EcoWellness: The Missing Factor in Holistic Wellness Models

Nature, defined as "the elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals" ("Nature," n.d.), has been associated with many measures of wellness, including a reduction in symptoms of stress, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and anxiety, decreased recovery time from illnesses, and improvements in positive outlooks on life, concentration, and productivity (Guite, Clark, & Ackrill 2006; Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown, & St. Leger, 2005). Some authors claim these findings are grounded in an intuitive sense, if not a genetic need for humans to be connected with nature (Kellert & Wilson, 1993). Others believe humans possess an inherent "ecological unconscious" that either thrives or hurts from the depth to which humans are in contact with and connected to nature (Roszak, 1992). Both theories have been substantiated by an abundance of interdisciplinary literature found outside of counseling (Wilson, Ross, Lafferty, & Jones, 2008). Although the wellness effects of nature are clear, wellness models grounded in counseling have yet to explicitly account for such effects. For example, Myers and Sweeney's (2008) Indivisible Self model (IS-Wel) purports to be both holistic and contextual, yet nature is not specifically identified as a context or component of wellness. Furthermore, current approaches to counseling based in nature connections, such as adventure-based counseling (Hill, 2007), do not fully account for the impact the human-nature connection has on wellness or how the natural world can be integrated into counseling processes. As a consequence, models that claim to be holistic are in actuality missing an important component known to contribute to positive well-being. In this article, we introduce and define EcoWellness as a sense of appreciation, respect for, and awe of nature that results in feelings of connectedness with the natural environment and the enhancement of holistic wellness. We present models of wellness used in counseling and highlight the gap in relation to the human-nature connection. Dimensions of EcoWellness are explored through the perspective of interdisciplinary literature on the human-nature connection. A case example is provided, and implications for counseling practice and research are discussed. * Holistic Wellness Models in Counseling Wellness has been defined as "a way of life oriented toward optimal health and well-being, in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated by the individual to live life more fully within the human and natural community" (emphasis added; Myers, Sweeney, & Witmer, 2000, p. 252). This definition is the basis of both the Wheel of Wellness (Myers et al., 2000) and the IS-Wel (Myers & Sweeney, 2005). Both models share a foundation in Adlerian individual psychology and hence an emphasis on social interest, defined by Adler (i 927/1954) as a sense of community with others and the world around us (see Sweeney, 2009). The Wheel of Wellness (Witmer & Sweeney, 1992), a theoretical model, was developed from an interdisciplinary review of literature focused on quality of life over the life span, health, and longevity. The Wheel of Wellness includes five life tasks identified by Adler (1927/1954): spirituality (depicted as the core or central aspect of wellness), self-direction, love, friendship, and work. Self-direction includes an additional 12 subtasks, such as sense of humor, self-worth, and realistic beliefs. Witmer and Sweeney (1992) proposed the model as contextual and suggested that wellness is affected by education, media, government, and other factors, none of which explicitly refer to the impact human-nature interactions have on wellness. The IS-Wel (Myers & Sweeney, 2005) was developed through structural equation modeling of a database initially developed using the factors identified in the Wheel of Wellness (Myers & Sweeney, 2008). In this evidence-based model, wellness is defined as a higher order, global factor reflecting the indivisibility of the self. …