| Cancer is a life-threatening illness that greatly affects the mind, body, and emotions of the individual with the disease. The diagnosis of cancer is increasingly present in our society, and for every physical effect, there is an equal reactive psychological impact. A medical diagnosis can be treated incompletely without examining the psychological effects of the illness. Often, complementary forms of cancer treatment are overlooked, and the large impact of cancer and cancer treatment on a person's identity and his or her well-being are not facets of the diagnosis that are addressed medically. Expanding the definition of healing and keeping a patient informed regarding the impacts of various treatments on one's quality of life is a critical part of comprehensive treatment with respect to the mind-body relationship. Throughout the past 25 years, research has amassed regarding the powerful healing potential of natural environments. The literature demonstrates that contact with plants, natural landscapes, and wilderness have all positively impacted human physical and psychological health and functioning (Frumkin, 2001). The goal of this doctoral project is to inform mental and medical health professionals about the benefits of nature exposure, particularly how nature can be a healing force for women with breast cancer. Currently, many professionals within the mental health and medical fields have limited knowledge of how exposure to nature can be healing and therapeutic among an oncology population. Raising awareness and disseminating knowledge about these benefits will assist mental health and medical professionals in expanding their notions of healing, as well as develop professionals' array of therapeutic tools and interventions. |
