The Healing Power of Green: What I Learned About Mental Health from Studying Nature
I didn’t set out to study trees.
I set out to understand why so many people—especially those living in cities—feel anxious, disconnected, or unwell. And somewhere between hundreds of research articles, sleepless nights, and my own lived experience, I landed here:
In the quiet, urgent truth that our minds need nature.
During my Master’s in Public Health, I conducted a systematic review exploring how exposure to green space impacts mental health outcomes in urban environments across the United States. The question that guided me was simple:
Does living near nature actually make us feel better?
The answer was both affirming and sobering.
What the research shows (and what it doesn’t)
Out of 987 studies screened, only 9 met the criteria for inclusion—highlighting just how limited our national data is on this topic. But of those 9 studies, 7 showed a clear connection:
People living in or near green space experienced lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress.
One study found that women living in greener neighborhoods had a 13–16% lower risk of developing depression. Another showed that teenagers in green-rich areas had a 36% lower chance of experiencing serious psychological distress.
Even brief exposure—like walking through a park versus down a suburban sidewalk—shifted mood, reduced anxiety, and increased positive affect.
Nature was working. But it wasn’t always enough.
Some studies revealed that the **benefits of green space were blunted—or even reversed—**in neighborhoods facing social vulnerability.
In other words, green space alone can't undo systemic stress. But it can offer a powerful starting point. One that invites regulation, rhythm, and a return to something we’ve lost in our hyperproductive world:
Presence.
From policy to personal: Why this matters for your nervous system
I spent years reading about vegetation indices, Google Street View analyses, and canopy coverage buffers. I mapped data and reviewed studies with clinical rigor—but something deeper kept pulling at me:
I had felt this myself.
As someone who grew up surrounded by the mountains of Colorado, I always knew that nature made me feel better. It’s where I learned resilience. Where I breathed deeper. Where my nervous system remembered its baseline.
But after moving to DC for grad school, I felt the shift. Less light. Less space. More noise. My body responded before my brain could explain it.
And now, as a health and wellness coach, I see it in my clients too—especially the high achievers. The leaders, founders, caregivers, and visionaries who are running on empty without realizing it.
They’re not broken.
They’re just disconnected—from their bodies, from rhythm, from the environments that once supported their well-being.
So how do we come back?
You don’t need to live in the forest to feel better.
But you do need to start designing your life to support your biology.
That’s what I help clients do now.
In our work together, we explore questions like:
What’s draining your energy—and what restores it?
How can we bring more green into your routines, even in the middle of a city?
What would it look like to feel grounded, clear, and fully resourced again?
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about alignment.
And it starts with paying attention to what your nervous system is really asking for.
If this resonates, I’d love to connect.
I offer one-on-one coaching to help you build sustainable well-being—rooted in science, aligned with your life, and personalized to your unique goals.
Whether you're navigating burnout, seeking more vitality, or craving structure that supports your growth, this work is here for you.
🌱 Ready to reconnect with what makes you feel alive?
Let’s explore what’s possible—together.
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