Exploring nature's mental health benefits

I appreciated the chance to contribute this article to the Las Cruces Bulletin, highlighting ways to connect with nature in support of healthier humans and a healthier ecosystem. The article is online here: Exploring nature's mental health benefits

For those interested in additional resources to learn about ecotherapy, benefits of connection with nature, and ideas of cultivating a reciprocal relationship with the rest of the natural world, the books below are a wonderful starting point. These books among others have been important in shaping my learning in this field.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind edited by Linda Buzzell and Craig Chalquist

Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations, edited by Gavin Van Horn, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and John Hausdoerffer

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams

Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives--and Save Theirs by Richard Louv