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Foundation Two Discussion (June 2018 Intensive)
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13 Replies
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Where does Ecopsychology and Coaching come together? How does this blend add foundation to your interests as a Nature-Connected Coach. How might it fall short? What skills are needed?
I have to be honest, I found some of these papers really hard to read; they took me away from the simplicity of what Iâve some to be able to articulate about nature connection – the simplicity of the Coaching Skills book and the purity of the Coyote Guide – into an intellectual space of words that, for me, complicated the essence of nature connection.
That said, I really found value in the discussions in John Davisâ The Transpersonal Dimensions of Ecopsychology paper and John Scullâs Ecopsycholgy: Where does it fit in psychology. The way that they both discussed the distinct differences between psychiatry, psychology and ecopsychology was fascinating and stretched may brain in a way that really made me dig into understanding the differences, needs they each serve (application) and value they each bring for a given situation. In order to have informed opinions and truly guide in a wholistic way, I believe that it is imperative to be educated and informed on all modalities which exist. By being educated, you can then choose the path which speaks to your truth and be the guide you want to be.
I particularly loved the phrase âtrees, soils, streams and skies, animals and insects are coparticipants – subjects in their own right with their own precious needs and freedoms to preserveâ in Linda Buzzell and Craig Chalquistâs paper âPsyche and Nature in a Circle of Healing.â I am so often frustrated by the arrogance of humans who exert our will (not power!) over all other things and this concept of being an equal partner to all other things in our universe is a belief I hold true. (As an aside, this week there have been 10 deaths of the endangered white rhino because of manâs impact not only on the land on which these rhinos live but because man decided to relocate them to what they deemed to be a better location. 10/11 died! If you need a real-time and really distressing example of mansâ arrogance, both as we impact nature and the animal kingdom, you need look no further. (Positive intent but devastating impact.)
Theodore Roszak, in his paper âWhere psyche meets Gaiaâ, he tells us the âwitch doctors knew no other way to heal than to work within the context of environmental reciprocityâ and that concept of ecopsychology dates back millennia.
Again, in John Davisâ paper, his descriptions of peak vs plateau experiences was fascinating as I realized the possible transience of a peak experience which, in the moment feels so powerful but, without intention, does not sustain lasting change or transformation. It transported me back to the field at the Starhouse and guided me to question what my experience had been. I believe that, as powerful as it felt in the moment, many of my experiences were peak but, with intention and repetition, they have transformed into plateau experiences as I have put in place changes in my life which are immediate and will be lasting.
Where ecopsychology falls short, for me, is that it seems to create somewhat of a feeling of man-made and industrial is wrong and raw nature is best and I donât necessarily agree. I think that John Davis says it well when he says âHere is a difficult ridge to walk; to the left we have the ocean of organic and domestic tiers, to the right the abyss of atomic individualismâ. While I agree that my personal preference is for pure and raw nature, there is value in the argument that many places that are currently accessible to the average human, wouldnât be if it werenât for the intervention of man who has created navigable paths through our extraordinary landscape. Hence the ‘difficult ridge’.
John Scull reports that ecopsychology has been defined as âa field of inquiry rather than as a set of beliefsâ which lends itself well to the concept of surrendering our treadmill lifestyle to trust and openness.
All of these papers, in one way or another, state or imply (or at least I inferred) that perhaps ecopsycholgy is a term that is not needed; that itâs become an amalgamation of many different modalities, both ancient and modern. The danger is that without a clear differentiation from other modalities, it gets dismissed as faddish.
In summary – as I become a Nature Connected Coach, my preference would be not to label this style of coaching but instead to draw upon the partnership that Linda Buzzell and Craig Chalquist talked of. I consider myself fortunate to be received and supported by Mother Earth and will use her as my guide and, in my role as guide, encourage others to do the same. I want to embrace the unspoiled lands and the industrial so that we can co-exist in a healthy way which enables us to maintain balance, joy and calm. I believe that everything has the ability to heal if itâs utilized in the right way.-
Wendy: Interesting insights to the readings! I too felt that through all the papers, there were several definitions of ecopsychology, with many approaches, and yet almost this sense of ‘hoping’ that people would get on board, instead of defining it as an actual practice. Ecopsychology makes complete sense to me, but until it becomes something that is commonly talked about and practiced, I believe we will keep reading ‘papers’ by people that understand our connection to the earth and want others to see the light. Proud of you for getting through all the readings!
