Healing with Nature :: Lessons from Mother Earth
Connection is Healing
The longer I work as a mental health counselor, the more I understand that most psychological suffering is rooted in disconnection. When our relationships feel fractured - whether with ourselves, our bodies, our loved ones, or life as a whole - we may experience loneliness, numbness, confusion, pain, or an undeniable yearning for reparation.
We see the importance of connection reflected across different therapeutic modalities. In Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, we tend to internal relationships, bridging connections between parts and Self. In psychodynamic therapy, we connect the present moment to past experiences. In relational therapy, healing occurs in the relationship between therapist and client. In somatic therapy, we find healing through the mind-body connection.
This makes sense. Everything we know exists within a web of relationships; we are inherently relational beings. Nature-based therapy extends this web of connection even further.
Nature as the Ultimate Connection
When you return to connection with the natural world, you return to the ultimate relationship – one that can never be lost (a good place to practice secure attachment, if you ask me). Earth is our home, Earth is our mother. No matter where you find yourself reading this today and in what emotional state, you are held by our planet.
When we spend time in the natural world, we are invited into a relationship with all that is. And this connection is deep! Every member of your family lineage that has come before you has shared this relationship. You don’t have to be a “nature lover” to participate in a relationship with the natural world; with every breath you take, you already do - each inhale, receiving oxygen from our forested lands, each exhale offering nourishing carbon dioxide in return. Every step you take, supported by the Earth’s crust. Every sip of water, connected to the water cycle at large.
Lessons :: Nature as Mirror, Teacher, Mother, Friend
Mother Earth has brought you to life, and she is you. You are as beautiful as she is, because you are her. Your nature is her nature.
You are the green willow, you are the yellow chrysanthemum, you are the red rose, you are the violet bamboo swaying in the wind.
— Thich Nhat Hanh
When you get in touch with nature, you are also getting in touch with yourself. You come from nature. You are nature. And so not only is she your mother, she is also your mirror. And as your mirror, she has reflections for you, if you slow down enough to see them:
Change is the Only Constant
What is our life but this dance of transient forms? Isn’t everything always changing: the leaves on the trees in the park, the light in your room as you read this, the seasons, the weather, the time of day, the people passing you in the street.
Impermanence is the only thing we can hold onto.
– Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
When we spend time with nature, we are reminded of the age-old saying: change is the only constant. Even in the apparent stillness of winter, the natural world is moving through a transition. Nature reminds us that cycles of death and rebirth are not only healthy but also necessary portals for transformation.
You Already Belong
“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.”
– Desiderata, Max Erhmann
A common experience among many of my clients is existential loneliness, or a sense of not belonging. As deeply relational animals, it makes sense that we might experience suffering as modern, digital cultures pull us farther from IRL connection.
While inner work can help us understand ourselves, connecting with the natural world helps us experience ourselves as part of something larger - a vast web of interconnection. It is through this practice of communing with the more-than-human world that we remember that we are a part of something bigger. We already belong. Not because of what we do or who we are, but simply because we are here. Because being a part of this living system means that we inherently have a place “in the family of things,” and nobody can take that away (Mary Oliver, Wild Geese).
There is No Rush
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu.
Enough said.
Just kidding :) I hear this from my clients all the time: “I just feel like everyone else already has it figured out, and I’m falling behind.” Nature reminds you that you are right on time. You are exactly where you are meant to be. There is no such thing as being behind. You are on your own timeline, and the more you move according to your soul’s unique natural rhythm, the more life is likely to unfold in ways that you’ve always dreamed. Stop racing for the finish line – there isn’t one. Everything you’re looking for is already right here, and patiently waiting for your attention and appreciation.
You Are Accepted, Just as You Are.
“When you go into the woods and you look at trees, you see all these different trees… and some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens and some of them are – whatever. And you look at the tree, and you just – allow it. You appreciate it. You see why it is the way it is, you sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way, and you don’t get all emotional about it, you just allow it. You appreciate the tree.
The minute you get near humans, you lose all that, and you’re constantly saying, “You’re too this,” or “I’m too this,” or – that judging mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees, which means appreciating them just the way they are.”
