Our Values & Principles

1. Expanding Nature’s Benefits Where It Can’t Reach

InnerGarden extends some of the benefits of nature to moments when direct contact isn’t possible - and keeps the connection alive for when you need it most.

It’s perfect for times when you or the people you support, such as clients, patients, or employees:

feel unwell
have limited mobility
face allergies
are short on time to get outside
wish to feel nature’s benefits before falling asleep
are indoors at work or in an institution

Our guided visualizations engage all your senses, allowing your body and mind to respond as if you were truly there. When you do have access to nature, the app creates a synergistic effect, helping you carry those moments of connection into times when you can’t be outside.

We’re not replacing nature — we’re expanding its reach. We encourage you to seek real contact with nature whenever you can — step outside, tend to your houseplants, watch the sky, …

2. From Screen to Self

InnerGarden is designed to reduce screen time, not increase it. Our app serves as a bridge back to yourself, fostering a deeper inner connection.

That’s why you won’t find video content - apart from a short video guide to help you get started with guided visualizations. Instead, you’ll find supportive images and carefully paced audio - inviting you to:

close your eyes, if that feels comfortable
rest them on a plant or a calming view nearby
and immerse yourself in your inner garden

We believe the most meaningful change comes from what you discover inside yourself — from accessing and using your inner resources, and from cultivating your inner resilience and strength — not from relying on something outside.

InnerGarden simply opens the door. The next steps are yours.

3. Psychological Deeper Roots

Beyond the moment

InnerGarden works here and now, bringing a shift you can feel within the first minute of entering the visualization — in both body and mind. Our visualizations also psychologically support different intentions and have a lasting impact over time.

Sustainable change & long-term well-being

We start at the root, addressing deeper layers of thought, emotion, and behavior to develop beneficial, sustainable ways of relating to yourself and others, as well as everyday habits. It has the potential to reshape patterns that no longer serve you.

Evidence-based approach

Our approach is grounded in proven principles from psychology, horticultural therapy, and neuroscience, developed by a team of psychologists with experience in employee well-being and a range of therapeutic approaches, including nature-based interventions.

Nature-inspired metaphors

We use therapeutic garden metaphors to anchor new habits more easily and make them feel natural, with the potential to reach deeper layers that may remain hard to access through “ordinary communication”.

4. More than Relaxation & Easier than Meditation

InnerGarden visualizations go beyond simple relaxation. They are easier to follow than traditional meditation, because you are guided. It’s a bit like listening to a story where you step into the scene, engaging your imagination and reconnecting with yourself.

If you’re looking for calm, you’ll find it here:

positive effects on your nervous system, breathing, and body
moments of deep rest supported by nature-inspired imagery

But it’s much more than that:

guided visualizations may evoke various emotions — not only calm ones — and that’s part of their restorative potential
you stay fully conscious and in control at all times
your mind usually surfaces only what you’re ready to process
even challenges can be valuable, like a meaningful talk with a trusted friend

We design these experiences to be safe, supportive, and empowering.

5. Living Our Garden Values

We honor diverse needs

Like a thriving garden, InnerGarden is designed to support people in different life contexts and backgrounds, with thoughtful attention to neurodiverse users. Our goal is to keep evolving it into a safe, healthy space for everyone who seeks it.

We grow at a natural pace

As a self-funded project, we can’t rush every new feature. Like adding new beds to a well-prepared soil, we introduce changes when the conditions are right, so they can truly flourish.

We respect restoration

We care for our own energy balance and well-being, knowing that a well-tended team is essential for the garden to keep blooming sustainably over the long term.

Feedback as Fertilizer

We see feedback as nourishment for our garden. Some ideas strengthen what’s already growing, others enrich the soil for future planting. We listen carefully, take notes, and use your input to help InnerGarden grow in the right direction.

6. Cultivating AI with Care

Responsible partnerships

We choose our technology partners like gardeners choose plants for a shared bed — only those that align with our standards for safety, transparency, and ethical growth.

Data handled with care

Just as a gardener protects the most delicate seedlings, we safeguard your information, never selling personal data and using only what’s needed to help the garden thrive. Read more about our data protection.

Efficient by design

Like a well-planned garden that makes the most of sun, soil, and water, our app architecture is designed with resource efficiency and long-term sustainability in mind.

If you have any questions or concerns about how we work with our values, please contact us: Email: hello@innergarden.ai