ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the third ‘strand’ of ideas presented by ‘Therapeutic Landscapes’ theory, concerned with the meanings of places and how their symbolic character relates to mental health. Imagined spaces and perception of the significance of places are associated with different mental states. The discussion extends to some reflections on ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ ways of perceiving space. It draws on theories from environmental psychology, as well as geography, about attachment, displacement and stigma to illustrate the importance of places for one’s sense of security, identity and self-worth. Certain places have special symbolic, as well as material and social importance. For example, this chapter discusses examples including: the significance of religious sites of spiritual significance, ‘faith spaces’ and ‘home spaces’; that are important for psychological and emotional health. Most of these examples illustrate imagined spaces that are supportive for mental health or are therapeutic for those suffering mental distress, but some imagined spaces have a more sinister aspect. This chapter also discusses examples of obsessive and phobic relationships with space. The symbolic values attributed to space and place are seen to be closely linked to the material and social aspects of environment already considered in earlier chapters of this book.
