Case study: A Theatre of Nature – a personal experience of group forest therapy. A self-report case study
Angie Alderman
Citation: Alderman, A. (2022). Case study: A Theatre of Nature – a personal experience of group forest therapy. A self-report case study. Journal of Ecopsychology,
2, 5, 1-5. https://joe.nationalwellbeingservice.com/volumes/volume-2-2022/volume-2-article-5/
Processing dates: Submitted 18th October 2021; Resubmitted 17th November 2021;
Accepted 22nd October 2022; Published: 2nd December 2022
Abstract
This self-report case study investigated the effect of attending group forest therapy from the
perspective of the researcher-participant. Where I used a scaling exercise to measure the effect on my state of mind and wellbeing and post-event with additional same-day journaling. The findings of this case study showed that the key benefits were gaining new perspectives from a group setting, a collective sharing of beauty in grief and of improved safety in a public space. Given the increase in the popularity of ecotherapy practices since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more research is required to understand better the impact of the wider group experience compared with an individual’s solo experience.
Keywords: Forest therapy, nature, integrative counselling, reflective practice, environment, creativity, wellbeing, ecopsychology
Biography
Angie Alderman is an Integrative Counsellor and Coach and a member of the British Association of Counselling Psychotherapy (MBACP) and accredited by the Associate for Coaching (AC) as an Executive Coach. She is a member of the International Society of Coaching Psychology. Angie is skilled at supporting others overcome unhelpful thinking and behaviours that may be blocking their progress to make sustainable change. She is a
neurodiversity advocate and an associate coach for Genius Within and runs her practice as a counsellor and coach. She is described by clients as warm, empathetic and positive.
Angie holds an accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Coaching from the University of East London. An Advanced Diploma in Coaching approved by the British Psychological Society and accredited by the Association for Coaching. An Advanced Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy & Training and a Certificate in Stress Management & Performance Coaching approved by the British Psychological Society. In her former life, she was an actor and trained at the Guildford School of Acting.
Email: angie.alderman@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6342-8344