Thesis (M.L.A.)--Ohio State University, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 256-272). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

There is much support for ecotherapy as a psychological intervention within the current literature. Research has indicated that ecotherapy does have a detectable therapeutic effect, particularly for programmes that run for more than 20 days. Furthermore, a number of studies have provided evidence ofthe effectiveness ofecotherapy in improving self-esteem and psychological health. However, research and evaluation ofecotherapy programmes have been plagued with poor quality studies with serious methodological problems. Many past evaluations ofecotherapy programmes have used anecdotal evidence and outcome-based interpretations. The current study evaluated the effectiveness ofthe N.P.A.T. KwaZulu Natal Midlands Ecotherapy Programme. The study focused on subjects' self-esteem and the manifestation ofpsychological symptoms as outcome measures. The experimental design employed three different experimental groups and a control group. All experimental and control groups were administered a pretest and posttest consisting ofthe Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised and the Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory-2. The pretest was administered before the ecotherapy programme. The experimental groups were administered the posttest one month after the ecotherapy programme. The control group were given no intervention, and were administered the posttest one month after the pretest. Pretest and posttest differences were tested for significance using repeated measures analysis ofvariance (ANOVA). No statistically significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups on the pretest and posttest. This suggests that the ecotherapy programme had no detectable effect on the experimental group subjects' self-esteem or the manifestation of psychological symptoms. The implications ofthese results and future considerations were discussed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Orientador: Sonia Regina de Cal Seixas / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T20:59:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Peres_SilviaMigueldePaula_D.pdf: 2267164 bytes, checksum: 6f0a8de998a054fce4f73733d77a3b3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Esta tese discute os processos saúde-doença a partir de enfoques diferenciados, ligados às vertentes terapêuticas atuantes no município de Ilhabela, SP. A maneira como cada terapeuta articula o conhecimento adquirido à sua prática de curar, traz a tona a questão da pluralidade cognitiva, reveladora de heterogêneas dimensões do ambiente incorporadas na saúde. Nesse aspecto, as vertentes terapêuticas se movimentam no interior de um amplo campo analógico que emerge das infinitas relações entre o ser-humano e a natureza, buscando soluções e metodologias das mais variadas para se alcançar a eficácia do tratamento, transcendendo a relação de causa e efeito linear. A partir do conceito de corporalidade, que remete à concepção do corpo como um feixe de relações que ultrapassam a cisão natureza/cultura, esta pesquisa se abre para a conexão do corpo com seu hábitat, pelo conceito de saúde ecossistêmica, buscando integrar à compreensão da saúde humana, a esfera socioambiental. Almejando contribuir para o debate aberto pelas discussões atuais em saúde e ambiente, a tese procurou dar conta da elaboração de uma dimensão orgânica - traduzida pelos processos históricos de urbanização e de degradação ambiental em Ilhabela, associados aos padrões saúde-doença mais evidenciados no município - até alcançar a dimensão simbólica - que remete às analogias recuperadas pelas diferentes vertentes terapêuticas - para, dessa maneira, pensar os processos de cura como resultado de uma interação saudável do ser humano com seu meio, abrindo perspectivas para a discussão da sustentabilidade a partir desses pressupostos. / Abstract: This thesis discusses the processes of health and disease from different methodological approaches related to therapeutic aspects in Ilhabela, SP. The way each therapist articulates their knowledge to their practice of healing, brings up the question of cognitive diversity, evidence of heterogeneous dimensions of the environment in health. The therapeutic aspects move within a broad field that emerges from the analog infinite relations between human beings and nature, looking for solutions to a variety of methodologies to achieve the effectiveness of treatment, going beyond the relationship of cause and linear effect. Based on the concept of corporality, which refers to the conception of the body as a series of relationships that go beyond the separation of nature/culture, this research opens the connection to the body with its habitat, the concept of ecosystem health, seeking to integrate the understanding of human health, the socioenvironmental sphere. Willing to contribute to the debate initiated by the current discussions in health and environment, this thesis was focused for the development of an organic imension - translated by historical processes of urbanization and environmental degradation in Ilhabela, associated with health and disease patterns more evident in the city - to reach the symbolic dimension - referring to the analogies recovered by the different therapeutic elements- in this way, think the healing process as a result of a healthy interaction of human beings and their environment, opening up the discussion of sustainability from these assumptions. / Doutorado / Aspectos Sociais de Sustentabilidade e Conservação / Doutor em Ambiente e Sociedade

The research on "The healing touch of Nature in the context of pastoral therapy" illustrated the role of Nature in bringing healing to individual people in an urban context in South Africa. The role Nature plays in connecting the participants with God and how this positively affects their daily lives, has been central in the research. Through their interaction with Nature, the participants lead richer, more meaningful lives and experience a greater sense of well-being. Nature stimulates and elicits response as the digital world is set against the calm energy and "warmth of the earth". Through connection with God in Nature, the participants translate the healing metaphor into more tangible "language" – the "beautifying effect" of Nature. It is not the words that captivate, but the thoughts which the words carry. Mostly the research tells the story of the experiential knowledge of living in the intimate presence of God and the healing power of God‘s presence. This narrative is about a kind of knowing that can only come through Nature. The research offers a way of seeing Nature that could influence pastoral care today. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

The research on "The healing touch of Nature in the context of pastoral therapy" illustrated the role of Nature in bringing healing to individual people in an urban context in South Africa. The role Nature plays in connecting the participants with God and how this positively affects their daily lives, has been central in the research. Through their interaction with Nature, the participants lead richer, more meaningful lives and experience a greater sense of well-being. Nature stimulates and elicits response as the digital world is set against the calm energy and "warmth of the earth". Through connection with God in Nature, the participants translate the healing metaphor into more tangible "language" – the "beautifying effect" of Nature. It is not the words that captivate, but the thoughts which the words carry. Mostly the research tells the story of the experiential knowledge of living in the intimate presence of God and the healing power of God‘s presence. This narrative is about a kind of knowing that can only come through Nature. The research offers a way of seeing Nature that could influence pastoral care today. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)