The term “tree-hugger� conjures images of hippies in bell-bottoms and tie-dyed tee-shirts. Actually, the phrase dates back to 1730, when more than 350 people in India hugged the trees in their village to block loggers from cutting them down to build a palace. The King’s men beheaded more than 300 people, but the villagers would not give in. Ultimately, the King apologized. Why were so many willing to die for trees? On this occasion, they risked everything to protect the forest because of the life-supporting resources it provided - mainly fuel and building materials. We have learned much more about the array of gifts nature has to offer, since these tree-huggers first wrapped their arms around those tree trunks. Simply spending time in the natural world may reduce the risk of type II diabetes, heart disease, stress, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. Based on a growing body of research surrounding this topic, ecotherapy, or green therapy, has become increasingly popular with traditionally trained therapists and their clients. When looking for an ecotherapist, first consider whether the blue of large bodies of water like a lake or the ocean calls to you, or if you crave the dappled greens of the forest. Most people have a clear preference, and so do nature-based therapists. “The beach is my happy place,� says Dr. Maria Nazarian, The Beach Therapist. Her belief in the value of working with clients as they walk barefoot in the sand is so strong that she gave up her traditional office. “The beach does more than half the work for me,� she says. “Simply being in nature stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that improves mood, sleep, and memory. Nature also elicits joy, gratitude, and generosity, which lead to stress reduction,� explains Nazarian. Liat Alon, associate Marriage Family Therapist, located her practice, The Wild & Authentic Path, in Topanga Canyon because the area offers easy access to a rich natural environment. Alon works in the green world. Hiking the canyons supports her clients in getting reacquainted with who they are underneath the influence of familial and social conditioning. “When we are in the purity of nature, all the external noise quiets. The wilderness regulates us. It gives us the space to find our balance,� Alon says. Both Nazarian and Alon bring tools from modern therapeutic practice into the blue and the green. They each incorporate mindfulness practice, the art of training your mind to stay in the present moment, and psychotherapy techniques, like cognitive behavioral therapy. Exposure to the ocean or the trees enhances the benefits of these research-based therapeutic models. Is nature therapy right for everyone? Though it might benefit everyone, some people may not be receptive to it. Dr. Nazarian says no one observing her with a client on the beach would recognize that they were in a session. She dresses casually and has bare feet. During part of the session, she leads the client through a grounding exercise and a guided meditation. The rest of the time is spent walking and talking. To onlookers, they are just two people meditating and socializing. Still, if a client is too self-conscious, they may prefer the seclusion that office walls provide. If this is the case, Nazarian will refer that client to a more traditional, office-based colleague.