Today, around 4.4 billion people live in cities. That’s more than half the world’s population, set to increase to almost 70% by 2050. While urban environments bring with them myriad benefits, from economic advantages to entertainment, they also often come with a lack of connection to nature — and it shows. Travel destinations, hotels and wellness centres around the world are catching on, offering a variety of outdoor therapies that promise to help visitors with their physical and mental wellbeing Dr Andrew Cuthbert is the clinical director of


Michigan-based mental healthcare practice Timber Creek Counseling. Dr Cuthbert deeply believes in the power of spending time outdoors in nature as being integral in helping to improve people’s mental health, and there’s a wealth of research to back him up. He notes that studies have shown the benefits of time spent outdoors include reduced


risk of psychiatric disorders, improved working memory, cognitive performance, emotional wellbeing and cooperative behaviour. “Funnily enough, as I sat down to refresh myself on this very topic, my brain felt jumbled from stressors, a long to-do list and general problems in my life,” he says. “After a walk in the woods, with leaves falling around me and the wind hitting my face, I returned with a clear mind.” As part of his practice, Dr Cuthbert combines


the “typical setup of getaway retreats with weekly therapy”, as he puts it, incorporating ‘walk and talk’ therapy into sessions and encouraging patients to spend time in nature as a complement to formal sessions. “We hold couples retreats away from the city in beautiful areas where we elevate the importance of being outside,” he explains. “Couples are encouraged to connect with their partner through play in the great outdoors and


have difficult conversations surrounded by nature, noting the impact the environment has on the conversation.” As more and more people recognise the


importance of spending time outdoors, destinations are rising to the challenge, creating an amazing breadth of wellness-promoting programmes that take place in beautiful natural areas, from forests and mountains to beaches and ranches. Activities such as equine therapy, float therapy, labyrinth walking, fly-fishing, surf therapy, flower therapy, outdoor sound healing and many more are popping up, developed by both mental health professionals and experts within each specific field. Dr Cuthbert loves the idea of them as a fun and creative way to support people’s mental health. “It’s encouraging to hear that more people are starting to explore these avenues for healing,” he concludes.


NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER – SPA & WELLNESS COLLECTION 23


IMAGE: ALAMY


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