Nature-Based Tourism Is Effective for Improving Mental Health, Especially in the Short Term

Esther Adams-Aharony
Jul 19
4 min read

Introduction

Imagine this: You step outside, breathe deeply, and something shifts. The fog lifts, your chest feels lighter, and a quiet sense of ease replaces the inner storm. This isn’t wishful thinking—it’s the proven power of nature-based tourism. And the best part? You don’t need weeks off or a year-long sabbatical to feel better. Even short doses of time in nature can ease anxiety, depression, and burnout.

But here’s the twist: What if that walk in the forest came with a life-changing therapy session designed just for you? This is where Dr. Esther Adams' intensives come in. This isn’t just tourism—it’s transformation.

Why Nature Heals: The Science in Plain Terms

Hundreds of studies across the globe agree: time in nature improves mental health. Walking in a forest, sitting beside a lake, or hiking through hills can lower your stress hormones, boost your mood, and help you feel more connected—to nature and to yourself (Buckley, 2020; Coventry et al., 2021; Grassini, 2022).

Nature-based activities lead to measurable decreases in anxiety, depression, and stress, often after just a single session (Avecillas-Torres et al., 2025; Wyles et al., 2019). And for those dealing with trauma, burnout, or chronic stress, nature becomes more than scenery—it becomes sanctuary (Pomfret et al., 2025; Buckley & Oam, 2021).

Short-Term Relief That Feels Like Magic

You don’t need weeks of forest bathing to feel the impact. The short-term benefits of nature-based tourism are powerful and fast. Within hours, many report:

A lighter mood
Clearer thinking
Emotional reset
Renewed sense of possibility

These outcomes are strongest when the experience is guided—like a structured hike, a therapeutic nature retreat, or even equine-assisted therapy in a serene outdoor space (Lackey et al., 2019; Maund et al., 2019).

Who Benefits Most from Nature-Based Healing?

While everyone gains something from time in nature, studies show nature-based mental health benefits are especially impactful for:

Adults experiencing burnout
Trauma survivors
People recovering from illness or loss
Teens and young adults under academic/social stress
Older adults facing isolation

Whether you're navigating a life transition or simply feeling stuck, nature helps shift your state—especially when it’s part of a bigger healing process (Mygind et al., 2019; Zhang & Li, 2025).

How Nature-Based Therapy Works

Why does nature work so well? Because it calms your nervous system and invites you to be fully present.

The sounds, smells, and sights of nature help your brain downshift into a restorative mode. Add in therapeutic guidance, and you’re not just recharging—you’re resetting.

Research shows that:

Natural environments support emotional regulation (Bratman et al., 2019)
People with stronger connections to nature feel better, faster (Liu et al., 2022)
Multi-sensory experiences like forest trails or horse grooming enhance attention, joy, and recovery (Kou et al., 2024)

Beyond the Walk: Intensives that Transform

Nature is powerful, but when combined with psychotherapy—especially intensives designed to surface and shift deep patterns—it becomes transformational.

Dr. Esther Adams offers 2–4 hour therapy intensives on a tranquil horse farm in central Israel. These sessions use nature’s calming presence and the grounding energy of horses to create space for profound emotional breakthroughs.

This isn’t a spa day. This is a chance to shed what’s weighing you down, process what’s been stuck, and return home lighter.

Nature’s Limitations (and Why It’s Not the Whole Picture)

Yes, nature helps—but without regular access or continued support, the benefits can fade (Corazon et al., 2019).

Some studies show that mood improvements taper after a few weeks without follow-up (Avecillas-Torres et al., 2025)
Others highlight the importance of guided, structured interventions to create lasting change (Coventry et al., 2021; Maund et al., 2019)

The good news? When nature exposure is paired with intentional therapeutic work, it creates deeper and more enduring shifts.

Conclusion: Your Next Step Toward Healing

If you’ve been feeling like something needs to change, this is your chance. Nature-based tourism offers immediate emotional relief. But when you combine that with a one-on-one, expert-led therapeutic intensive—it’s not just relief. It’s renewal.

Whether you’re already traveling to Israel or seeking a meaningful reason to go, consider this your invitation to make it more than a getaway.

Ready to turn your time in nature into a breakthrough?

Book a 2–4 hour equine-assisted therapy intensive with Dr. Esther Adams in beautiful central Israel.

What you’ve been carrying doesn’t have to come home with you.

Book your breakthrough. Leave lighter.

References

Avecillas-Torres, I., et al. (2025). Nature Tourism and Mental Well-Being: Insights from a Controlled Context. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020654 Buckley, R. (2020). Nature tourism and mental health. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1742725 Bratman, G., et al. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax0903 Coventry, P., et al. (2021). Nature-based outdoor activities for mental and physical health. SSM - Population Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100934 Corazon, S., et al. (2019). Psycho-Physiological Stress Recovery in Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions. Int J Environ Res Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101711 Grassini, S. (2022). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nature Walk as an Intervention for Anxiety and Depression. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11061731 Kou, L., et al. (2024). Understanding sensescapes and restorative effects of nature-based destinations. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2024.2324021 Lackey, N., et al. (2019). Mental health benefits of nature-based recreation. Annals of Leisure Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2019.1655459 Liu, H., et al. (2022). Nature exposure and mental well-being in a general Chinese population. Landscape and Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104397 Maund, P., et al. (2019). Wetlands for Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224413 Mygind, L., et al. (2019). Mental, physical and social health benefits of immersive nature-experience. Health & Place. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.05.014 Pomfret, G., et al. (2025). Transformational Role of Regular Nature-Based Activity Engagement. Behavioral Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040418 Wyles, K., et al. (2019). Are Some Natural Environments More Psychologically Beneficial Than Others? Environment and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916517738312 Zhang, H., & Li, L. (2025). Leveraging nature-based tourism for cancer recovery. Psycho-Oncologie. https://doi.org/10.18282/po3686