'Therapeutic landscape' experiences - redefining their relationship with the everyday

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Sociology
• Human Geography

Background:

• Therapeutic landscapes literature emphasizes feelings of removal from and connection to everyday life.
• Understanding the origins of these feelings is crucial for defining what makes a landscape therapeutic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the origins of feelings of removal from and connection to the everyday within therapeutic landscape experiences.
• To deepen the understanding of the interplay between the everyday and therapeutic landscape encounters.

Main Methods:

• A phenomenological approach was employed, gathering highly detailed data.
• Fieldwork was conducted at Buddhist meditation retreats, walking groups, and conservation volunteering groups.

Main Results:

• Feelings of removal from and connection to the everyday are intrinsically linked to the everyday itself.
• These feelings are also shaped by individual identity and personal origins.
• Both feelings of removal and connection can co-exist simultaneously.

Conclusions:

• The everyday environment and personal background are key determinants of feelings experienced in therapeutic landscapes.
• Therapeutic landscape experiences are not solely about escaping the everyday but also about re-engaging with it in new ways.
• A nuanced understanding of the coexistence of removal and connection is vital for therapeutic landscape research.