Happiful August 2020

Discover the
power of forest
bathing
Learn about
the wellbeing
practice that
takes us off the
beaten path,
and inspires us
to look inwards,
on p28.
empathy,” explains Beth Collier,
a nature-allied psychotherapist
and ethnographer, who teaches
woodland living skills and
natural history. “This means that,
without having to do anything
other than be in the space, we
feel calmer, relaxed,
uplifted, energised, and
rejuvenated, which can lead
to a sense of belonging – all
conducive to being reflective,
in the moment, and feeling
emotionally safe.”
This connection with nature is
something that Beth can speak to
personally, having grown up on
a smallholding in Suffolk, where
her childhood was consumed with
roaming the woods, fens, and fields
surrounding her home. For Beth,
spending time outside was secondnature,
and she’s joined by the 62%
of British people who visit nature at
least once a week.
At its core, friluftsliv is about
taking time to be mindful of the
world around us, reflect on the
natural habitat that we’re in, and
soak in the surroundings – and
that’s as much about everyday
connections as it is outdoor
adventures. Along these lines, for
Beth, it was only natural that her
work as a psychotherapist and her
love of the outdoors would lead her
to take her counselling sessions
outside.
“Knowing nature’s capacity
to positively impact emotional
health, I’d therefore question
why I’d chosen to be in a room,”
reflects Beth. “We can overlook the
importance of our connection to
the natural world on our current
wellbeing, and within our formative
experiences. The state of our
relationship with nature will affect
our sense of wellbeing, just as the
type of relationship we have with
parents, siblings, and colleagues
will too.
“Nature isn’t just a location but is
a co-counsellor, offering reflections
and mirrors about our emotional
world. Clients often experience
the work becoming deeper sooner,
and feel more supported in
processing uncomfortable feelings.
The therapeutic relationship with
nature lasts beyond the work
finishing with the human therapist.”
But while an experience with
nature can be incredibly profound
and therapeutic, you don’t
necessarily have to live in the
wilderness to harness it. You may
swap your morning commute
for a bike ride, or use an hour in
the evening that you may have
usually spent curled up on the sofa,
popping out for a short walk.
Friluftsliv captures the profound
moments where we feel a strong
connection with the world around
us – when our lungs are burning
from an uphill hike, but also
when we open a window and
let the summer breeze float into
our homes. You may go running,
kayaking, and cycling, or foraging,
camping, and picnicking. However
you do it, in whatever way works for
you, there are lessons to be learned
and comfort to be found in the great
outdoors.
July 2020 • happiful.com • 15