
Animals are not objects but sentient beings that one has a relationship with. Instead of being a tangible part of the human brain, consciousness is understood to also be embedded in the world and environment. The term “ecodelia” was coined by David Luke to describe this intersection of ecopsychology and psychedelics. Ecopsychology is a branch of psychology that approaches the mind differently than Freud, the father of psychotherapy. In the Ecotherapy model, therapists and practitioners approach the psyche from a different perspective. Nature Therapy has many ideations and frameworks, each one applicable to certain conditions more than others, but always grounded in the idea that every organism, whether Earth or human, seeks healing and homeostasis. But before we dive into research on psychedelics and nature-relatedness, let’s touch on Nature Therapy, often called Ecotherapy. If the claims about psychedelic medicine’s ability to enhance feelings of nature-relatedness are valid, combining psychedelics with the field of Nature Therapy can lead to profound healing modalities. But at the intersections of medical anthropology and psychedelic therapy lies an emerging field of study that some say is the future of psychedelic therapy. Others investigate the mystical-type experience and spiritual dimensions of psychedelic healing rituals. Most psychedelic research studies focus on mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, or substance use disorders.
