Nature-Based Therapy: Its Potential as a Complementary Approach to Treating Communication Disorders

Nature-based therapy (NBT) has been incorporated into the practice of many medical and mental health professions. Occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and to a lesser extent, speech-language pathologists have used NBT practices as a complementary means of treating a variety of physical, emotional, and cognitive disorders. This article includes a description of NBT and the three types that comprise the practice and a review of the literature demonstrating the use of NBT in the general population and, more specifically, with individuals with neurogenic communication disorders. It concludes with a discussion of directions for future research of NBT.

KEYWORDS

Nature-based therapy - animal-assisted therapy - horticultural therapy - natural environment therapy - complementary and alternative medicine - treating communication disorders - neurogenic communication disorders

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