Ecotherapy in Practice: EcoWellness Reduces Counselor Burnout

The mental health profession faces high levels of occupational stress and burnout, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to promote counselor well-being. Ecotherapy, or the integration of nature-based practices into clinical work, has been proposed as one such approach. This study examined the influence of ecotherapy practice on counselor burnout, with EcoWellness modeled as a mediating variable. Using a national sample of licensed mental health professionals (N = 1212), participants completed validated measures including the EcoWellness Inventory Short Form (EI-15) and the Counselor Burnout Inventory (CBI) Structural equation modeling was employed to test hypothesized relations. Results indicated that ecotherapists reported higher Social, Mental, and Environmental EcoWellness. In turn, higher mental EcoWellness related to less deterioration in personal life, and higher environmental EcoWellness related to less burnout associated with devaluing one’s clients. Findings suggest that cultivating counselors’ connection to nature may serve as a protective factor against burnout, highlighting both practical and theoretical implications for counselor training, supervision, and self-care.