A hypnosis framing of therapeutic horticulture for mental health rehabilitation.

Abstract

This article shows how hypnosis can provide a useful framework for understanding therapeutic horticulture. Within this framework, data from in-depth interviews with 12 volunteers attending Cherry Tree Nursery—a sheltered work project for people with severe mental illness—provided conceptual groupings of reported experiences: rapport, induction, change in conscious state, relaxation, a safe place, therapeutic change via reframing and symbolic thinking, and confidence boosting. Natural environments and nature-based activities are thus contextualized as spaces and situations within which therapeutic change is more likely to occur. The concept of the restorative environment therefore becomes one component of the overall process—inducing a mental and physical state which is open to change, less egoistic, and socially oriented—but not in itself sufficient to bring about the effects described in the literature. Longer-lasting beneficial effects also require appropriate client-centered guidance, wherein the client creates an internalized environment which endures when they return to their everyday life. The described framework unifies previously disparate therapeutic domains and suggests more focus is needed on ‘induction’ processes, activities appropriate to the client’s mental state, and the settings within which any therapeutic process occurs. Furthermore, cases in which people do not benefit from being in natural environments may indicate incongruencies in concurrent guidance or merit the consideration of a new concept of “nature-susceptibility.”

Exploring how greenspace programmes might be effective in supporting people with problem substance use: a realist interview study

“…Therapeutic relationships have been reported to account for as much variance in therapy outcomes as the treatment modality itself [53]. The crucial role of relationships in treatment and support has previously been discussed relative to greenspace programmes [54,55], and is further evidenced in the current study. Some participants stated that improving relationships was the most important long-term outcome, over and above reducing substance use.…”

“…Additional mechanisms which were said to facilitate improved relationships were feelings of acceptance, belonging, and a reduction in perceived stigma. While feelings of acceptance and reduced stigma have previously been reported on greenspace programmes [55,62,66], this study suggests that these mechanisms are particularly important for people with PSU who often experience higher levels of stigma compared to those with other mental health challenges [67]. Stigma has been shown to be associated with maintaining PSU, increasing the likelihood of drug and alcohol related harm, and reducing the likelihood of accessing support services [53,[68][69][70].…”

Health Effects of Participation in Creating Urban Green Spaces—A Systematic Review

“…It is important to note that for quantitative studies, we included only significant results in this synthesis. Removing stigma (of mental illness) 1 1 [154] Increased use of green space 1 1 [57] Note. In this overview, only significant (for quantitative studies) reported effects are summarized; a number indicates the number of studies indicating an outcome with reported (significant) effects; differences in the number of references and effects can occur due to multiple similar outcomes being assessed in single publications.…”

“…We also included community-related benefits, such as higher community cohesion (30). Additionally, 13 studies note an increased connection to place, either in the form of higher place attachment [95,107,139,148], special connections with place [85,91,115,154], or strengthening local identity [114]. Studies frequently report on educational benefits and skill development (41).…”

The Nature of Clinical Hypnosis

“…Attention to the natural world can induce the deepened state of absorption (Fleischner, 2011;Stevens, 2018) incumbent for the engagement of attention and relaxation that underly successful hypnotherapy. Such a clinical approach might even help counteract some of the damage wrought by societal fragmentation (Anthony & Soule, 1989;Pavel & Anthony, 2015;Smith, 2013).…”