Nature Therapy for City Folks

We create this content from the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations. As settlers providing therapy services in so-called Vancouver, we’re committed to moving beyond acknowledgment into active accountability and supporting Indigenous sovereignty.

In This Article:

• Why ‘Just Go Forest Bathing’ Isn’t Always the Answer
• Moving Beyond Colonial Views of Nature
• Simple Ways to Connect with Nature (No Hiking Boots Needed)
• Making Nature Connection Work for Your Body and Space
• Building Community Through Nature Connection
• Starting Your Nature Connection Journey
• Essential Tips for Urban Nature Connection

Living in Vancouver often brings unique pressure to “get out in nature.” While mountain views and ocean access surround us, these spaces aren’t equally accessible to everyone. Throughout our busy days, connecting with nature might feel like another task on your endless to-do list. Consequently, when someone suggests “just go forest bathing,” you might want to scream into your apartment plant (assuming it survived last week).

Why ‘Just Go Forest Bathing’ Isn’t Always the Answer

Jenny Odell’s transformative book “How to Do Nothing” explores resistance against the attention economy. Yet, ironically, our capitalism-driven world has transformed even “doing nothing” into a commodity. These days, simple acts of nature connection now seem to require expensive gear and Instagram-worthy locations.

Here’s the thing about living in so-called Vancouver: many of us are juggling multiple jobs just to afford rent in this beautiful but expensive city. Between long commutes on transit and various community commitments, finding time for nature often feels impossible. Plus, many outdoor spaces weren’t designed with our communities in mind, which adds another layer of complexity to the whole “just get outside” advice.

Think about it – when you’re managing work, life, and maybe trying to figure out if therapy is right for you, the last thing you need is another well-meaning person telling you to “just” do anything. Especially when that suggestion doesn’t consider your lived experience, comfort level, or cultural relationship with outdoor spaces.

These barriers aren’t personal failures. They’re the result of systemic challenges created by colonial capitalism – the same system that’s disconnected many of us from our traditional relationships with land and nature.

Moving Beyond Colonial Views of Nature

Before we dive into practical approaches, let’s talk about something important: our relationship with nature exists within broader systems of power and privilege. Indigenous peoples have maintained deep, reciprocal relationships with these lands since time immemorial. Their connection to this land isn’t just history – it’s ongoing, alive, and vital.

As settlers in so-called Vancouver, we have a responsibility to move beyond the wellness industry’s extractive approach to nature connection. This means understanding that different communities hold different relationships with natural spaces, shaped by culture, history, and lived experience. Through active learning and engagement, we can support Indigenous sovereignty while developing our own authentic connections to nature. That’s why all of Venturous’ proceeds from our walk & talk and nature-based therapy sessions go towards mutual aid and Indigenous resistance efforts.

Simple Ways to Connect with Nature (No Hiking Boots Needed)

Here’s some good news: connecting with nature doesn’t require expensive equipment or perfect weather. In fact, meaningful moments can emerge throughout your day in unexpected ways. Your relationship with nature might begin right where you are.

Consider feeling the water flowing over your skin during your morning shower. Throughout the day, you might tend to a small potted plant on your windowsill. As evening approaches, try noticing the way sunlight moves across your room.

Whether joining us online or in person, nature connection can adapt to your space and energy levels. Begin with one small plant that matches your lifestyle. Throughout the week, create a tiny altar with natural objects that speak to you. During quiet moments, explore nature sounds and guided meditations that bring the outdoors in.

Making Nature Connection Work for Your Body and Space

At Venturous, we understand that every body connects with nature differently. Through our blend of somatic, sensorimotor, and expressive arts therapies, we’ve learned that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to nature connection.

Some days, virtual nature experiences from the comfort of home might feel most nurturing. At other times, gentle observation from your favorite chair could provide the perfect connection. Throughout your journey, you might discover that sound, touch, or creative expression offers the most meaningful pathway to nature connection.

The key isn’t forcing yourself into someone else’s idea of nature connection. Instead, focus on discovering what feels authentic and accessible for your body, your space, and your life.

Building Community Through Nature Connection

Experience has taught us that nature connection becomes more sustainable through collective approaches. When communities share resources, knowledge, and support, new possibilities emerge for everyone.

In practice, this might look like trading plant cuttings with neighbors or sharing tips about which plants thrive in Vancouver apartments. Through collective care, some folks organize accessible nature experiences while others build mutual aid networks around nature access. Together, communities can exchange cultural knowledge about plant medicine and healing.

The beauty of collective care shines brightest when individual capacity fluctuates. On low energy days, community members might water your plants. During stronger moments, you could share your favorite nature meditation recording with others.

Starting Your Nature Connection Journey

Let’s be clear about something: your nature practice doesn’t need to be perfect or Instagram-worthy. Rather than following someone else’s path, focus on building a relationship with nature that works for your real life.

Start with one tiny plant on your windowsill. Throughout the week, spend five minutes cloud-watching during lunch breaks. As seasons change, notice the shifts through your apartment window. Each of these approaches offers a valid way to begin.

Above all, remember that you’re not alone in this journey. Whether connecting online or in person, we’re here to support your exploration of nature connection in ways that honor your whole self – your body, your culture, your experiences, and your needs.

Essential Tips for Urban Nature Connection

While connecting with nature in the city presents challenges, numerous pathways exist:

• Begin where you are: sustainable practices matter more than perfect ones
• Recognize your capacity: systemic barriers are real, and working with them (not against them) is key
• Embrace tiny moments: from shower meditations to plant care, every connection counts
• Discover your way: whether virtual or in-person, choose what works for you
• Create community: we’re stronger when we share resources and support
• Stay grounded: remember that decolonial approaches support collective liberation

Ready to Explore Nature-Based Healing?

At Venturous Counselling, we understand that nature connection looks different for everyone. Through our integrated approach combining somatic, sensorimotor, nature-based, and expressive arts therapies, we offer both virtual and in-person support for your journey.

Take our 3-minute questionnaire to receive personalized counsellor recommendations, or book a free consultation directly to explore how our flexible approaches might support your wellbeing.

Looking for more resources? We recommend Jenny Odell’s “How to Do Nothing” for deeper insights into resisting the attention economy and building meaningful relationships with our environment.

Additional Resources

Check out other resources for your mental health here. Our free resource database includes materials on justice-oriented healing, cultural perspectives on mental health, and accessible wellness practices.

City life can be overwhelming, but reconnecting with nature offers a powerful way to restore balance and well-being. Our approach to Nature-Based Therapy in Vancouver provides a unique opportunity to heal through outdoor experiences, helping individuals find peace and clarity in natural surroundings.

Even in the midst of urban landscapes, healing and freedom are possible. Liberation in the City explores how nature, community, and intentional practices can create spaces for rest and restoration.

Incorporating the outdoors into therapy can foster deep healing, allowing individuals to reconnect with themselves and the world around them. With Nature as Co-Therapist, we embrace the restorative power of the natural environment to support emotional well-being and personal growth.