How Nature Nurtures Physical, Mental, and Emotional Well-Being

Thrive • June 29, 2022

By Thrive Wellness Director of Nursing Liz Lass, RN, CEDRN, CPT

For many, spending time in nature instinctually seems beneficial, and research has consistently proven the value often intuitively placed on connecting with nature to be true. In other words, any natural landscape has the power to support holistic wellness — body, mind, and spirit

THE PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPENDING TIME IN NATURE

Whether it’s a brief walk in the community park on your lunch break or a ten-day backpacking trip in the wilderness, any time in nature is correlated with increased physical activity, which can promote improved blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health , decrease the risk of stroke and cardiovascular diseases , strengthen bones and muscles, increase joint mobility, and enhance brain health and memory. Additionally, individuals who spend more time outside tend to soak up more vitamin D from the sun, which can help strengthen their immune systems and bones among other benefits. 

THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPENDING TIME IN NATURE

Spending time in nature influences a person not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. Research shows that those who spend more time in nature have lower levels of cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”) which can cultivate feelings of relaxation.

Reduced depression and improved concentration are also linked to spending more time outside. One particular study from the University of Washington associated nature with:

  • A sense of meaning and purpose in life
  • Decreased mental distress
  • Increased happiness
  • Subjective sense of well-being
  • Positive affect, or an individual’s subjective experience of positive moods such as joy, interest, and alertness.
  • Positive social interactions 

Another study found that time in nature can also help fend off feelings of loneliness and social isolation. While surrounded by nature, one may feel a sense of reciprocity with Mother Earth and gain a deeper understanding that all living beings are part of something bigger than ourselves. This sense of connection can infiltrate other aspects of our lives by encouraging acts of kindness, generosity, and empathy not only towards the environment but to others as well. 

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE IN NATURE

So you can reap all the benefits of experiencing nature, consider the tips below. 

  • Make it fun: Research has shown that spending at least two recreational hours in nature during the week significantly improves general health and well-being. “Recreational” is the key word. When deciding how to implement nature into your life, do your best to make sure the experience brings you joy. 
  • Practice mindfulness: Try to remain present and mindful when spending time outdoors by engaging your senses to observe and absorb the experience, maybe noticing what you see, hear, and smell. It may help to refrain from using your phone, so you can tune in to the awe-inspiring world around you. 
  • Take advantage of urban resources: If you live in an urban area with limited access to nature or outdoor recreational areas, utilizing community parks, walking paths, and bike paths can positively impact mood and overall health in similar ways to time spent in the great outdoors.
  • Try alternative ways to engage with nature: If limited mobility or chronic illness impacts your ability to actively get outside, you can still connect with nature. Research has found that even watching nature documentaries or listening to nature sounds such as rainstorms or crashing waves can have a calming effect and improve mood. 

NURTURING WELL-BEING AT THRIVE WELLNESS 

While nature can be a helpful strategy for boosting your overall well-being on your own, sometimes professional care is required to adequately nurture physical, mental, and emotional health. At Thrive Wellness, our clinicians can incorporate nature into your treatment, a stratgey that’s oftentimes effective at fostering openness and relaxation in clients who may feel less willing to share their inner experiences in a therapy office. Additionally, our therapists can help you explore ways to connect with nature outside of therapy to enhance your health. Based on your preferences, we integrate health care according to your needs so that your entire being can be nourished and enriched for optimal personal growth. Reach out to learn more about our collaborative care services. 

About the Author

Thrive Wellness Director of Nursing Liz Lass, RN, CEDRN, CPT

Liz Lass, RN, CEDRN, CPT, is Thrive’s director of nursing and is truly passionate about working with the eating disorder community. Liz earned her bachelor’s of science in nursing from the University of Nevada, Reno, and bachelor’s in science in exercise and sport science from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. Liz is a certified eating disorder registered nurse (CEDRN) and has 9 years of experience working with the eating disorder population. Liz is also a certified personal trainer and is passionate about integrating her background of exercise science into her practice through mindful movement and helping clients heal their relationship with exercise. Her dynamic role at Thrive Wellness includes performing nursing assessments, providing meal support, leading groups, consultations, and assisting prescribers at Thrive Wellness with coordination of care between agencies, pharmacies, and laboratories. In her free time, Liz enjoys all that the Reno-Tahoe area has to offer, including skiing, hiking, biking, camping, wake-surfing, paddle boarding, and listening to live music. She grew up in Sun Valley, ID, and lives with her husband, two sons, and blue heeler in Verdi, NV.

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By Erin McGinty Fort, MS, MHA, CPC, LPC-S, CEDS-C December 18, 2025
Sometimes, people need more support, structure, and monitoring than the typical outpatient setting can provide. When this happens, the treatment team will usually recommend that someone be "stepped up" to a different level of care, or program, that can better meet their needs. I like to think of it as being similar to medication dosages; people need different strengths of medications, or dosages, to get better when they're sick. Stepping someone up to a higher level of care is like increasing the dosage of a medication to match the severity of their symptoms. How Are Higher Levels of Care Different from Standard Outpatient Care? At the core of differentiating higher levels of care from standard outpatient care is the intensity and structure of the treatment. Higher level of care programs tend to offer more days of treatment each week and more hours of treatment per day than in the outpatient setting. Those in higher level of care programs may also meet with their treatment team members more frequently each week. There are more staff present to support someone at or after meals and snacks, or to help those who are having urges to engage in compulsions or other harmful behaviors. Clients in our HLOC programs get access to an assortment of treatment modalities tailored to their individual needs, including personalized therapy sessions, group support, medication management, medical nutrition therapy with a dietitian, and check-ins with our primary care providers. We support clients with personalized treatment plans and regular assessments to monitor and tweak interventions as needed. Higher levels of care also offer increased peer interaction and support. Intensive programs incorporate additional group therapy sessions, which can help those in treatment feel less alone as well as create a greater sense of community. For some people, it can be difficult to devote the time and energy needed to recover while also balancing other responsibilities like school or work. Stepping up to more intensive levels of care allows people to fully dedicate themselves to recovery. As they get better and make progress, a person may be stepped back down to a less intensive level of care to start practicing their recovery in their usual home, school, or work settings while also receiving professional support from their treatment team. What Levels of Care are Available? At Thrive Wellness, we offer four different levels of care to help clients step up (or down) in their treatment when needed: -  Outpatient Treatment - weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings with a therapist, psychiatrist, primary care provider, and/or dietitian. - Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - A minimum of three hours per day, three days per week. - Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) - A minimum of six hours per day, five days per week. - Residential Treatment - Coming soon in 2026, The Greenhouse at Thrive will offer residential treatment for eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This level of care offers 24-hour support for those aged 12-24 living in our residential treatment center. How To Decide Which Level of Care is Right for You If you're unsure which option is right for you or your loved one, we offer a free assessment that can be completed with our admissions team. In this initial assessment, we'll gather information from you about what you're struggling with, speak with our team of providers, and then make a recommendation for what level of care we feel is the best fit for you and your needs. If you’re experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, anxiety disorder, or other behavioral or mental health challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out. To get started with our intake process, give us a call at 775-525-8103 or fill out this form . We can’t wait to help you Thrive.
December 2, 2025
Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.
November 14, 2025
The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again. 
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