Eco-Art Therapy: Designing and Using Therapeutic Green Spaces

Eco-Art Therapy: Designing and Using Therapeutic Green Spaces

Date: Friday, February 6, 2026, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Nazareth University, Medaille Formal Lounge

‘Designing and Using Therapeutic Green Spaces’ empowers mental health professionals to create, use, and evaluate restorative environments that support treatment outcomes and client transitions out of care. This continuing education series is grounded in neuroscience, psychosocial development theories, and permaculture design. The program addresses mental health issues related to screen fatigue, sleep and circadian health, nutrition via therapeutic gardening, accessibility and safety outdoors, social justice and cultural attunement, and green group therapy.

Learning objectives:

1. Apply neuroscience/ psychophysiological evidence to explain how time in green-spaces reduces stress & supports mental health.
2. Integrate lifespan and multicultural perspectives to adapt interventions for diverse developmental stages and cultures.
3. Design safe, accessible, and permaculture-informed therapeutic spaces regardless of season.
4. Embed green-exposure goals (sleep hygiene, nutrition via gardening, movement) into treatment plans and transitions out of care.
5. Collaborate with clients to set measurable goals and document outcomes using validated assessments.
6. Implement risk management for green-space clinical work (e.g., cold weather, heat, lightning, boundaries, consent).
7. Evaluate program impact with practical frameworks to guide quality improvement.