
Gardening for better mental health – as summer is here many of us are taking advantage of the nicer weather and getting out into the garden, enjoying the sunshine, BBQs and the fresh air. We have a number of other blogs on this website that explain the benefits of spending time in nature.
Plant Therapy – Nature’s Impact on our Mental Health
Exercise & Mental Health – Developing a Practice
The Therapeutic Benefits of Nature
Gardening is a great source of exercise which is good for your mental health but studies have also shown that gardening can help with significant reductions in depression and anxiety and improved social functioning. Gardening can also help maintain independence and prevent cognitive decline.
It is clear that getting into your garden this summer could have a positive impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. Start small, just mow the lawn, or work on a small area or just perhaps go out for 15 minutes a day. If you don’t have a garden consider indoor plants and if this isn’t possible make a proactive effort to go out and spend time in nature wherever you can.
Paul Carter is an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner as well as a counsellor, psychotherapist. If you are looking for support, call Paul Carter now to book an appointment or to discuss your issues further. At the moment, Paul is only working online or the telephone due to COVID. To make an appointment please call Paul on 07843 813 537 or fill in the form on the Contact Page, if he doesn’t answer he is probably in a session, please leave him a message and he will call you back as soon as he can.