Ecotherapy: Nature’s Role in Combating Teacher Stress

Teaching is a calling, but there’s no denying the pressures. From managing classrooms, juggling prep work and marking, to navigating changing policies, heavy workloads and often limited support, many teachers grapple with chronic stress. Burnout is real.

What if some of the antidote lies not in the next training, workshop, or online course but in stepping outside, moving through the trees, breathing fresh air and reconnecting with nature? That’s where ecotherapy comes in. And for teachers, it can be especially powerful.

At Stone In My Boot, we believe nature is not a luxury, it is a healer. Our walking therapy retreats, mindfulness practices, counselling and outdoor reflection sessions offer teachers a chance to reset, recharge, and find new perspective. 

Understanding Ecotherapy and Its Benefits for Teachers

Ecotherapy (or nature therapy / forest bathing / green therapy) refers to therapeutic practices that use nature and the outdoors to support mental wellbeing.

For educators, it can provide:

• Stress reduction: Nature walks lower cortisol levels and help calm the nervous system.

• Mental clarity & reflection: Away from constant emails, student pressures, administrative demands, being outdoors gives space to think, reflect, and see situations more clearly.

• Emotional recharging: Green spaces, scenic views, fresh air, changing weather all engage the senses in gentle, grounding ways.

• Community & support: Shared experiences outdoors (walking, group reflection) help teachers realise they’re not alone in their struggle.

How Stone In My Boot Puts Ecotherapy Into Action

Here’s how our programmes are designed especially with teacher-stress in mind:

• Three-Day Walking Therapy Retreats - Set in the Lake District, led by BACP registered counsellors, combining guided walks, mindfulness, group reflection and personal counselling. This retreat help break the cycle of stress and allow for deeper rest and insight.

• Forest & Woodland Walks - Gentle, guided walks through woods, farms, upland trails. The grounding effect of walking in natural landscapes helps shift attention from tasks and anxieties to the rhythms of nature. Learn more about walking therapy on our website.

• Mindfulness & Reflection Activities - Alongside walking, moments of meditation, journaling or group sharing help teachers process thoughts, reconnect with inner values and cultivate resilience. Head to our Videos section to learn more on how the days are structured on our walking therapy retreats.

• Personal Counselling Sessions - Whether in retreat or post retreat (we include counselling sessions both on and off trail), these sessions enable tailored support, addressing burnout, stress, boundaries and emotional health.

  
  

Practical Ecotherapy Tools Teachers Can Use

Even if you can’t commit to a multi-day retreat right now, there are smaller steps you can take to bring ecotherapy into your daily routine:

Activity	What To Do	Effect
Micro-walks	Take a short walk outdoors during lunch or breaks. Observe plants, sky, birds. Leave phone behind if possible.	A quick reset; reduces mental fatigue.
Outdoor Mindfulness	Sit under a tree or beside greenery; focus on breath, sounds, natural textures. 5-10 mins.	Grounds you in present moment; calms the mind.
Nature-Based Journaling	After a walk, jot down sensations, thoughts, feelings. What did nature show you?	Helps reflection, insight, emotional processing.
Weekend Nature Time	Spend part of weekend outdoors—hiking, visiting parks, lakes.	Builds resilience, restores energy.

Why This Matters: Teacher Wellbeing, Student Outcomes and Retention

Teacher stress doesn’t stay with the teacher, it ripples out. It's linked to lower job satisfaction, higher absenteeism, burnout, and even leaving the profession. In contrast, teachers who nurture their wellbeing are more present, emotionally available, creative, and patient in the classroom.

Ecotherapy offers a sustainable, low-cost, impactful tool. It doesn’t require technology or flashy interventions, just nature, presence and supportive structure. 

Taking the First Step: How Teachers Can Get Involved

Explore our upcoming Teacher-Exclusive Walking Therapy Retreats. Full details and booking available through our website. Or simply get in touch through the contact form.

You can also follow us on our social media site Facebook / Instagram / TikTok where we share insights into our practices, details of any upcoming retreats, mental health benefits of walking therapy and more.

Conclusion: Nature as Companion & Healer

Stress for teachers is not inevitable, not when the healing power of nature is used intentionally. Ecotherapy isn’t a cure-all, but it is a deeply helpful practice, the kind that restores perspective, renews resilience and nurtures hope.

At Stone In My Boot, we invite educators to step off the treadmill for a while, to walk, reflect, and breathe. Because when you care for yourself, you can teach better, lead with more clarity, and show up in the ways your students and school truly need. Because when teachers thrive, their students and classrooms benefit too.