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Wendy, I really love your take on all of the readings. I love how youâve mentioned every author and their take on what ecopsychology is. I can feel your hurt and frustration when you talk about man killing off the white rhinos based on greed and power. I too have a difficult time understanding how humans donât understand that these impacts on the environment arenât just hurting the natural world but ourselves as well. Great ending paragraph as to why youâre a nature connected coach! Awesome pos
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Where does Ecopsychology and Coaching come together? How does this blend add foundation to your interests as a Nature-Connected Coach? How might it fall short? What skills are needed?
I will start with agreeing with Wendy, that this was a lot of reading to do prior to an initial response! However, I was really curious about Ecopsychology, as I keep seeing books I want to read that are written by Ecotherapists. That being said, I feel like I learned a lot and have a better understanding of what this approach entails. I couldnât help but think of you Amanda, as your love for the environment and connection to the Earth seems so strong!
One of the first quotes that stood out to me was by Theodore Roszak when he said; âWe are living in a time when both the Earth and the human species seem to be crying out for a radical readjustment in the scale of our political thought.â Which also brought me back to the Starhouse when Michael said, âWhat better time than now, to become a Nature Connected Coach?!â This world is in such turmoil on an environmental, political and social level, that now IS the time to begin bringing people back to their deep connection to the earth. Another quote that made me think of this was from the 1990 Harvard Conference: Psychology as if the Whole Earth Mattered; âif the self is expanded to include the natural world, behavior leading to destruction of this world will be experienced as self-destruction.â That was something to ponder for a minute, and would be a really interesting icebreaker at a dinner party with people you didnât know!
I really enjoyed John Scullâs article Ecopsychology: Where does it fit in psychology? I like his statement about Ecopsychologyâs goal being to discover how people can connect with the natural world in ways that are healthy and sustainable for both the people and the planet. I agree with this and see this as an important piece to my work as a coach. To me, the environment and Mother Nature (or Gaia, if you will), is an important part my life, and my experiences in it have been transformative. I want my clients to understand this and experience it for themselves. I resonated with Mary Gomes quote (1998), when she wrote that âecopsychologyâŠseeks to understand and heal our relationship with the Earth. It examines the psychological processes that bond us to the natural world or that alienate us from it.â It is very apparent to me that many people in our human species, over thousands of years, have moved away from their connection and even dependency on the earth. People have lost their emotional bond with the earth, and with this disconnect have been destroying the environment and losing their sense of self. In T. Roszakâs Epilogue: Ecopsychology- The Principles, he writes, âIf ecopsychology has anything to add to the Socratic-Freudian project of self-knowledge, it is to remind us that there is more self to know.â We are and always have been a part of this Earth. âIt has created from Nothing the Everything that includes us.â
Something else that really stood out for me from the readings was the use of experiential learning/education as a focus of Ecopsychologists. In my past I have been involved with experiential learning as a student and as a teacher. What happens in these experiences are exciting, challenging and can be life-changing! John Scull writes, âExperiential learning aimed at helping people form a spiritual and emotional connection to the Earth. Wilderness experiences create non-verbal experiences that are therapeutic.â There is nothing quite like being caught in a lighting drill for an hour on the banks of alligator filled rivers in Florida with a bunch of teenage boys, who presented a big front, only to be reduced to crying in their rain gear, because the power of Nature instilled the fear of God in them. Or watching young girls choose the horse they want to work with during Equine Therapy sessions, and seeing how much the horse reflects the outward personality of the child. Maybe itâs the joy you see when a kid creates sparks or âbusts a coalâ when bow drilling a fire, because they spent time picking the perfect wood for spindles or Nature providing them with the perfectly curved branch to make a bow with.