— Ram Dass
Mother Earth offers unconditional love and acceptance. She does not judge, seek to fix, or ask us to change. Instead, she invites us to simply be. When in nature, you are allowed to exist without changing a thing. Cry, laugh, scream, grieve, play. She welcomes it all and holds steady to bear witness to all parts of you. Entering into a relationship with the more-than-human world offers a space to experience this relational safety with beings that undeniably accept you exactly as you are.
Move with Care
“How you do one thing is how you do everything.”
If you attend one of my nature-based therapy offerings, I will almost always offer this invitation by Thich Nhat Hanh: “Walk as though your feet are kissing the Earth.” Can you move upon the land gently, with love and care, and reverence for all she is?
If you can, you might be ready to tread some of your most tender inner landscapes as well. Meeting our most vulnerable parts requires an ability to move softly. To move with care. When we practice moving gently in nature, we acquaint ourselves with how to be in a reverent, respectful, and reciprocal loving relationship. This approach to relating can then be mirrored in our relationship with ourselves.
An Invitation
If you’re looking to deepen your relationship with the natural world, here’s one easy thing you can do this week.
Wander somewhere with access to more-than-human beings. This could be a park, riverside, or simply a city street with some trees. Move slowly, and allow your intuition to guide you toward a being you feel called to.
Once you’ve selected the being (tree, rock, river, squirrel, flower, etc.), spend a few moments allowing it to feel your presence. Notice how it feels to be in connection with this being. Eventually, introduce yourself, and give the being a chance to introduce itself back to you. If the being consents, you might explore its texture with your hands, or simply notice any sounds, smells, or visual details about this being. Then, when it feels right, ask this being if there is anything it wants you to know. See if you can lead with an open curiosity, and truly open the space to listen. What do you hear? How do you want to respond? Is there anything you want this being to know, too?
Finally, extend gratitude to the being for sharing space with you. Extend gratitude to yourself for taking the time to connect with other members of our Earth family. Notice how you feel.
A Nature-Based Therapy Offering Might Be For You If …
⊹ you are experiencing an existential loneliness or sense of non-belonging
⊹ you are having a hard time slowing down
⊹ you are holding grief or loss
⊹ you feel a desire to deepen your connection with the natural world
Ways to Bring Your Healing Outside
Nature-based therapy is a gentle, guided practice of attuning to your senses, your body, your inner experience, and the world around you. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your head, burnt out, or lonely, this work may offer a beautiful support to traditional therapeutic containers.
Click here to read about current nature-based therapy offerings in Los Angeles, including group gatherings, private sessions, and IFS intensives.
Take Your Healing Outside Today 🌿
Here at Therapy on Fig, we have trained therapists and nature-therapy guides who can safely support you in deepening your relationships with your internal and external worlds. Follow the steps below to book a nature-based offering today:
Reach out to schedule a free consultation.
Speak with a non-pathologizing therapist who specializes in holding these nature-based containers.
Remember that you are allowed to be here, exactly as you are ♥︎
Other Services Offered at Therapy on Fig
At Therapy on Fig, we provide therapy services tailored to the unique needs of couples, adults, and teens. We offer Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy, IFS Therapy, Therapy for Empaths, Trauma Therapy, Couples Therapy, Teen Therapy, ADHD Therapy, Group Therapy, Therapy for Entrepreneurs, Anxiety Therapy, Therapy for Autistic People, Depression Therapy, Premarital Counseling, LGBTQ Affirming Therapy, and CPTSD Therapy. Whether you're seeking support for a specific issue or looking to strengthen your relationship overall, our therapists are here to help. Reach out today to learn more about our services!
Marina Mendes is a Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (#15511) supervised by Sharon Yu, LMFT (#50028). As a mixed-race Asian American queer woman, introvert, and Highly Sensitive Person, my healing work is shaped by a deep understanding of what it means to feel "othered." I support individuals who feel misunderstood, embrace multifaceted identities, and value multicultural awareness. Reach out to learn more about our experienced therapists.