MIRECC / CoE

The Great Outdoors | South Central MIRECC

About The Great Outdoors: Engaging with Nature for Mental Health

These materials support Veterans by helping them engage in positive and healthy nature-based activities. The materials integrate the science of the benefits of engaging with nature, with the well-established approaches of behavioral activation, mindfulness, and other positive psychology exercises. The clinician manual supports the delivery of a very brief (1-2 session) or brief (3-5) session intervention in a variety of settings. The Veteran guide can be used as part of a clinician-delivered intervention, or as a self-help intervention. The material:

• Provides an overview of the science on the benefits of nature engagement and greenspace exposure.
• Includes an activity to review one's past and current engagement in nature.
• Integrates principles of motivational interviewing to resolve ambivalence.
• Encourages value identification/prioritization and discovering nature-based activities that can support living out those values.
• Uses goal setting, activity scheduling, and behavior monitoring to help Veterans increase their nature engagement.
• Provides links to guided audio exercises, including 5 mindfulness exercises, 1 savoring exercise, and 2 guided imagery exercises.
• Published 2022

This product is a best practice.

Guides

• Download Clinician Manual
• Download Veteran Guide

Audio

Mindfulness in Nature Exercises

• Listen to “Mindfulness Check-in” audio
• Listen to “Mindfulness of a Leaf” audio
• Listen to “Body Scan” audio
• Listen to “Mindfulness of the Breath Exercise” audio
• Listen to “Mindful Walking” audio

Savoring Activities

• Listen to “Savoring Exercise” audio

Guided Imagery Exercises

• Listen to “A Positive Memory in Nature” audio
• Listen to “A Nature Connectedness Exercise” audio

Audio Transcripts

Mindfulness in Nature Exercises

• Read "Mindfulness Check-in" audio transcript
• Read "Mindfulness of a Leaf" audio transcript
• Read "Body Scan" audio transcript
• Read "Mindfulness of the Breath Exercise" audio transcript
• Read "Mindful Walking" audio transcript

Savoring Activities

• Read "Savoring Exercise" audio transcript

Guided Imagery Exercises

• Read "A Positive Memory in Nature” audio transcript
• Read “A Nature Connectedness Exercise” audio transcript

Developer

Austen R. Anderson, PhD

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Use of these Materials and Finding VA Health Care

Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Location Directory. This page may contain links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.

Last updated: December 18, 2023

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