These are the moments where the environment and nature have shown me beautiful experiences. The growth that comes out of these experiences is how I see ecopsychology playing a major part in my work as a coach. The only way I see this falling short for me is if my client is incredibly resistant and canât see their connection to the Earth. But then again, maybe I wonât choose to work with them.-
Lauren, I loved the pictures of connection that you painted: the crying boys, the girls choosing horses, starting fires. These are so relate-able on a human level- heavy emotion/fear, choice, empowerment. Your writing reminded me of the importance of bringing the ecopsychological theory into tangible, accessible forms– which each of you will do through your coaching. You named the serious problems of disconnect from ourselves/Nature and how (re)connection is a huge opportunity and necessity to find our way to a better world.
Much of the ecopsychology reading that I’ve found points to individuals and culture really identifying with what they LOVE- from nature, to family, to relationships, to health. What we love is always a more powerful motivation for action, commitment and joy (rather than guilt or scientific data). Imagine how coaching helps to connect our clients with what they truly love and want to live for. Imagine how if it happens while being held within the awe-filled container of nature and connection. Magic! Have fun out there being your wild self. đ
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Lauren, I really enjoyed your post. I really enjoyed at the end how you brought in your own personal experiences with experiential learning to what John Scull says about ecopsychology. I think that both the reading and your personal experience blend nicely together and I really appreciate you making that connection. I can feel the love for your students in this post which touches me in a way to remember that children need nature connection just as much as adults do. Great post!
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Where does Ecopsychology and Coaching come together? How does this blend add foundation to your interests as a Nature-Connected Coach. How might it fall short? What skills are needed?
I really enjoyed reading âA Psyche as Big as the Earthâ by Theodore Roszak because I resonated so much with what he was saying about a lack of social consciousness when it comes to harming our planet, or so we both had thought at one time. When I was in college I felt like I needed to become activated environmentally and politically because I wanted to do something about the constant destruction to our planet that humans were causing. Just like Roszak, there was a period of time where I would scold people for using disposables or throwing cigarette butts on the ground or driving hummers with giant mufflers. And although all of that still grinds my gears, itâs much bigger than a la-dee-da choice that people are making, itâs engrained into them unknowingly. Iâve had countless conversations with people who support what Clean Water Action does, tell me the good they try to do for the world, environmentally speaking, but still struggle on what to do when they need a straw or plastic bags or need to get to work because thereâs no access to public transportation, or love to go shopping because itâs therapeutic but know they throw massive amounts of stuff away and donât know where it goes. Iâve heard it all. When Rozsak said, âSo here we have some very bad but intriguing environmental habits, one of flight from depression, the other the search for solitude. This is not the behavior of monsters, but of troubled human beings trying to cope with jobs and families while the world around them seems to be turning to dust and ashes.â This quote in particular hits such a sensitive part in my soul because Iâve felt this way about myself, my family, friends, contacts and complete strangers. Everyone is doing the best they can to feed their families, keep a roof over their heads, to continue to love and be loved and yet we can feel stuck in this paradox of knowing what weâre doing or using is a destruction to our own demise but we do it anyways because we feel the alternative to too hard or foreign.
Ecopsychology and coaching go hand in hand in my eyes. I feel that when it comes to disposables or shopping or buying cars (that you donât necessarily need) there is a lack of education, and a lot of times a lack of caring to know because itâs easier not to know. So for people that are stuck in a rut or depressed or feel like they canât fix their day to day situation, nature connected coaching is a way of showing them, allowing them to experience, a completely ânewâ way of life. I put ânewâ in quotes because to a lot of people the industrialized way of our society is the norm. It is abstract and possibly insane for some to think that the natural world can heal us of our pain, can give us answers we never had before, to feel this overwhelming sense of love and acceptance by something that is not human. Moreover, ecopsychology not only gives perspective on how and why the present day of industrial society is madness, but how people are coping and executing their way of life in environmentally toxic and self-destructive patterns. As a nature connected coach, I think that itâs extremely important to understand the psychology of why one does the things they do and dig down into a deeper meaning of where this person retained this way of life, the habits they created and to look inward to the meaning of why they think they cannot change it. Being out in the natural world is the home that industrialization is built on, so getting a person to see and feel and look inwardly at their environmentally destructive habits is a way for them to see how they arenât just hurting the environment by doing these things, they are harming themselves in a great way.
