Nature Assisted Therapy is a therapeutic intervention that incorporate plants, natural materials, and/or outdoor environments. It is based on the idea that people are connected to and impacted by the natural environment. Nature assisted therapy provides an opportunity for people to explore their relationship with nature, not only from what they see, but from what they experience through other senses as well.
Evidence suggests that viewing, interacting with, and living in natural environments can reduce stress, increase patience, increase self-discipline, increase capacity for attention, and speed the recovery from mental fatigue, crisis and psycho-physiological imbalance. Some children and youth, in particular, can benefit from a nature assisted approach. This includes those who struggle socially, have an emotional issue such as anxiety or depression, or who are troubled teens. For kids who enjoy the outdoors, are interested in animals and plants, and like to explore, nature assisted counselling provides a therapeutic environment that creates a calming effect which then allows children to develop social skills, increased confidence and self-esteem.