The Nature Cure: Evidence-Based Medicine for Mental Health
Presented by: Dr. Catherine Darley
When: Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 | 9:00am – 4:30pm Pacific Time
Where: Presented Live via Zoom
Continuing Education Credit Hours: 6 CEs| Cost: $165.00
As humans spend more and more time inside our built environments, we’re stepping away from the healing power of nature. This is a big loss! Humans evolved in natural settings, and time in nature is one of the most stress-relieving activities we can enjoy. Nature cure can be part of an effective plan for ADHD, depression, as well as the pandemic’s resulting lack of social connections. Research reveals that time spent in nature therapy results in decreases in antidepressant prescriptions. Childhood nature exposure even predicts high levels of adult mental health and quality of life. In other health domains, increased exposure to nature is associated with decreased mortality and cardiovascular disease while also increasing heart rate variability and the positive impact of exercise. Many types of nature exposure are healing – everything from having indoor houseplants and place sitting to gardening and forest bathing. Use the nature prescription to increase your patients’ well-being.
OBJECTIVES:
- Understand the clinical evidence for the nature cure as treatment for common mental health conditions
- Create a nature cure plan for your patient, in line with their resources
- Identify the mechanisms in the body that are positively impacted by nature therapy
- Become familiar with the lexicon of the nature cure/nature therapy
- Expand knowledge of the healing properties of nature on physical and mental health systems
- Discuss Nature Cure prescriptions—including types and dosages for a range of client populations and diagnoses