What is Nature & Forest Therapy?

Forest therapy is a gentle guided walk in a natural setting that makes space for relaxation and deep connection to nature, oneself, and others, basking in the therapeutic benefits of trees and nature.

I'm a certified guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) , which has a heart-centered, relational philosophy. It's a wonderfully welcoming and open approach, based on invitations and meeting people where they are at. In our practice,

the forest is the therapist, the guide opens the doors.

Traditional Japanese Forest Bathing, called shinrin-yoku, has since the 1980s scientifically proven the health benefits of spending time in nature. Trees --particularly pine, cedar, cypress, and hemlock – produce phytoncides which are meant to protect themselves from harm. And, these chemical compounds – that rich, piney smell – also boost our immune system and lower our stress levels! If you'd like to read more about the science of Nature Based Interventions, look out for a blog post about it, which I will link here when it's up.

My forest therapy guiding is absolutely informed by this traditional forest bathing, but I take an approach that is less prescriptive and more invitational and open.

Forest therapy is not: hiking, foraging, an educational nature walk or learning about plants. All those things are wonderful and valuable, but this is not what we're doing on a forest therapy walk. We're exploring and getting to know the woods in a whole new way, connecting with the more-than-human-world.

I hope you'll join me on a walk in the Philadelphia area. Contact me for more information.