Why We Need to Expand Our Definition of "Community" to Include Nature
In social work and psychology, we talk a lot about "systems." One of the most famous models is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Picture a set of Russian nesting dolls or ripples in a pond: the individual is in the center, influenced by their family, who is influenced by the school, which is influenced by the community, and finally by the laws and culture of the wider world.
It’s a brilliant way to show that we don't exist in a vacuum. But as I dove deeper into my studies of ecopsychology, I couldn't help but notice a glaring omission in this traditional model.
We mapped out the influence of schools, neighborhoods, and governments. But where were the trees? Where was the water? Where were the animals?
Expanding the System
Reflecting on this, I realized that a truly holistic approach needs to expand Bronfenbrenner’s theory. We aren't just influenced by human systems; we are deeply impacted by our environment.
I remember a powerful story shared by a Taos Pueblo Shaman named Terry Tafoya. He said that if you had to go to the river each morning to draw the water you drank, you would never poison the river.
This hit home for me. The reason modern society "poisons" its environment, literally and metaphorically, is because we are so disconnected from the source. We turn on a tap and water appears. We buy food wrapped in plastic. We have removed ourselves from the feedback loop of nature, and that disconnection is, in itself, a serious malady.
Healing is a Two-Way Street
One of my favorite readings during this time was a literature review by Anderson (2010), which discussed the profound impact of nature on medical recovery from healing gardens in hospitals to treating patients in outdoor tents.
But the most striking concept was reciprocity.
I had always thought about using nature to heal people, taking a client for a walk or doing therapy outdoors. But I hadn't fully considered the other side of the equation: healing nature.
True ecotherapy isn't just about extracting wellness from a forest; it's about giving back to that forest. It’s a relationship, not a transaction. Whether it's planting a garden, cleaning up a beach, or simply acknowledging the intelligence of other living organisms, the act of caring for the earth is, in turn, what heals us.
Measuring Connection
I remember taking the Nature Relatedness Scale and the Connectedness to Nature Scale during my studies. My scores were high (58 out of 70 on connectedness), which didn't surprise me, I’ve always felt a deep kinship with the natural world.
But these tools served as a reminder that this connection is measurable and vital. When we expand our definition of "community" to include the rivers, mountains, and meadows, we stop just "functioning in society" and start living as part of a vibrant, living whole.
References
Anderson, M. (2010). The impact of nature on the healing process: A literature review.
Nisbet, E. K. L., Zelenski, J. M., & Murphy, S. A. (2009). The Nature Relatedness Scale: Linking individuals’ connection with nature to environmental concern and behaviour. Environment and Behavior, 41, 715-740.
