Exploring Ecology and Psychology

Catalog description

The global climate crisis has sparked a spectrum of responses in humans, ranging from denialism to dread. The need for individuals to process this reality and act in a manner that combats the crisis requires an understanding of how humanity is intimately connected to and impacted by the health of the ecosphere. In this course, students will be introduced to a variety of voices exploring the synthesis of ecology and psychology and the impact of nature on human mental health. We will investigate how humans historically have understood their relationship to the natural world across different cultures, what nature provides human emotional well-being, and the connection between psychological health and the health of the ecosphere. We will also examine how one can incorporate both the importance of nature and the challenge of the climate crisis into the therapeutic healing practices, including forest bathing, ecotherapy, and spiritual disciplines, to obtain positive mental health outcomes that promote the well-being of all creatures on the planet.