Ecotherapy in Arizona
Healing with the land, the body, and the parts within.
Nature offers what many of us never received, steadiness, presence, and belonging
Ecotherapy brings therapy into relationship with the natural world. For many client especially indigenous, BIPOC, and trauma survivors being outdoors softens the nervous system in ways that an office or screen never can.
Land offers spaciousness. Trees offer grounding. Wind, sound, and the sky offer a rhythm that supports regulation and deeper internal awareness.
As a Dine’ therapist, I hold nature not as a tool, but as a relative, something that help us reconnect to ourselves, our body, our breath , and what our parts have been carrying.
Ecotherapy can be especially healing for client who feel:
disconnected from their body or intuition
overwhelmed, anxious, shut down, or “stuck”
distance from culture, community, or identity
trapped indoors, overstimulated, or isolated
safer in open spaces than in closed rooms
Nature is often where the system can finally exhale.
What Ecotherapy, nature-based therapy, helps with
Ecotherapy is supportive for:
trauma and PTSD
grief and complicated loss
identity and belong struggles
burnout and nervous system fatigue
somatic distress
emotional overwhelm
generational trauma
spiritual disconnection or meaning loss
How I practice Ecotherapy
My approach blends:
Somatic IFS- noticing sensations and parts while supported by land
sensory awareness- sound, movement, temperature, grounding
gentle ecopsychology practices-orienting, pausing, observing
breath and movement- guided by comfort and safety
symbolism and nature-based imagery- when parts communicate this way
slow, intuitive pacing- no pressure, no rushing
relationship with land- not extraction or technique
Ecotherapy session take place:
outdoors in Flagstaff
as “walk-and-talk” session
seated with the land as a co-therapist, and co-regulator
indoors using nature elements (sound, imagery, grounding objects) when needed
Every session is shaped around your needs, comfort, mobility, and safety.
A culturally grounded approach
For many Indigenous and BIPOC clients, healing outdoors feels more natural than sitting in an office.
It supports connection to:
identity
land
ancestry
story
breath
inner wisdom
I don’t treat land as a technique.
It is part of the relational field of therapy, a steady presence that supports your system.
And ecotherapy does not require you to be an outdoors person.
It simply invites nature back into the healing process in ways that feel comfortable and accessible.
Ecotherapy, Somatic Work, and Parts Work
Ecotherapy naturally complements the work you’re already doing internally.
Clients often notice that:
protectors soften more easily outside
young parts feel safe when the environment is open and quiet
grounding happens without effort
breath deepens without forcing
somatic sensations are easier to track
burdens feel less heavy in the presence of land
The land often holds what feels too much to carry alone.
What ecotherapy session feels like
Clients describe ecotherapy as:
grounding
clarifying
calming
freeing
spiritually attuning
supportive of dinner inner work
A session might include:
waling slowly while noticing the environment
sitting on the earth or leaning against a tree
letting parts speak while nature offers steadying cues
creating small rituals of acknowledgement
moments of silence that feel supportive rather than awkward
You do not have to be outdoors the whole time.
Your comfort and consent guide everything.
Is Ecotherapy right for you?
Ecotherapy may be a good fit if you:
feel calmer or clearer in nature
want therapy that honors land, culture, and lived experience
prefer movement or open space over sitting still in a room
want to bring your body into the healing process
feel disconnected from your sense of self or grounding
need a pace that feels gentle, intuitive, and relational
Whether we’re sitting under the sky or taking a mindful walk, ecotherapy can offer a different kind of space, one where your system feels held, not overwhelmed.
Begin your healing path
If nature-base therapy feels aligned with your system, I’d be honored to walk with you.