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Prescribing Nature: A Clinician's Guide to Ecotherapy
Bring nature to your therapy room―or take therapy into nature.
Psychotherapy has traditionally occurred in office spaces and focused on issues that stop at the urban boundary. But with the growing impacts of climate-related anxiety and trauma, and mounting evidence that contact with nature has powerful psychological, emotional, and restorative benefits, more clinicians are turning to the practice of ecotherapy to help their clients heal.
Ecopsychology pioneer Patricia Hasbach provides an ecotherapy model for mental health professionals looking to incorporate the natural world into their work.
An overview that highlights the theoretical foundations of ecotherapy, the importance of expanding the context care to include ecological systems, and reviews current research on the benefits of nature interactions.A practice of ecotherapy section that covers topics that examine the development of an environmental identity and the concept of the ecological Self.A practical considerations section that covers a wide range of topics including challenges and ethical considerations unique to ecotherapy, various forms of ecotherapy, and special populations where ecotherapy can be especially effective treatment.
Whether you are interested in moving therapy sessions outdoors, writing nature prescriptions for clients, or bringing the outdoors into your office, here you’ll find practical strategies that will broaden the lens of your therapeutic practice to include the vital human-nature relationship.
2 black-and-white illustrations
Psychotherapy has traditionally occurred in office spaces and focused on issues that stop at the urban boundary. But with the growing impacts of climate-related anxiety and trauma, and mounting evidence that contact with nature has powerful psychological, emotional, and restorative benefits, more clinicians are turning to the practice of ecotherapy to help their clients heal.
Ecopsychology pioneer Patricia Hasbach provides an ecotherapy model for mental health professionals looking to incorporate the natural world into their work.
An overview that highlights the theoretical foundations of ecotherapy, the importance of expanding the context care to include ecological systems, and reviews current research on the benefits of nature interactions.A practice of ecotherapy section that covers topics that examine the development of an environmental identity and the concept of the ecological Self.A practical considerations section that covers a wide range of topics including challenges and ethical considerations unique to ecotherapy, various forms of ecotherapy, and special populations where ecotherapy can be especially effective treatment.
Whether you are interested in moving therapy sessions outdoors, writing nature prescriptions for clients, or bringing the outdoors into your office, here you’ll find practical strategies that will broaden the lens of your therapeutic practice to include the vital human-nature relationship.
2 black-and-white illustrations
208 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
About the author
Patricia H. Hasbach
6 books21 followersPatricia H. Hasbach, Ph.D. is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and clinical psychotherapist with a private practice in Eugene, Oregon, and a faculty member at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon and at Antioch University Seattle. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and a post-doctoral MA (Ecopsychology concentration) from Naropa University.
As a clinician, Dr. Hasbach incorporates ecotherapeutic practices with traditional therapy in her work with adults, couples, and groups. She also consults with hospitals, schools, architectural design firms, non-profit organizations, businesses, and community activist groups. She is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal, Ecopsychology.
Her book, Ecopsychology: Science, Totems, and the Technological Species (MIT Press, 2012, edited with Peter Kahn) has been nominated for the 2014 Grawemeyer Award in Psychology. This award is conferred annually to recognize outstanding ideas in the science of Psychology and make them available to a wide audience. It is administered through the University of Louisville Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences and carries a cash prize of $100,000.
Her new book, The Rediscover of the Wild, was published by MIT Press in February 2013.
In addition to these books, Dr. Hasbach has published articles in numerous journals including The Journal of Ecopsychology, The Journal of Natural History Education and Experiences, and Voices: The Art & Science of Psychotherapy. Her work has also appeared in The Counselor, a publication of the Oregon Counseling Association and on the international online forum, The Children & Nature Network.
Her work has been cited in Richard Louv’s popular book, The Nature Principle; and in several popular and professional magazines including The Utne Reader, The Observer (a publication by the Association for Psychological Science), The NY Times Sunday Magazine, and The Monitor (a publication of the American Psychological Association).
As a clinician, Dr. Hasbach incorporates ecotherapeutic practices with traditional therapy in her work with adults, couples, and groups. She also consults with hospitals, schools, architectural design firms, non-profit organizations, businesses, and community activist groups. She is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal, Ecopsychology.
