflection. You always have choice—pausing, changing pace, or heading to a more private spot at any time
How do you handle safety, privacy, and weather?
What concerns does ecotherapy support?
Phone for a free 20 minute discovery call -
0435 041 259
Ready to begin outdoors?
Reach out to book your first ecotherapy session or ask any questions. Together, we’ll choose a location and pace that feel right for you. (I hate spam too. Your email is safe with me. Read my privacy policy here.)