Patricia Hasbach, PhD, former ecopsychology program co-director and leading practitioner in the field of ecotherapy, has retired after more than 13 years of service to Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.
Carol Doyle, interim counseling, therapy, and school psychology chair and co-director of the ecopsychology program, expressed great appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Hasbach as co-director of the program for the last three years, and for her insights into ways to improve the certificate and ensure its accessibility to as many students as possible.
“As one of the founding faculty members of the Ecopsychology in Counseling Certificate, Pat has been the heart of the program for the last 13 years,” said Doyle. “Her knowledge and expertise have been an invaluable resource for the program and have ensured that our students received the highest level of education related to the certificate.”
Hasbach is also a licensed professional counselor, clinical psychotherapist, and author. She continues to be a national expert in the fields of ecopsychology and ecotherapy. Although she has retired from the graduate school, Hasbach is still serving clients at her private practice in Eugene, Oregon and has recently published a new book: Grounded, A Guided Journal to Help You Reconnect with the Power of Nature—and Yourself.
On behalf of the entire graduate school, Doyle extends her heartfelt gratitude for Pat’s collaboration and service to the ecopsychology program, and wishes her well in her retirement!
We know deep within us that contact with nature is good for our psychological and physical health. A mountain of scientific evidence confirms that it reduces stress, relieves attention fatigue, eases depression and anxiety, and fosters creativity. Interactions with the natural world can ground us, offer a sense of belonging, deepen the roots of resilience, and enhance our sensory awareness that contributes to feeling fully alive. After all – We Are Nature!
But at no time in our species’ history have we been more removed for the natural world. With back-to-back Zoom meetings and our phones in constant reach, we average nearly 12 hours each day connected to some form of media. Research shows that people who report strong connectedness to nature are happier and are more likely to report feeling that life is worthwhile.
So how do we find the time to integrate the natural world into our already busy lives?
Inspired by the practice of ecotherapy, this interactive journal invites the reader to reflect on their relationship with nature, and offers a variety of activities to engage more intentionally with the natural world.
