Nature Therapy in the City: How Parks and Other Outdoor Spaces Support Eating Disorder Recovery
As the summer months approach, New York City becomes the epicenter of outdoor activities. The possibilities are endless, from walking through Central Park and exploring local botanical gardens to sightseeing with family and friends or heading down to the beach! It’s no secret that fresh air and sunshine do wonders for your well-being. Taking it one step further, ecotherapy, or nature therapy, is also a fantastic way to support individuals who are navigating eating disorder recovery this year.
What Is Nature Therapy?
Nature therapy helps individuals improve their mental health by allowing them to reconnect with the outdoors as they engage in activities in outside areas, like community parks or gardens. Research has shown that nature therapy helps individuals improve their memory, focus, mood, and emotional regulation, with a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression. Gardening is also a great way to engage in nature therapy. Even caring for house plants can improve one’s mental health and positive mindset!
How Nature Therapy Benefits Eating Disorder Recovery
Nature therapy can play an important role in your recovery journey during eating disorder treatment. Although numerous factors need consideration before engaging in ecotherapy, including location and allergy sensitivities, incorporating outdoor activities in your healing process can positively improve your mental health. Studies have shown that spending time outside helps you reconnect with your body and refocus your energy away from the spiraling thoughts in your head (Kier, 2024). Nature can look different for everyone, especially depending on where you live and what you enjoy doing. Fortunately, for New York City residents, the options are endless!
Incorporating the Outdoors at BALANCE This Summer
At BALANCE, our team integrates evidence-based approaches to support a holistic, comprehensive approach to recovery. This summer, clients at BALANCE, alongside our team, will be able to engage in mindfulness-based outdoor activities outside of our treatment center in New York City, teaching meditation practices like Shinrin-Yoku (also called forest bathing) to help clients reconnect with their body.
If you’re visiting New York City this summer, we want to encourage you to spend time outside during your trip! You can visit one of our beautiful parks, like Central Park, Bryant Park, or the Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can also explore Governors Island, Little Island, or the Coney Island Aquarium.
Get Eating Disorder Support This Summer in NYC
This summer is the perfect time to prioritize your mental health and begin your healing journey. BALANCE is offering a 14-Day Summer Intensive, a short-term, focused program designed to help address eating disorder thoughts and behaviors, practice exposure to fear foods in a supportive environment, and build essential coping tools before the new school year begins. Held at our New York City treatment center, this summer eating disorder treatment program will help you feel steadier in your recovery.
BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, located in New York City, offers free consultation calls to help you explore next steps. We provide in-person programming seven days a week and are in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Cigna, Emblem, and Oscar, with Aetna coverage coming soon. Support is available, and recovery is possible. Schedule a free consultation call with our admissions team here and stay connected with BALANCE on Instagram here.
References
Ecotherapy and Eating Disorder Recovery | Eating Disorder Solutions. (2025, March 5). Eating Disorder Solutions. https://eatingdisordersolutions.com/ecotherapy-nature-therapy/
Kier, N. (2024, September 18). Reconnecting: Nature therapy for eating disorders. Ai Pono Hawaii. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.aipono.com/blog/reconnecting-nature-therapy-for-eating-disorders
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is a blog contributor for BALANCE, whose previous work has been featured in Project HEAL and Nourishing NY. She is an alumnus of The New School of Social Research, where she received her Masters in Psychology. After attending Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development.