This blend adds foundation to my coaching because I think itâs extremely important to gain an understanding of why a person does certain things and thinks a certain way and to meet them where theyâre at, ask thought provoking questions that they may have never been asked before. If they are seeking a change in their life, itâs important to know how they got to this place and what are some of the day-to-day ânormsâ they find they canât do or be without. Is that making coffee in a paper or plastic cup, keeping the water on while they wash dishes or brush their teeth, buying things they know they donât need, throwing different kinds of chemicals and other forms of waste down the drain? These ânormsâ may seem so microscopic to them but bringing them to light and educating the effects of these things can open a personâs eyes to their own destruction.
Furthermore, the skills that are needed are to ask questions in a way that are not leading them down a path they have not gotten to yet. Another skill, specifically for me, is the understanding that they have these destructive habits and are not aware or care that they have them so I need patience. Patience to allow them to speak their mind, give reasons why they do these things and think this way and give them a safe space to do so. Mostly, coach without judgement and give out love to anyone who is seeking help to better themselves.-
Amanda,
I love your passion and love for the Earth! It pours out of you constantly. I really liked your citing of Roszak in your post. It makes a lot of sense that you would choose that quote based on your beliefs and the struggles that you have with people around you not necessarily sharing the same beliefs or being seemingly uneducated. I feel like you hold these beliefs close to your heart, and I think that you should keep this in the forefront of your coaching. You may be surprised with how many people you can connect with and/or shift their perspective/beliefs so that we continue to be able to live on this Earth.
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Wendy, I really love your take on all of the readings. I love how you’ve mentioned every author and their take on what ecopsychology is. I can feel your hurt and frustration when you talk about man killing off the white rhinos based on greed and power. I too have a difficult time understanding how humans don’t understand that these impacts on the environment aren’t just hurting the natural world but ourselves as well. Great ending paragraph as to why you’re a nature connected coach! Awesome post!
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Summary:
Ecopsychology and nature connected coaching go hand in hand. The world is a beautiful place and how it functions, grows, changes, dies, is all part of life. We are one with the Earth and function in similar ways. Being able to observe these phases is important as a human living on this planet, but we can use these observations to connect with nature and our clients. Not everyone will be on the same page as those of us that are nature lovers and involved in this program, but I truly believe that ecopsychology and nature connection makes our lives richer. To me, the two together make sense in the most beautiful way. But then again, I suppose that’s why I started this course! -
Summary
To help people understand what nature connection is no simple task. As guides, we may find people who don’t mean to be harmful to our planet and yet they are. There is an lens that carries over many of us and to break out of a lens can be difficult if you are unaware or unwilling. As a guide, I hope to inspire people to break their molds and create a driving force of change; change of habits, behaviors and the way humans correlate with nature. Not everyone thinks their is a connection and that is why I’ve been called to do this work. I’ve been called to create an awareness of what is around them, even if it’s not effecting them personally. I’ve been called to start the conversation and create an expanded understanding of what this planet is for us. -
I’m responding to both Lauren and Amanda’s post (since I’m behind!) as all three of us clearly are bonded to Nature and, as Lauren says, Gaia. They both speak from their souls, Lauren with vivid examples from her own life experience, and Amanda from her professional life experience. It’s really about how we remind people that we are not separate from Nature, Earth, our planet but that we a part of it. Amanda, you make sense when you talk about self destruction; it’s so true – that’s what we are doing, every day. Even I in my mountain home, have contributed to the destruction of the forest where my home was built. It’s a conundrum; how to live in this world and have minimum negative impact on it…
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Summary:
As I think about my goal of bringing Nature into corporate America, I know it’s going to be critical to find the right language so that people can be open to the concept that we are one with Nature and our planet. It makes so much sense to me and the only way I can think of is to use personal experience as the ‘hook’ and then find ways to help people experience it for themselves.
Many of us point fingers at others when it’s easy to see something obviously harming the planet – exhaust fumes, plastic, cigarettes…but even those of us who are trying to live consciously and ethically contribute to the destruction. I want to do my small part to bring people back to Nature in a way which has a multiplying effect; we all need to role model the behavior. My current favorite quote by Gandhi “you have to be the change you wish to see in the world”.
