What is Ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy—also known as nature-based or outdoor therapy—is rooted in the understanding that we are not separate from nature; we are nature. Just as human connection is essential to our well-being, so is our relationship with the natural world.

While traditional psychotherapy supports healing through connection with others, ecotherapy in Burbank, CA expands this by including the outdoors as an active part of the healing process. By deepening your relationship with the earth, nature elements, and even animals, nature-based therapy invites a greater sense of calm, clarity, and connection.

Through outdoor therapy, you can begin to reconnect with yourself, reduce stress and anxiety, and cultivate a more grounded and compassionate relationship—with your inner world, your relationships, and the environment around you.

Sunset over a forested mountain landscape with tall trees, rocky terrain, and a calm lake in the distance.

How Ecotherapy Can Help:

Evidence-based research shows that ecotherapy and nature-based healing can support emotional and psychological well-being in powerful ways. Whether you're navigating chronic stress or seeking a deeper sense of connection, outdoor therapy offers meaningful benefits:

  • Reduced stress and anxiety

  • Relief from burnout and emotional overwhelm

  • Less isolation and greater sense of connection and support

  • Feeling more grounded—emotionally and physically

  • Support for climate grief and eco-anxiety

  • Healing from past trauma and current life stressors

  • Depression treatment through purpose and meaning

  • Improved mood, energy, and emotional regulation

  • Space to reconnect with your values, identity, and inner calm

“Be the mountain / be the ocean / be the tree / be happy / be the light / be the shadow / be the rain / be you / be ”
— Ray Wilkins

Find Healing in Nature with Ecotherapy in Burbank and Los Angeles Area

What to Expect in Outdoor Therapy":

We’ll begin with indoor or virtual sessions to get to know each other and explore how ecotherapy might support your goals. If it feels like a good fit, we’ll choose a nature-based setting and walk through the logistics together — from clothing recommendations and any medical considerations, to how I maintain confidentiality in outdoor therapy. You’ll also share your intention or area of focus for the session.

We’ll meet at a mutually chosen natural setting and begin by slowing down. Sessions may include walking, sitting, or standing still — depending on what feels most supportive that day. I often guide a brief mindfulness in nature exercise to help you ground and reconnect to your senses. From there, we’ll move into talk therapy, somatic practices, and reflective exercises that invite nature as a co-therapist in your healing.

We’ll take time to integrate the session and talk about what you want to carry with you. This could be a metaphor from nature, a feeling of connection with a nature ally, or a new insight about your inner world. Together, we’ll explore gentle ways to stay connected to what you discovered — even as you return to the pace of daily life.

Before Your First Ecotherapy Session:

During the Session:

End of Session:

Group of people hiking on a trail through a grassy and wooded area.

Ecotherapy - FAQs

  • Being outdoors in public spaces for sessions does mean that we’ll have to consider limitations to confidentiality. Beforehand, we’ll discuss how I’ll help maintain the privacy of our sessions. For example, we may need to consider pausing our conversations during session if others are passing by on a hiking trail we’re on, or move off to the side of the trail for more privacy.

  • Ecotherapy is a fit for you if you enjoy being outdoors and doing outdoor activities, such as hiking, backpacking, camping, visiting outdoor spaces, and nature walks. Ecotherapy can also be helpful if you don’t have much experience being outdoor, but are curious about fostering a greater connection with nature. Set up a free consultation with me to discuss if ecotherapy is a fit for you.

  • Ecotherapy can also be done indoors, whether that be in-person and virtually. We’ll find ways to help you bring nature into your indoor space, and use guided visualization and grounding exercises that incorporate nature elements in our work together.

  • We can schedule to meet for an outdoor ecotherapy session as often as you’d like. Our frequency of outdoors sessions depends on availability for outdoor sessions ,scheduling, and your treatment goals. I find that ecotherapy is best suited when used in combination with indoor talk therapy sessions.

  • An ecotherapy session is 50 minutes long and costs $175 (same time and cost of in-office session). Based on your insurance provider, you may be able to get coverage for ecotherapy sessions. I’d be happy to assist you in figuring out your coverage if you’d like to use your insurance.

  • Typical settings for outdoor ecotherapy sessions include: parks, meditation gardens, hiking trails, by the ocean or lake, and national parks. We’ll discuss and decide on what setting feels the best fit for our work together before we met outdoors. We can also mix up where we meet for each outdoor session, based on your preference and our goals for treatment.

Begin Outdoor Therapy in Burbank, San Fernando Valley & Surrounding LA Areas