Ecopsychology and Relationship Competency: The Empowerment of Women Graduate Students Through Nature Experiences

Abstract

Professional psychology has struggled to find ways to enhance graduate students' relationship competencies. An Ecopsychology course can increase relationship competencies and also empower women students through exercises and experiences that help women connect with nature and shift into an ecofeminist, equalitarian framework. Through the Ecopsychology course, women can undo internalized negative stereotypes they have held about themselves and other women as a result of their gender minority status in society. The course can also enable women to experience a change in power dynamics and relinquish impression management rituals, thereby empowering them to “be themselves” in public as well as in private. Evaluations over 10 years of the course are consistently very high—close to Outstanding. Qualitative analysis of course participants' evaluation feedback reveals that students derive benefits in relationship, intervention, and research competencies.