Skip to content
1981
2-3: Creativity, the Arts and the Environment
  • ISSN: 2040-2457
  • E-ISSN: 2040-2465

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing body of literature on nature-based art therapies. Set in the context of the climate crisis, these practices speak to the need for systemic thinking to adequately address the psychological impact of environmental damage and biodiversity loss. This note from the field explores how, in taking art therapy outdoors, that practice comes into immediate contact with the natural world, its dynamic rhythms and its ecosystems. This opens a dialogue between humans (therapist and clients) and the many other life forms found in nature. The nature-based art therapy practices described enable participants to recognize their relationship with Nature and recognize that damage done to Nature is also done to humanity. ‘Portraits from the “Book of Nature”’ is a method of exploring ecosystemic nature-based art therapy that involves the active process of discovery with direct engagement with the living environment, through art-making.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/jaah_00207_7
2025-11-29
2026-04-16

Metrics

Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Blake, William ([1798] 1986), ‘Auguries of Innocence’, in P. Porter (ed.), The Illustrated Poets: William Blake, London: Aurum Press, p. 48.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Deco, Sarah (2021), ‘Using image and narrative’, in J. D. West (ed.), Therapy for Trauma, Addiction and Recovery, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, pp. 31525.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Gleick, James and Porter, Eliot (1990), Nature’s Chaos, New York: Little, Brown and Company.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Heath, Andrea and Stevens, Catherine (2018), ‘Searching for space: Reflections on the work of a collaborative arts project in private practice’, in J. D. West (ed.), Art Therapy in Private Practice, Theory, Practice and Research in Changing Contexts, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, pp. 7690.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Jordan, Martin and Hinds, Joe (2016), Ecotherapy Theory, Research & Practice, London: Palgrave.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Naess, Arne (1990), Ecology, Community and Lifestyle: Outline of an Ecosophy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Satin, Chiara (2024), Rewilding Therapy: Ecosystemic Theory and Practice, Farnhill: Everything is Connected Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Siddons Heginworth, Ian and Nash, Gary (2020), Environmental Arts Therapy: The Wild Frontiers of the Heart, London: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Spinoza, Benedict ([1927] 2012), The Philosophy of Spinoza (trans. J. Ratner), Calgary: Theophania Publishing.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Stevens, Catherine (2024), ‘Sensing nature’s pulse: On relearning to read the “Book of Nature”’, Murmurations: Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 7:1, pp. 7083, https://doi.org/10.28963/7.1.6.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/jaah_00207_7
Loading
/content/journals/10.1386/jaah_00207_7
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test