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Ecotherapy: Green Coaching for the Effective Resolution of Job Stress

by Lisa Leit, PhD, Ecotherapist, Mediator, and Coach www.drlisaleit.com

(edited by Fey Ugokwe, J.D. , Founder/Editor-in-Chief)

The ongoing hectic pace of the 21st century workplace tends to create a disconnection that often results in chronic stress, and resultantly, mental and/or physical
illness. Ecotherapy, a fusion of psychology and ecology, and thereby, a 'green' therapy, analyzes this relationship between mental/emotional/spiritual health and a culture's increasing disconnection from the natural world. Ecotherapy offers a wholistic

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approach to job stress that that helps individuals and teams use the innate intelligence of nature to transform their work challenges into opportunities for vital expansion.

Job Stress--A Prevalent Problem: Job stress has become a common and costly problem in the American workplace, leaving few workers untouched. Unless the early warning signs are heeded, job stress can lead to chronic health problems and negatively impact job performance. Recent work surveys have revealed the following:

*40% of workers report that their job is "very or extremely stressful".

*26% of workers report they are “often or very often burned out or

stressed out” by their work.

*29% of workers report they feel “quite a bit or extremely stressed” at work.

Contemporary workplaces specifically tend to be consistently fast-paced and demanding, and thereby put employees at risk for the destructive effects of long-term stress. Most employees at some point find themselves depleted from the unnatural pace of the contemporary work environment, and in actuality, desperately need to reconnect with nature. Individuals striving to meet deadlines and various ongoing job challenges may find their lives imbalanced and begin to feel exhausted. Such problems, if ignored, may negatively affect work attendance and performance, and may further begin to harm relationships with family and friends.

Being stressed is not a sign of weakness--all humans respond to stressful situations as threats that require either a ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response. Hormones are released to prepare individuals for either response, causing them to specifically become alert and poised for combat or escape. This pre-programming serves a vital function, and therefore, the catalytic experience of occasional stressful events is, generally speaking, not harmful to the individual. However, problems tend to occur when people remain in long-term stressful situations, which cause the body to remain in an elevated state of ‘fight-or-flight’ arousal. Such a prolonged physical state can result in exhaustion and a compromised immune system. Some studies have particularly revealed a relationship between job stress and chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal problems, and psychological disorders.

Early warning signs of job stress typically include mood and sleep disturbances, work injuries, digestive problems, headaches, short temper and depression. Such accumulated stress not only puts employees at risk, but is very costly to companies. Low morale and high turnover can also result from job stress, and a previous report from a leading labor statistics clearinghouse manifested that workers who must take time off work because of stress, anxiety, or a related disorder will usually be off the job for approximately 20 days.

Many employees need their jobs and do not feel that they can either risk taking time off, or risk slowing down and therefore, falling behind. Such employees are exactly the individuals that need the green, recharging escape of an Ecotherapy weekend.

Ecotherapy—A Solution for Balance Restoration and Job Stress Management:

Many people intuitively seek time outside—amongst nature--to decompress, by e.g., gardening, golfing, swimming, cycling, running, or hiking. These green-environs activities quiet the mind and help relax the body. Ecotherapy, which is based on the emerging field of ecopsychology, simply builds on the instinct to seek healing outdoors. Ecotherapy harnesses the healing power of ‘wild’ places to help individuals find balance, connection, and guidance, by deepening their relationship with the natural world. A Pulitzer Prize-winning sociobiologist lended theoretical support to this therapeutic approach, asserting that people have ‘biophilia’--an intrinsic biological need to be in contact with nature. Nature, in biophilic theory, holds the key to health and satisfaction.

Ecotherapy enables participants to strengthen their sense of connectivity and responsibility towards both the environment and their own health, through direct external experiences with nature and transformative therapy. The combination helps align individuals with their intrinsic, innate intelligence. Ecotherapy is essentially a “de-frag” function for disconnected, depleted individuals that helps them to reconnect with restorative systems. The goal of Ecotherapy is to help such individuals return to their daily lives--with stress-management coping strategies grounded in the wisdom of nature.

Ecotherapy Retreats:

Ecotherapy retreats, generally, are restorative ecotherapy events that are conducted in untouched, natural environments, and accompanied by, a) cleansing, chef-prepared cuisine; b) deep sleep; and, c) interactive, outdoor, and thereby, ‘green’ activities (‘adventures’). Each retreat should also include guided imagery, breath work, workshops, reframing activities, and ample time for relaxation. The best ecotherapy retreats for individuals and corporate groups are custom-designed, to optimally realign the participants with rejuvenating natural forces, and provide them with personalized strategies to manage the daily stresses of their particular lives.

The four main goals for a successful ecotherapy retreat should be to: 1) harness ecological wisdom, to release tension and promote sustainable lifestyle patterns; 2) provide participants with opportunities for personal healing and transformation; 3) reawaken a sense of interdependence and provide support for participants (as they learn to work with others in diffusing their sense of isolation); and, 4) on the larger scale, foster a sense of responsibility for the environment.

E cotherapy and ecotherapy retreats are viable, contemporary, de facto green coaching processes, that can enable any employee or team of employees to alleviate accrued, debilitating job stress, and re-establish their connection with themselves and the natural world.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and not intended to convey medical or psychological counseling or advice. Further, the information contained this article is solely intended to convey the opinions of the author, is not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher. Each state and/or locality may have specific guidelines and/or laws governing the above subject matter(s). Be advised to consult a relevant professional for guidance regarding the guidelines and/or laws regarding the subject matter(s) in your state and/or locality.