Emotional regulation through nature connection
Case study – child with anger
Connection with nature brings about deeper connection with self
This is a case study of a child who was expressing anger in unhelpful ways. Names have been changed, to maintain confidentiality.
Max got angry very easily, struggled to control his emotions and even small things could make him lose his temper. His parents had tried various ways to try and help him but were feeling pretty exhausted and overwhelmed themselves with failing to find successful strategies to lower the angry outbursts from their son that were both verbal and physical.
However, what Max’s parents had noticed was that when Max was outdoors he seemed more settled and happier in himself, so they started researching into therapists who worked with children outdoors. That’s how they came across me, as someone who works using the outdoors in a therapeutic capacity, to bring about emotional regulation through nature connection.
Max was initially reluctant to engage with coming along to therapy sessions in a woodland, but once he arrived, he was entranced by the wildness of the wood, the animal tracks he could follow and the opportunities for all kinds of fun such as fire making and den building. What Max found, over a period of just a few sessions, was that just being in the wood made him feel better inside. What was happening was that his emotions were soothed by his senses being engaged with nature, resulting in Max feeling a lot calmer and more at peace with himself.
Nature connection delivers a sense of joy
In one therapy session, as we were wandering through the woods, Max saw a deer with a young fawn and he was truly awestruck by the experience. He went home and started finding out more about the type of deer it was and all about them as a species. His parents were amazed at how Max not only became engrossed in what he was doing, which was something he usually struggled with, but how his general manner at home seemed calmer and not so prone to fly into his usual rages. Max just seemed happier and more content in himself, for longer periods of time at home, than had been the case previously.
What had happened was that Max had, through connecting with nature, learned about the pleasure and joy of relaxation and bringing focussed attention to the present moment. Once Max was able to access a more relaxed state he became more open to other therapeutic treatments, including IEMT (Integrated Eye Movement Therapy) to process memories that were effecting unhelpful emotions. IEMT was the therapy used to help Max explore how he came to feel the way he did, with a view to helping him reduce his emotional dysregulation.
Working with the parents was also part of the therapy treatment programme, providing them with strategies to use to help both Max and themselves. Changing behaviour was effected first through learning to relax in nature, followed by a more formalised therapy treatment programme suited to the particular need of both child and parent(s).
Find out more about how nature connection could help your child
The 20 acre woodland where I work is privately owned with no public access and is located near the town of Thrapston, in East Northamptonshire. f you think nature connection sessions could be helpful to your child then please get in touch by phoning or messaging me, Susan Collini, on 07483 234109, or use the contact form below and I will get back to you.
Book a free 30 minute discovery session
Originally posted 2023-08-26 16:35:13.
