Recreational Therapy

Similar to equine therapy (horses), beekeeping can help with depression, anxiety, stress, Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), substance abuse, trauma, & behavior disorders. "Building an increased sense of trust, building your self-esteem, managing impulses, improving verbal and non-verbal communications, and much more can all be addressed by learning to respect, trust, and nurture another creature" (Strong Compass website, 2023).

Hillside Honey facilitators rely on the hard work of researchers and professional organizations to deliver the best possible programming to our participants. By understanding current research programming benefits are more easily and reliably achieved. 

This way Hillside Honey can spend time and resources where they can do the most good, and NOT trying to re-invent the wheel.  

By understanding what participants bring to the table (their strengths) less time is spent on what does not work. Using this person-first philosophy,  programming can focus on participant's values, and what is working in their environment, to help achieve their therapeutic goals.  

An easy way to conceptualize this is how a person and their goal/s are talked about:

"My friend, Kim who is living with depression is really struggling right now." - vs. - "My depressed friend Kim is struggling."

Nature elicits deep-seated and automatic responses (Kaplan, 1989). By removing cultural norms our brains cannot rely on their ingrained programming for what to expect and how to react. In this space new behaviors can be introduced and practiced. In our fast-paced world full of screens and demands nature provides a reduction of stimulus & arousal. Studies have shown that nature generates a positive mood which blocks negative feelings and creates a restorative environment for executive functioning. 

Our executive functioning are the skills needed to manage and accomplish tasks (working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control). Generally summed up as our thoughts, actions and emotions. It helps to think about executive functioning as a resource that can get depleted over time. Present day demands on our attention such as technology, social media, advertising, and politics all take their bite out of our ability to think, self control, and memory (Kaplan & Berman, 2010).

Biopsychosocial Model  (Engel, 1977) Fancy word that means we holistically consider social aspects (relationships, lack of societal support, ...etc.), biological aspects (specific diagnosis, gender, stressors, ...etc.), and psychological aspects (beliefs, emotions, gender-identity...etc) to address mental health.

In our strengths-based approach to programming we focus on beekeeping as a holistic tool. The act of keeping bees is a nature-based modality to enhance therapeutic goals set by the participant. Facilitators use evidenced-based practices to address a variety of goals in areas that may include depression, relationships, decision making, sensory stimulation, connections to the natural world, leisure skill development, self-efficacy, personal achievement and competency.