Lindy is an experienced consultant with nearly three decades of practice supporting organisational leaders. Her growing concern for the impact of chronic stress on mental health led her to pursue an MSc in Psychology: Environment, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Cumbria. Here, she talks about her experiences on our programme and shares how her studies have enhanced her consultancy practice and inspired future academic and professional ambitions.
Tell us about yourself, and what led you to study for your MSc in Environment, Health and Wellbeing?
As a consultant working with leaders of organisations over a period of 28 years, I have frequently been aware of how mental health not only predicts leaders' effectiveness but also that when high levels of stress are experienced over long periods, there is a huge toll on the individual’s wellbeing.
I have seen this show up in multiple ways; for example, the inability to think beyond the immediate, confused decision making, and in several instances, clinical burnout, where people couldn’t function normally and left work for both short- and long-term treatment.
Although I had qualified as a clinical psychologist, I was not licensed to practice as such in my consultant capacity. However, I offered suggestions to people to explore ways to address their mental health issues, such as identifying stress releases, taking breaks, and in some cases, seeking out the help of a therapist.
What skills were you looking to develop on the programme?
I have been interested in how being in nature can have a positive effect on health for many years, not least through my own experiences of gardening, hiking, and canoeing. As I began reading popular articles on research into this topic, I started incorporating these ideas into suggestions for my clients and was amazed by some examples of transformational outcomes. I would suggest they carve out a short amount of time each day to get outside into green space. This was often just for 5 minutes to start with, as many executives who are stressed cannot see how they can take time out, as things are bad enough for them already, and their perception is that this would make it worse.
In one example, these 5 minutes quickly turned into an hour. This individual started hiking, and their wife joined them. After a year, they looked back on how their ability to better lead their team had increased; they were making good strategic decisions, their stress levels had lowered, and their overall wellbeing had increased, with their weight dropping significantly. Also, they were pleased that their relationship with their wife had improved – the hiking they were doing together gave them the time and space to talk in a way they had not done for a long time.
However, I began to realise I understood very little about environmental psychology and its impact on health, and I knew if I was going to increase my practice in this area, I needed a professional and academic foundation.
Why did you choose to study your MSc at the University of Cumbria?
I applied to the Environmental, Health and Wellbeing programme at the University of Cumbria because it was the only one that I could find that covered the areas I was interested in developing. It also offered a part-time option and was online, which was important as I had a busy schedule. Also, Cumbria has a very well rated psychology team.
Can you tell us about your experiences on the course?
What I was looking for from the MSc was to develop the knowledge I needed to be a more effective consultant, and I was particularly interested in the modules on Environmental Psychology; Organisations and the Environment; and Outdoor Spaces, Health, and Wellbeing.
There were several theoretical and practical approaches that I had insignificant knowledge of that became particularly important to me, and the programme gave me space and support to explore these areas. This included learning about biophilia and the related Stress Reduction and Attention Restoration Theories; research on the role of nature in areas such as green prescribing; and how engagement with and connection to nature improves overall health.
However, I also found that I had a real interest in developing in areas introduced to me on the course, such as Research Skills and Methods, which included examining different ontologies and epistemologies – this provided me with a more comprehensive approach to ethical dilemmas than I had previously experienced, as well as the application of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. I was able to apply this learning to the areas of mental health, and also action research I was interested in. I developed an experiment in the Negotiated Learning module and applied Critical Realism to a systematic literature review for my Dissertation.
Feedback from my tutors was always extremely insightful and reflective, which helped me recognise that I still have areas for ongoing development. In particular, I need to improve my ability to effectively analyse and synthesise data, avoid getting lost in the details when under pressure, and perform more consistently, especially when working on subjects I’m not as passionate about.
Although the programme was virtual and primarily asynchronous, the tutors were always willing to meet to discuss questions I had. Also, I was able to visit the campus to meet with tutors, other students from the programme, and with researchers, so we could get to know each other as well as discuss and provide feedback on the work we were doing. Also, interactions took place using a Padlet, which we were encouraged to contribute to.
Being self-motivated and able to manage your own coursework was an important part of the programme. I enjoyed the freedom of this but also recognised my personal challenges of managing (not always effectively) my temptation to explore too widely and lose focus.
What are you most proud of? Are there any achievements that stand out to you?
I was most proud of how I was able to complete the MSc with merit, despite having an incredibly challenging consultancy work schedule. The results I was most surprised with were for assignments that had to be delivered as a PowerPoint. I had done most of my academic studying during a period when essays were the standard, and I was very anxious about using PowerPoint for an academic project, even though I use them regularly in the workplace. I found not only that I enjoyed the discipline needed to produce a very engaging set of slides, but that this format is a good framework for keeping me focused and telling a thought-through story that others can understand with clarity.
I felt good about taking on the role of student representative, given the challenges of engaging with the other course members, some of whom did not feel comfortable engaging or were in time zones that caused accessibility issues. Overall, I was pleased that I did this, and I think I was able to represent other voices effectively. I made some suggestions about how to increase active participation between students on a remote learning programme, which I believe were listened to.
What are your plans for the future? What would you like to do next?
I intend to register for a PhD to further explore the specific factors within green space interaction that positively influence mental health, as current research tends to focus on general effects. I have already applied my learning to support a board of trustees dedicated to educating the public on sustainable gardening practices in the context of climate change, with the goal of promoting environmental wellbeing. This has developed into a long-term engagement, which I am finding very enjoyable – my aim is to contribute blogs to their Instagram.
I have also written a couple of short pieces for other internet sites, including Scribehound Gardening, and on my own organisation website. I want to continue expanding my writing so I can contribute to others’ learning. Finally, I now incorporate discussion of wellbeing and nature exposure into my coaching practice.
I originally decided to study for my MSc in Psychology: Environment, Health and Wellbeing because I wanted to develop my knowledge and enhance my consultancy practice, but the course has expanded my horizons and changed my perspective on what I do from now on. I have found tremendous energy for continuing my learning, and I am redefining what I do in my professional life.
You can learn more about Lindy, and her work, over on her website.