More Than Therapeutic

Watching the television recently I heard about surfing therapy – well half-heard, more strictly – and about a research programme in America into the therapeutic potential of surfing to help service personnel with PTSD. And, nearer to home, Google shows that something similar is happening in Redruth, through a charity called Surf Action. So I’ve added both surf and water therapies to the virtual list I’m compiling – pausing only to note that I was oblivious to them all until about three years ago; green therapy, nature therapy, outdoor therapy, forest bathing, bird therapy, gardening for therapy, art for recovery, therapeutic photography, archaeology for therapy, Tai-Chi for wellbeing, writing therapy, singing therapy, breathing therapy and now surfing therapy and water therapy.

Of course, there are more. Ian does library bathing (it’s like forest bathing but around books) and tennis-therapy (that's a wellbeing hour with Mel the coach, concentrating on movement, laughter and expansiveness). And, thinking back, Mum enjoyed a friendship-therapy group; they met every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the summer (on the pretext of making sandwiches for the mid-match tea during their husbands’ game of cricket) but in practice it was about self-help, laughter, solidarity, support, friendship and encouragement. Oh yes, and a lot of gin!!

Harewood Church, Leeds

I stumbled onto the idea that some of the activities in my life are also therapeutic – that woodland walking and photography have wider benefits. At first it was a barely conscious awareness but it became explicit through good fortune – through the timely appearance of articles in the newspaper and items on the television plus, inevitably, information on the internet. As a result, I started to anticipate that my camera-outings would be beneficial as well as enjoyable; envisaging the way that I would immerse myself in the experience; knowing that my mind would switch off from any negative clouds around me (a valuable outcome during a pandemic!) – so we participated more often, more freely, more deeply.

And now I've added church-visits to my wellbeing list, aware that churches act like green therapy (without being green), light therapy, breathing therapy and sound therapy all rolled into one glorious, relaxing bundle.

But now seems a good time to step away from any medical connotations of the word ‘therapy’ and remember that my photography is 'more than therapeutic.'

It’s about enrichment, engagement and enlargement, learning and growth; losing myself in the experience and being ‘in the zone’; seeing beauty in the world, not just stress; child-like pleasure, joyousness, laughter and fun. It’s about all these things and more.

And maybe it’s time to enjoy our camera-outings for the sheer, simple pleasure of enjoying them.