Darlene P. Nieswender
Licensed Practical Nurse
Project Nature Connect
Course 501
Correspondence concerning this paper
Should be sent to
cherokeewo@yahoo.com
The individuals were a male who was 56 years old, a female 54 years old and
another female that was a 24 years old. We will label these subjects 1, 2 and 3
respectively. Subject number 3 admitted she had been diagnosed with depression and
admitted that trust was something she had a hard time with. Both of the other subjects 1
and 2 had been diagnosed with hypertension and were prescribed antihypertensive
medication for it.
The individuals were given a brief explanation on the subject of
Ecopsychology and invited to be active participants in two separate activities that were
completed a few weeks apart.
Two of the individuals participated in activity 4, of Michael Cohen’s book,
Reconnecting With Nature. The activity is titled, The Sensory Nature Walk.
During this activity the participants were instructed to go to a safe attractive natural area.
We were to become involved with it and to gain the area’s permission to be there and to
seek help from Mother Nature with this activity. One person acted as a guide that assisted
the partner who without sight was to be guided during the activity, the participants closed
their eyes. They were to allow the writer to lead them around by the hand with only a
touch on the shoulder to tell them to stop or go. This activity was done on a one acre lot
that has nineteen various trees and numerous bushes on it at a fishing lake that has
nothing but native trees on 3 sides of it. The writer acting as an observer/guide in the
activity was to help them trust me and nature and to introduce them to various natural
textures and scents. The participants were taken to different areas and guided to
touch such things as tree bark, leaves, flowers, rocks, grass. There was some trepidation
by the participants at the beginning of the activity. After a few minutes 2-3 the
participants became much more relaxed and laughed at times.
Both participants stated that they enjoyed the activity and this was evidenced by
their laughing and verbalization of how it helped them to trust and that it was fun.
Depression usually precludes a person from having enjoyable activities. Their trust grew
the longer they took part in the activity.
During another activity the writer was directed to include another participant.
With this activity the writer took the partner/participants vital signs prior to the start of
the activity. Subject number one’s pulse prior to beginning the activity was 90, blood
pressure was 149/80 and respirations were 18. The activity included going to the most
natural area we could find and asking permission of nature to be there and learn from our
experiences with nature and to thank nature for helping us with the activity. We were to
follow our attractions (what caught our attention during the activity.) To relax our minds
and stay with each attraction until its attraction diminished or another one came to our
attention. During these activities we as participants conferred that we each felt like we
were suspended in time, we reported that some of the attractions were amazing, colors
were vivid, the air was fresher and more appreciated. Each participant’s vital signs were
taken after the activity ended. Subject number 1. the 55 year old males vital signs were
pulse 84, blood pressure 138/78, and respirations 16. Showing an improvement in all
three vital signs. There was a significant decrease to a more acceptable clinical healthy
level. The participant also stated that he felt more relaxed and felt as if he was a part of
nature for the first time in his life. Subject number 3 the 24 year old female’s vital signs
prior to beginning the activity was 126/70, pulse 72, respirations 20. After the
completion of the activity her pulse was 72, blood pressure was 124/70 and
respirations 16. This participant also reported a complete state of relaxation and
enjoyment. Subject number 2 had vital signs before beginning the activity of pulse 90,
blood pressure 152/94 and respirations 18. After completion of the Letting Earth Teach
activity this participants blood pressure was 148/90, pulse 85, and respirations 16.
Providing the evidence and value of Ecopsycology for our physical health and well
being done on a regular basis could be along term modality for improvement.
Darlene P. Nieswender
Licensed Practical Nurse
Project Nature Connect
Course 501
Correspondence concerning this paper
Should be sent to
cherokeewo@yahoo.com
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