Her book, Ecopsychology: Science, Totems, and the Technological Species (MIT Press, 2012, edited with Peter Kahn) has been nominated for the 2014 Grawemeyer Award in Psychology. This award is conferred annually to recognize outstanding ideas in the science of Psychology and make them available to a wide audience. It is administered through the University of Louisville Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences and carries a cash prize of $100,000.
Her new book, The Rediscover of the Wild, was published by MIT Press in February 2013.
In addition to these books, Dr. Hasbach has published articles in numerous journals including The Journal of Ecopsychology, The Journal of Natural History Education and Experiences, and Voices: The Art & Science of Psychotherapy. Her work has also appeared in The Counselor, a publication of the Oregon Counseling Association and on the international online forum, The Children & Nature Network.
Her work has been cited in Richard Louv’s popular book, The Nature Principle; and in several popular and professional magazines including The Utne Reader, The Observer (a publication by the Association for Psychological Science), The NY Times Sunday Magazine, and The Monitor (a publication of the American Psychological Association).
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
July 4, 2025
Book Review: Prescribing Nature: A Clinician’s Guide to Ecotherapy by Patricia H. Hasbach
Rating: 4.7/5
Public Health Perspective
From a public health lens, Prescribing Nature offers a transformative framework for addressing mental health disparities and preventive care. The book’s emphasis on nature as a low-cost, scalable intervention aligns with public health goals of reducing barriers to care and promoting population-wide well-being. Research cited in the book—such as nature’s role in lowering stress hormones and improving community cohesion—supports ecotherapy’s potential to mitigate urban health inequities, particularly in underserved areas with limited access to green spaces.
Key Public Health Takeaways
-Preventive Potential: Ecotherapy could reduce reliance on clinical interventions by addressing mental health upstream, aligning with the WHO’s prevention first approach.
-Health Equity: The book’s strategies (e.g., nature prescriptions) could bridge gaps for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by nature deprivation.
-Climate Resilience: Hasbach’s focus on eco-anxiety positions ecotherapy as critical for public health preparedness in climate crises.
Constructive Feedback for Public Health Practitioners:
-Policy Integration: While the book excels in clinical applications, it could expand on policy advocacy (e.g., green space zoning laws) to institutionalize ecotherapy.
-Community Engagement: More case studies on community-led nature programs (like urban gardening initiatives) would strengthen its relevance to public health fieldwork.
Final Thought:
A visionary resource for public health professionals seeking holistic, sustainable mental health solutions. Hasbach’s work underscores that healing environments need not be confined to clinics—they can flourish in forests, parks, and even concrete jungles with thoughtful design.
Thank you to W. W. Norton and Edelweiss for the gifted copy.
Rating: 4.7/5
Public Health Perspective
From a public health lens, Prescribing Nature offers a transformative framework for addressing mental health disparities and preventive care. The book’s emphasis on nature as a low-cost, scalable intervention aligns with public health goals of reducing barriers to care and promoting population-wide well-being. Research cited in the book—such as nature’s role in lowering stress hormones and improving community cohesion—supports ecotherapy’s potential to mitigate urban health inequities, particularly in underserved areas with limited access to green spaces.
Key Public Health Takeaways
-Preventive Potential: Ecotherapy could reduce reliance on clinical interventions by addressing mental health upstream, aligning with the WHO’s prevention first approach.
-Health Equity: The book’s strategies (e.g., nature prescriptions) could bridge gaps for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by nature deprivation.
-Climate Resilience: Hasbach’s focus on eco-anxiety positions ecotherapy as critical for public health preparedness in climate crises.
Constructive Feedback for Public Health Practitioners:
-Policy Integration: While the book excels in clinical applications, it could expand on policy advocacy (e.g., green space zoning laws) to institutionalize ecotherapy.
-Community Engagement: More case studies on community-led nature programs (like urban gardening initiatives) would strengthen its relevance to public health fieldwork.
Final Thought:
A visionary resource for public health professionals seeking holistic, sustainable mental health solutions. Hasbach’s work underscores that healing environments need not be confined to clinics—they can flourish in forests, parks, and even concrete jungles with thoughtful design.
Thank you to W. W. Norton and Edelweiss for the gifted copy.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review