ABSTRACT

Environmental arts therapy encourages human connection to nature, to others and between the internal and external world through myth, metaphor and art-making. In this chapter this process is contextualised within the wider ecology of an urban clientele’s relationship to the natural world. Facilitating connections in a therapeutic setting is considered through the process of projection.

Consideration is given to the synthesis of the theoretical models of Environmental Arts Therapy and Five Ways to Wellbeing which underpin the Community Outdoor Art Therapy Service (COATS). An exploration of three COATS therapeutic workshops are provided as illustrations:

Traditional myth and modern interpretations of ancient rituals

Four seasonally themed workshops for a therapeutic art community

Using metaphor to build connections between everyday experiences of nature and psychic processes

Outdoor well-being workshops commissioned by a national mental health charity

Direct, sensuous engagement through art-making

Monthly therapeutic workshops in a community garden using the senses and art-making to deepen participants connection with nature

Consideration is given to the context of each of the different projects – its aim, location and participants’ mental health or well-being needs.