This monographic issue, unlike many issues of the journal, focuses on health rather than on pathology, on protective factors rather than on risk factors and broadly outlines a historical excursus of the “positive” perspective in the medicine-psychology interface. It is known that since the Second World War, the WHO has defined the concept of health […]
Year 2022 year 17
Man and nature: an ancient but still unresolved relationship
The man-nature relationship has been construed in different ways in different cultures but over time there has been a progressive accentuation of the anthropocentric vision. The possible causes of this cultural process are considered, with particular reference to technological capabilities, as well as its implications.
A brief review of the theoretical models and of the measures used to study the man-nature relationship leads to the conclusion that the very division between man and nature is a limit to an ecosystemic vision, more functional both on a theoretical level (models) and at a operational (interventions to maintain environmental balance).
The effects of natural contexts on mental health and well-being: a brief summary of the literature
ABSTRACT The problem. In the last ten years, a large number of studies have been aimed at defining and evaluating the restoration of well-being (mental, emotional and physical) attributable to natural environments. In general, natural environments are usually experienced as more “regenerating” than urban or man-made environments. However, how much the natural environment is perceived as […]
The therapist’s toolbox in nature
After briefly summarizing the beneficial effects, on a physiological and psychological level, of contact with nature, the main aspects of the setting are considered, the places, the recipients, the characteristics of the therapist who decides to work in nature, the different roles they co- ver and the types of activities organized in the natural environment. Having described the spe- cific tools, techniques and skills of the therapist in nature, Nature Therapy is defined, which can be considered a form of psychotherapy: two people – client and therapist –and the relation- ship that develops between them, to which Nature is added as partner and co-therapist. Nature Therapy can be implemented in various ways: Forest Therapy, Adventure Therapy, Wilderness Therapy, Ecotherapy. The best known and most studied is the forest bath. These experiences involve the five senses and numerous psychophysiological functions. Finally, Mountain Therapy and Walking Therapy are described, along with some examples of their implementation.
Nature Therapy: Review of Evidence-Based Programs
La consapevolezza derivante dalle prove di un aumento dell’incidenza del disagio e della psicopatologia in contesti urbani, dovuta a variabili strutturali in essi predominanti, richiede lo studio e la ricerca di interventi facilmente attuabili per la maggior parte delle persone, in contesto individuale, privato o istituzionale, e con una rilevante efficacia terapeutica, preventiva o promozionale per la salute fisica e mentale.
In questo lavoro si presenteranno i risultati di una rassegna sistematica, effettuata con il metodo PRISMA, sugli effetti salutogeni degli interventi basati sulla natura (NBT), una classe di interventi che sfrutta in chiave terapeutica elementi presenti negli ambienti naturali.
Le evidenze vagliate ne dimostrano l’efficacia in termini di costi/benefici (materiali e di tempo) e la facilità di attuazioni in contesti privati e/o istituzionali.
Tali caratteristiche rendono questi interventi fortemente appetibili per la pratica terapeutica e per la progettazione di politiche pubbliche o aziendali orientate alla salute e al benessere delle persone.
Promote well-being to promote mental health
The consideration that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO) makes it appropriate to consider mental health and mental illness as two related but distinct factors. Therefore the absence of mental illness does not imply the presence of mental health understood as a condition of completely mentally healthy functioning (flourishing), just as the absence of mental health does not imply the presence of mental illness but could lead to the condition of languishing (Keyes).
In diagnostic terms, the usefulness of operationalizing and adopting the diagnosis of mental health can be underlined. If you want to promote well-being, you must be able to document the degree of well-being before and after the intervention.
In clinical and applicative settings, two relevant examples in line with the repercussions of the WHO definition of mental health are represented by Well-being Therapy and Subjective Well-Being Training. The first proposal, elaborated by Fava, is based on the idea of inserting a phase of well-being promotion in place of relapse prevention to complete the therapeutic process. The second proposal, elaborated by Goldwurm starting from the Fordyce model, is based on the idea that it is important to promote complete well-being in the general population.
Positive psychology can help to understand the role of a person’s strengths and well-being in counteracting the development of mental illness, improving both the understanding of aetiological mechanisms and the treatment of treatment-resistant disorders. Scientific and applied research need an integrated perspective that overcomes the positive/negative opposition.
Historical archive – 2022 – Year 17 – N° 1-2-3
In memory of Stan Maes Health Psychology in Cardiovascular Health and Disease