Abstract
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is a long-term condition, where damage to the brain can have significant impact on one’s physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing. Although research suggests that nature engagement might support these areas in many other populations, the research pertaining to those with ABI has been relatively limited. This portfolio investigates the experience and opinions of nature-based interactions after ABI through the same semi-structured interview with thirteen participants, and is divided into two empirical papers. The first paper explores what it is like to interact with nature after ABI, to see whether there are any benefits or challenges for this population that have been otherwise overlooked. Results suggest nature engagement to be of psychological benefit to this population, over and above what is already set out in mainstream evidence. It can promote psychological adjustment, mood, cognitive restoration, and a sense of escape. Results did however find physical and emotional challenges for this population that have otherwise been overlooked in the literature, which highlight important considerations for the implementation of nature-based interventions. In the second empirical paper, opinions of those with an ABI are further explored with relation to the use of nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) in healthcare services. Results suggest NBR is an important avenue for services to consider implementing, in light of perceived lack of support for those with ABI in the current system, and a desire for different and more engaging methods. Those with ABI also highlighted important recommendations for services to adopt if implementing NBR, such as involving service users in the creation of rehabilitation plans. Both papers therefore highlight positive findings with relation to nature’s benefits for an ABI population, with specific considerations for this population in mind. This has important implications for both theory and clinical delivery of nature-based interventions going forward.