Certificate in Ecotherapy

The Ecotherapy Certificate will offer training in evidence-supported approaches for transforming the human relationship to nature in the service of healing and well-being. These deep approaches, fashioned for both personal- and community-level work, include horticultural therapy, animal-assisted therapy, time stress management, managing “eco-anxiety,” and critically analyzing the media's role in the debate about mass-produced food.

The certificate program, which can be completed in one year, offers students the opportunity to learn theory and information online and practice by participating in two three-day intensive meetings in person.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Certificate in Ecotherapy will be able to:

• Apply a variety of nature-based techniques for use in social and psychological healing.
• Understand and discuss the research supporting the field of ecotherapy.
• Mentor their communities of origin in the psychological, scientific, somatic, and systemic dimensions of sustainability. This includes a capacity for translating ecological concepts into understandable terms and educational images in a variety of media.
• Enter intelligently into the scientific, financial, and political discourse surrounding sustainability, localization, alternative energy, food production, and climate change.
• Offer constructive alternatives to “eco-anxiety,” the deep fears aroused by accelerating climate change.
• Challenge and change entrenched attitudes and biases that prevent adaptation to environmentally wise solutions and habits.
• Apply learnings gained within an internship work setting. 

Requirements

Courses
CNS 5820 - Intensive I: Methods and Practices of Ecotherapy  (2 units)
CNS 5822 - Dimensions of Holistic Sustainability  (3 units)
CNS 5824 - Horticultural Therapy (3 units)
CNS 5826 - Healing the Human-Nonhuman Relationship (3 units)
CNS 5828 - Intensive2: Self-Nature Healing Work (2 units)
CNS 5832 - Earth, Body and Spirit A, B, C (1/1/1 unit)
CNS 5830 - Ecopsychology and Ecotherapy as Cultural Work (3 units)
CNS 5833 - Intensive 3: Body, Nature, Place (2 units)
CNS 5834 - Ecotherapy Internship (3 units)

Total units required: 24

Program Information

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Online Education

This program is available online.

Program Locations

• Pleasant Hill - Main Campus

Related Downloads

• Ecotherapy Application Requirements and Form