Flow With Nature Treatment for Depression : Participants’ Experiences

Abstract
This study examined Flow with Nature (FWN) treatment, which is an integrative intervention (rehabilitation) based on eco and environmental psychology, psychotherapeutic theories and professional psychological practice. FWN is intended for depression rehabilitation with the help of social support, nature environments and FWN exercises. Exercises encourage sensing the environment, mindful awareness, psychological processing and focusing on the future. The FWN treatment proceeds in separate stages (horizon, growth and path), which emphasise nature, group (social support) and FWN exercises differently. This study focused on the experiences of the participants in the FWN treatment. Finnish adults who had been diagnosed with clinical depression took part in the FWN treatment (N=82) and answered feedback questions (by paper, electronic questionnaire or phone discussion). Answers were analysed using theory-based content analysis. Data were collected between spring 2019 and spring 2020. The majority of the participants were women (82%) and on average 44years old. Content analysis revealed that the participant feedback answers were in agreement with the central theoretical themes of FWN. The participants emphasised the significance of nature, social support and exercises differently. Moreover, the significance of these ingredients differed according to the stages of treatment: in the horizon stage restorative (e.g., fascination) and comprehensive nature experiences (e.g., connectedness with nature), in the growth stage social support (e.g., peer support) and in the path stage environmental self-regulation (e.g., nature as a part of life) were emphasised. These results are in accordance with the objectives of the stages and seem to support the phase-based rationale. The participants’ experiences of the key elements of the intervention, social support and nature environment were experienced mainly positively, which supports their inclusion in future intervention versions. In the future, FWN exercises should be developed to better enable participants’ possibilities for concentration and being present in the moment (mindfulness). Exercises should also be simplified to match the target group’s cognitive abilities.
Main Authors
Format
Articles Research article
Published
2022
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202201181172Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1664-1078
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.768372
Language
English
Published in
Frontiers in Psychology
Citation
  • Salonen, K., Hyvönen, K., Paakkolanvaara, J.-V., & Korpela, K. (2022). Flow With Nature Treatment for Depression : Participants’ Experiences. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 768372. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.768372
License
CC BY 4.0Open Access
Additional information about funding
Our study was funded by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).
Copyright© 2022 the Authors

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