Natural Therapy as Integral Technology of Social and Physical Rehabilitation

Abstract

The concept of natural therapy is a product of the evolution of social work theories. The ecological model of social work was formed in the 60s of the twentieth century and assumed the inclusion of an ecological context in the social sphere and social work as a practical activity. In the 21st century, environmental methods of social work have changed the focus and social rehabilitation has become a priority using such environmental technologies as animal therapy, garden therapy, agrotherapy, aesthetic therapy, and so on. The article examines the Ukrainian national experience in the development of social and physical rehabilitation of various categories of the population using environmental technologies. One of the main features of the formation of national experience of the concept of natural therapy is that today the use of its components is at the initial level. The technologies for animal-assisted therapy are somewhat better developed in comparison with agrotherapy and garden therapy. The combination of these technologies into a single rehabilitation complex makes it possible to use the advantages of each of these technologies (animal therapy, agrotherapy and garden therapy) to achieve the maximum rehabilitation effect for each client, which requires social and physical rehabilitation.