Individual and Community Benefits of Grounding Steppes
Psychological Benefits
Through nature-based trauma stewardship programming for professional caregivers, many psychological benefits can take shape. One is a positive change in mood due to exposure to serotonin-boosting bacteria in soils and through engagement with others in the community building process. Other benefits are achieved through the practice of mindfulness and self-compassion tools as they relate to healing from compassion fatigue and spending time in nature which contributes to attention restoration and decreased decision fatigue. When people experience vicarious trauma, they can feel out of control or as though they no longer have skills in self-efficacy. By addressing the roots and symptoms of vicarious trauma in outdoor spaces or in intentionally designed built green environments, an empowering restorative process ensues along with an increased professional quality of life and compassion satisfaction.
Physiological Benefits
Nature exposure and group support processing in various capacities have been linked to decreased cortisol and amylase production as associated with stress. In addition, nature exposure is also linked to a regulated heart rate, improved sleep, and an improved immune system.
Social and Cultural Benefits
Grounding Steppes will help build a sense of community within organizations who employ and support caregivers. This community will be crafted by the culture of the organization and of the people who make up that space as they engage with Grounding Steppes programming. This sense of community creates social capitol. Within this, there will be social support, social bonding, cohesion, and cooperation, a reciprocity of sharing and an enhanced worldview as we attempt to repair detrimental internal movements that may have occurred due to vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.
Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits of Grounding Steppes will be a natural byproduct of the relationship that professional caregivers will build during their resilience restoring journeys. By nurturing relationship and connection to green spaces, environmental stewardship will often follow. In addition, by finding ways to implement green areas, gardens, and nature engagement on site at professional organizations, Grounding Steppes will contribute to the creation of thriving ecosystems.
Economic Benefits
The main economic benefit that is associated with Grounding Steppes are lower turnover rates for caregivers at organizations who have implemented Grounding Steppes programming. In addition, the organizations that participate in this programming will be able to be more attentive to the needs of their clients due to the restorative properties of nature engagement and will receive the economic benefit that accompanies the ability of caregivers to deliver excellent quality of care.
