Ecotherapy
in Saco & Biddeford, Maine

Coming home to the earth & yourself…

Ecotherapy - Terra Soma Soul - Jessica Wallner, LCPC, RYT200

Do you feel deeply connected to nature, but somehow disconnected from yourself or the world around you? Are you overwhelmed by the state of the planet — feeling anxiety, grief, or despair in the face of climate change? Do you long for a slower, more grounded way of being — one that honors your sensitivity, intuition, and place in the natural world?

Ecotherapy is a body-centered, earth-based approach to healing that helps you reconnect to your inner and outer landscapes. By stepping outside and slowing down, we create space for nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and the rediscovery of meaning, purpose, and relationship — with yourself, others, and the earth.

“We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.”

― Andy Goldsworthy

What is ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy, also known as nature-based therapy, brings together the healing power of nature and the principles of somatic and relational psychotherapy. It’s ideal for clients who:

  • Feel burnt out, anxious, or disconnected from meaning

  • Struggle with eco-anxiety or eco-grief

  • Are highly sensitive or empathic and seek grounding in nature

  • Prefer a more experiential or spiritual approach than traditional talk therapy

  • Are seeking nervous system regulation through movement, presence, and connection

In ecotherapy, we don’t just talk about your healing — we walk it, breathe it, and co-regulate with the natural world.

Sessions take place outdoors in the Saco or Biddeford area. The environment becomes both witness and partner in your process.

“Listen. Are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?”

Mary Oliver

The Healing Power of Nature-Based Therapy

Ecotherapy - Terra Soma Soul - Jessica Wallner, LCPC, RYT200

Many clients find that simply being in nature helps them feel more grounded, alive, and emotionally attuned. From this regulated state, we explore your patterns of relating — to your body, your inner parts, your relationships, and the greater ecosystem of life.

As you connect with trees, soil, breath, weather, or seasons, you may find space to process:

  • Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation

  • Grief, loss, or emotional overwhelm

  • A sense of purposelessness or spiritual disconnection

  • Despair about environmental or social issues

An integrative approach to ecotherapy…

During the first year of the pandemic, it became increasingly clear that we need alternative ways to connect and conduct therapy outside of the limits of a screen. That’s when I completed my certification in ecotherapy through the Earthbody Institute and embarked on a deeper journey of my own. I see myself as a co-therapist with the earth while also drawing from evidence-based, somatic modalities, including:

  • Somatic Experiencing

  • Polyvagal-Informed Therapy

  • Parts Work

  • Earth-Based Rituals & Spirituality

  • Mindfulness and Trauma-Informed Yoga

Together, we’ll reconnect you to the wisdom of your body, the intelligence of the land, and the rhythms of healing that already live within you.

What to Expect in Ecotherapy Sessions

Each session is co-created and shaped by your needs, the land, and the season. A typical session may include:

Beginning & A Sacred Pause

We coordinate where to meet and begin with a short walk, grounding breath, and intention-setting before entering the forest.

Reciprocal Relationship

We connect with a nature ally, explore your emotional responses, and offer ritual or symbolic gestures in return.

Grounding & Orienting

We use somatic and mindfulness practices to orient the body to the land, establishing safety and presence in the moment.

Nervous System Regulation

We use breath, movement, and nature-based tracking to regulate the nervous system and increase capacity for emotional processing.

Mirroring

We practice deep listening and attunement to explore and resolve relational patterns in real time within the safety of earth connection.

Integration & Gratitude

We close with a ritual of gratitude, followed by reflection and integration as we walk back — grounding what was received into daily life.

Is ecotherapy right for you?

You don’t need to be “outdoorsy” or spiritual to benefit from this work. All that’s needed is a willingness to explore and a curiosity about what nature might reflect back to you.

Ecotherapy may be especially supportive if you:

  • Are experiencing life transitions, burnout, or emotional overwhelm

  • Struggle to stay present in your body or in relationships

  • Carry grief or loss related to the environment or ancestral trauma

  • Are seeking a more intuitive, relational, and embodied path to healing

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Consultation

I offer a free 15 minute consultation where you can discuss what you would like to work on and what you’re looking for in a therapist. I share about myself, my approach and how we might proceed. If it feels like a good fit for you, we discuss logistics like insurance, scheduling, directions, and more.

Step 2: Building Connection

It’s important to me that you feel a sense of connection with me as your therapist. It’s an embodied awareness that I see you, hear you, and understand you. It can take a few sessions for you to tell your story, build trust, and for us to make a plan on what to focus on and how to work together.

Step 3: Embodied Change

I believe your body knows how to heal and adapt. No matter what we decide to focus on, I make it a point to reflect back to you what’s working so that you can watch yourself become more whole and centered in who you know yourself to be. I offer skills, tools, guidance and warmth but you are always in the driver’s seat.

Ready to Begin?

Schedule a free online consultation today!

Serving clients in Saco, Biddeford, Scarborough, and surrounding areas.

 FAQs

  • Yes, I currently have openings for new clients.

  • Yes, I offer free 15 minute consultations in person, online, and over the phone. I believe it’s important to find the right fit so you feel connected and safe accessing your vulnerability in session and so that I have the skills and tools needed to meet your needs.

  • My fee is $150 for a 55 minute session. Clients are asked to add a credit card to their client portal and session fees are automatically billed after each session.

  • I take several insurance plans at the moment - Harvard Pilgrim, Optum, United, Maine Community Health Options. Insurance is billed as a courtesy. I highly recommend clients reach out to their insurance prior to starting sessions so you have a clear understanding of your plans’ copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. I also offer super bills for out of network benefits on insurance plans I am not in network with.

  • Making therapy as accessible as possible is important to me and I offer several sliding scale spots upon request.

  • Yes, my office is located on North Street in Saco. Due to the body-oriented focus of my approach, I highly recommend in-person sessions when possible.

  • Yes, I offer online sessions through secure hipaa compliant software.

  • At the moment, I see clients Monday through Thursday in the afternoons, typically 1-5pm.

  • Every client has access to a client portal where they are able to manage their schedule and both cancel and request sessions as needed.