‘An Embodied Journey Towards Recovery’: A Grounded Theory of Mental Health Service Users’ Experiences of a Nature-based Intervention

BACKGROUND: Nature-based interventions (NBIs) have been identified to support a recovery-oriented approach for people experiencing mental health issues. However, there is still limited knowledge related to how mental health service users experience their recovery process when engaged in NBIs. AIM: To explore and explain how mental health service users experience the process of personal recovery from participating in a newly developed NBI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted using constructivist grounded theory and included 20 participants. The NBI, including equine-assisted therapy, was delivered in groups at a farm-based rehabilitation centre. Purposeful sampling was used, and in-depth interviews were performed on site. Data were analysed in an iterative, comparative process. During the analysis, NVIVO 14 was used to organise and manage the data systematically. RESULTS: The grounded theory of the core concept 'A process of embodied recovery', described the participants' experiences of personal recovery during the NBI and included three concepts: 'Experiencing interconnection' through transactions with the environment, 'Processing inner connection' through reflection and 'Feeling intra-connected' through integration of self and body as a whole in everyday life. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: The NBI provides positive multisensory experiences to support personal recovery among mental health service users. The findings hold significant implications for the advancement of recovery-oriented services in mental health care, including occupational therapy.