Principles for Responsible Practice
As pioneers in a specialized field, the Oklahoma Institute of Prairie Psychology is deeply committed to establishing and upholding rigorous ethical standards. Ecotherapy is not an ethical free zone because it occurs outdoors; in fact, it introduces unique complexities beyond the standard therapy office. Our ethical framework is built on three pillars: Ecological Responsibility, Equitable Access, and Cultural Humility. We train all our clinicians and researchers in this framework, and it guides every program we design.
Key Ethical Domains and Guidelines
We proactively address potential pitfalls to ensure our work does no harm—to clients, communities, or the land itself.
- Land Stewardship and 'Leave No Trace+': We adhere to 'Leave No Trace' principles but go further with a 'Leave It Better' ethos. Groups are kept small to minimize impact. We obtain explicit permissions from landowners and land managers. We never harvest rare plants or disturb wildlife for therapeutic purposes. Our activities often involve active restoration, so our presence benefits the site.
- Inclusive Access and Socioeconomic Barriers: Nature therapy can inadvertently privilege those with free time, transportation, physical ability, and comfort in the outdoors. We actively work to dismantle these barriers. We offer sliding-scale fees, provide transportation from central locations, design programs for varying physical abilities, and create urban-accessible 'prairie pocket' programs. We challenge the notion that 'wilderness' is the only healing nature, also valuing backyard gardens and street trees.
- Cultural Sensitivity and Avoiding Appropriation: We are vigilant against romanticizing or appropriating Indigenous practices. We collaborate with, compensate, and defer to Indigenous knowledge holders. We distinguish between universal human experiences in nature and culturally specific rituals. Our metaphors are drawn from ecological observation, not from closed spiritual traditions, unless explicitly invited and guided.
- Safety and Risk Management: Outdoor therapy carries risks: weather, insects, terrain, allergic reactions. We have stringent safety protocols, including weather monitoring, first-aid trained staff, emergency communication plans, and thorough informed consent processes that outline these risks. Client autonomy is paramount—no one is forced into an uncomfortable outdoor experience.
- Transference and Boundaries in Nature: The therapeutic frame can blur outdoors. Is a shared sense of awe a dual relationship? We maintain clear professional boundaries even in informal settings. We also process the client's relationship with the land itself, which can bring up powerful transference (e.g., seeing the land as an abandoning or nurturing parent).
Furthermore, we engage in ongoing ethical dialogue about the potential for 'green narcissism'—using environmental action primarily for self-improvement without genuine systemic concern. We strive to connect personal healing to collective responsibility. Our ethics committee includes not only clinicians and an ethicist, but also an ecologist, a disability advocate, and a representative from a local Indigenous community. This ensures multiple perspectives inform our policies.
By openly grappling with these considerations, we aim to set a standard for the field. Ethics are not a constraint on our work; they are its essential foundation, ensuring that prairie psychology grows in a way that is sustainable, just, and truly respectful of all life—human and non-human alike. We publish our ethical guidelines and case studies to contribute to the wider conversation, believing that a morally conscious practice is the only kind that can honestly offer healing.