Why a Trauma-Informed Approach Underpins Nature Coaching

An essential component of any coaching today is that it takes a trauma-informed approach. According to the World Health Organization, 70% of people will experience a major trauma at some point in their lives. Trauma-informed coaching is a compassionate, client-centred approach that acknowledges this reality and helps clients navigate the lasting impacts of trauma on their well-being. Trauma can affect people neurologically, biologically, psychologically, and socially, influencing how they relate to themselves, others, and the world around them. Trauma-informed coaches create a safe, non-judgmental environment, prioritize consistency and transparency, and help clients build resilience without re-traumatizing them.

In nature coaching, this trauma-informed approach becomes even more essential. The natural world invites clients to reconnect with their senses, emotions, and physical bodies, but trauma can often sever or weaken this connection. For those who’ve experienced trauma, fully inhabiting their body can feel difficult, making it challenging to be present in nature. Being trauma-informed in nature coaching means recognizing that, for some clients, reconnecting with nature first requires re-establishing a sense of connection and safety within their own bodies. This is where nature coaching offers a uniquely gentle yet profound pathway to healing.

Trauma Impacting Nature Connection

A core element in coaching with the NatureProcess is helping clients connect to the wisdom of their 'Natural Body,' where the body becomes the medium through which nature communicates with us. Over the years, I've observed that clients who found it hardest to connect deeply with the natural world were those who had experienced trauma and struggled to feel present in their own bodies. Something that’s been part of my own personal journey too.

The essence of trauma-informed nature coaching lies in understanding that our bodies hold imprints of our experiences. Trauma experts like Gabor Maté and Bessel van der Kolk teach us that “the body keeps the score,” retaining memories and emotions that the mind may try to forget. Emotions and bodily sensations, therefore, often serve as signals of past trauma, which we can address through a mindful, somatic approach. By listening to this body-based language, trauma-informed nature coaches help clients safely attune to their internal cues and sensations.

In nature, this somatic wisdom can flourish, but only if clients feel safe enough to engage with it. As Peter Levine explains in Waking the Tiger, animals instinctively release fear by processing their emotions in the moment. Humans, however, often suppress or ignore these responses, resulting in unresolved emotions that can stay trapped in the body.

Trauma-informed nature coaching, particularly through The NatureProcess, invites clients to reconnect with this innate processing by attuning to their bodily sensations in natural spaces. This gentle practice allows them to release accumulated stress, re-establish their “Natural Body,” and rebuild a more embodied connection with both nature and themselves.

Nature Helps Restore Body Wisdom

Dr. Dan Siegel’s concept of the "Window of Tolerance" offers a valuable framework for understanding how trauma impacts our ability to feel balanced and engaged. The Window of Tolerance describes the optimal zone of arousal within which we feel calm, centred, and able to respond effectively to stress. When we’re inside this window, we can manage life’s ups and downs, process emotions, and stay connected to ourselves and others.

Trauma, however, often narrows this window, making it more difficult for individuals to tolerate stress or regulate emotions. This can lead to experiences of hyperarousal (feeling overwhelmed or anxious) or hypo arousal (feeling numb or disconnected), where individuals feel either too activated or too shut down.

Time in nature can be especially supportive in helping people expand or restore their Window of Tolerance. The natural world offers a non-judgmental and grounding presence, allowing individuals to reconnect with their bodies and gradually rebuild a sense of safety. Nature’s rhythms, such as the sound of a stream or the gentle sway of trees, can help regulate the nervous system, inviting people back within their optimal window. By spending time in nature, clients can re-establish body-based trust and resilience, helping to restore their ability to handle stress more effectively.

For individuals with complex PTSD (C-PTSD), nature can be especially transformative. In his book Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving, Pete Walker notes that nature often provides a safe haven for those with C-PTSD, offering a calming environment where they can reconnect with themselves without feeling threatened. People with C-PTSD often face challenges with emotional regulation, self-worth, and feeling secure in relationships. Nature’s quiet, consistent presence can serve as a reliable and soothing space for those facing these struggles, allowing them to experience a sense of belonging, groundedness, and peace.

This restorative power of nature makes it an invaluable partner in trauma-informed coaching, helping clients to not only rebuild their Window of Tolerance but also to reconnect with the body’s innate wisdom in a safe and supportive way.

Implications for a Trauma-Informed Nature Coach

While a trauma-informed perspective should be an integral part of nature coaching, a coach’s role extends beyond simply understanding trauma; it involves cultivating an environment where trust and safety naturally arise. When trauma surfaces during a session, it’s crucial for the coach to stay calm and grounded, working with their own ‘Natural Body’ to model co-regulation.

To avoid re-traumatizing clients, validate their experience without prompting them to recount specific past memories or delve into their story. Emphasize that they have full control over the session, reinforcing that they can guide how they want to proceed. With the client’s permission, use gentle grounding techniques that anchor them in the present moment, like drawing attention to their feet on the ground or the rhythm of their breath.

Incorporating the natural world, invite the client to focus on a part of nature that captures their attention—whether it’s a leaf, a stone, or the sound of a breeze—and encourage them to use as many senses as possible to explore it. Keep your language simple and clear, steering away from anything that might inadvertently deepen their immersion in trauma. Guide them to notice the details of the natural object, developing their ability to use nature as a tool for self-regulation and a resource for building resilience. This is part of what is known as Natural Presence in Coaching with the Nature Process.

By helping clients build self-regulation and resilience in nature, trauma-informed nature coaches offer a transformative experience that supports healing and growth. This approach not only enhances clients' personal well-being but also fosters a deep, nurturing connection with the natural world. In a safe, non-judgmental space, clients can rediscover their own inner wisdom and the healing rhythms of nature, empowering them to move forward with greater confidence and peace.

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Earthself’s NatureProcess Coach Training Programme (ICF Level 1) is designed to help you master the art of coaching with and as nature—whether outdoors, indoors, or online—in a way that is neuro-inclusive. By joining, you not only develop your coaching skills but also contribute directly to the growth of a Scottish community food forest.

Interested in exploring if this programme is right for you? Get in touch to learn more…