Published 2023-11-30 — Updated on 2023-12-01
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- 2023-12-01 (2)
- 2023-11-30 (1)
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How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2023 Marcella Danon, Stefano Orlando, Teresa Amato, Maria Rosaria Barillari, Filippo Bucciarelli, Maura Perrone
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The purpose of this mini review is to provide an updated definition of Ecopsychology as an emerging discipline that focuses on the investigation of psychological, emotional, and cognitive dynamics that define our relationship with the natural world, highlighting how this relationship influences not only individual well-being but also the health of the planet, while recognizing that human beings are inextricably linked to the Earth's ecosystem. Additionally, it aims to provide a description of the key historical milestones and actors involved in the development of this field, with particular attention to the evolution of the International Ecopsychology Society (IES) and the academic landscape within which the debate on Ecopsychology takes place in Italy and worldwide.
The attempt is to trace the trajectory that this interdisciplinary field has been taking over time, with a specific focus on Ecopsychotherapy as its psychotherapeutic application, and its connection with phenomenology and humanistic psychotherapies. Therefore, it proceeds to describe concepts such as the "natural bond" and the clinical studies and meta-analyses conducted by scholars from around the world, which indicate an overall positive outcome of ecotherapy interventions: nature that guides growth, reflects healthy qualities that evoke internal harmony with change, and provides a broader and interconnected perspective on life and self.
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