Therapeutic Approach
Heartwood Philosophy
At the core of a tree you will find the heartwood. It is stronger and denser than the surrounding wood, and it is central to the integrity of every tree. At Heartwood we strive to create experiences that will foster a core foundation for integrity, virtue, and success.
At Heartwood we believe in a mind-body approach to health and healing. Not only do we help foster a healthy mindset and mental framework, we also focus on physical wellbeing (i.e. sleep hygiene, nutrition, and exercise). Exercise and movement are foundational to our program. When we move we regulate vital hormones, we increase the capacity for our brains to form new neural networks, and we improve the quality of our sleep. Simply stated, feeling good physically allows us to feel good mentally.
Unlike other wilderness programs that provide a one-time experience, Heartwood helps build community locally and over longer periods of time. This continuity supports our participants to build lasting and supportive peer relationships.
Heartwood supports a multi-tiered approach to health and wellbeing. We recognize that family dynamics and community involvement are critical aspects of individual wellness. Heartwood offers a wide range of services to accommodate varying individual and family needs.
Benefits of Nature
The majority of our youth today spend more time indoors on electronics than they spend outside. Studies have shown that both time spent indoors and problematic use of electronic devices are directly correlated to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Research has shown that there are tremendous benefits to spending time in natural environments.
People with access to nearby natural settings have been found to be physically and mentally healthier than other individuals. Even the act of simply seeing nature (e.g. through a window) is directly correlated to lower levels of stress and improved overall wellbeing. Empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence demonstrates that physical contact with nature, such as going on walks or hikes, positively impacts blood pressure, cholesterol, outlook on life and stress-reduction. Nature can even impact physical healing from injuries. One study that tested recuperation time of test subjects after exposure to a stressful stimulus revealed that subjects who were exposed to a natural setting had faster and more complete recuperation times than subjects who were exposed to urban environments.
It is not surprising that wilderness youth programs have been shown to have similar effects. One study that reviewed several outdoor programs found that a large majority of participants reported the experience as one of the most important in their lives. The same study showed profound positive benefits of nature on both personality and character development. Specific benefits included self-confidence, self- concept, self-esteem, autonomy, and capacity to cope. There was a clear carryover of effects from wilderness to urban settings. Results also indicate a strong increase in respect and appreciation for nature. Other notable benefits of wilderness programs are increased compassion, wisdom, introspection, and inner peace.
At Heartwood we strive to utilize the natural landscape to enhance our therapeutic interventions. When participants can feel more calm, confident, and capable they are better able to reflect on their own strengths and areas of limitations.
References
Berman, M., Kross, E., Krpan, K., Askren, M., Burson, A., Deldin, P., Kaplan, S., Sherdell, L., Gotlib, I., Jonides, J. (2008). Interacting with nature improves cognition and affect for individuals with depression. J Affect Disord, 140(3): 300–305.
Kaplan, S. and Talbot, J.F. (1983). Psychological Benefits of a Wilderness Experience. In: Altman, I. and Wohlwil, J.F., Eds., Behavior and the Natural Environment, Plenum, New York, 163-203.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3539-9_6
Kaplan. R. (1992) The Psychological Benefits of Nearby Nature. In: Reld, D., Ed., The Role of the Horticulture in Human and Social Development, Vol. 6, Timber Press, Arlington.
Kellert, S.R. and Derr, V. (1998). A National Study of Outdoor Wilderness Experience. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Leather, P., Pyrgas, M., Beale, D. and Lawrence, C. (1998). Windows in the workplace. Environment and Behavior , 30, 739–763.
Lewis, C. A. (1996). Green Nature/Human Nature: The Meaning of Plants in our Lives. University of Illinois Press, Urbana, Chicago.
Maller, C., Townshend, M., Pryor, A., Brown, P., Leger, L. (2006). Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promot Int.
Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A. and Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology , 11, 231–248.