Nature Therapy and Mental Health: What New Research Tells Us About Our Practice
Nature Therapy and Mental Health: What New Research Tells Us About Our Practice
A Forest Therapist's Reflection
As a forest therapy guide, I've witnessed countless moments of transformation as participants connect with nature. However, as our field grows, it's crucial that we examine the scientific evidence behind our practice. A new systematic review published in March 2024 has caught my attention, challenging some of our assumptions while validating others.
Understanding the Research Landscape
When I first began guiding forest therapy sessions, I relied heavily on intuition and traditional knowledge. Today, as I read this comprehensive review of eight clinical trials, I find myself both encouraged and humbled by what the science reveals about our work.
What the Research Examined
The researchers looked at key measures we often discuss in our practice:
Stress levels (both psychological and physiological)
Anxiety and depression markers
Blood pressure changes
Cortisol levels (our primary stress hormone)
Key Findings Through a Guide's Lens
The Stress Response
As a guide, I've always noticed how participants' shoulders drop and breathing deepens during our forest sessions. The research partially validates these observations, showing significant stress reduction in some studies using the Stress Response Inventory. However, I must acknowledge that other measurements showed mixed results.
Physiological Changes
Here's where the research particularly interests me. Those cortisol studies we've often cited? The review found some positive changes in cortisol levels, but raises important questions about methodology. As someone who has built programs around the "science of forest bathing," I need to be more nuanced in how I present these benefits to participants.
What This Means for Our Practice
Rethinking Session Design
The studies examined various approaches:
Short 15-minute interventions
Weekly sessions over 6-8 weeks
Different natural settings
As a practitioner, this diversity of approaches both validates our flexibility and challenges us to be more precise. I'm now restructuring my programs to better document and measure outcomes, inspired by the research protocols described.
Cultural Considerations
One fascinating aspect of this review is its observation that most research comes from Asian countries. As someone practicing in Southern Ontario, this reminds me to be mindful of cultural differences while applying research findings to our local context.
Honest Reflections on Limitations
The review's conclusion feels challenging at first: "limited support for advocating nature-based therapeutic interventions as a primary approach." However, as a seasoned guide, I interpret this not as a dismissal of our work, but as a call to:
Design more rigorous programs
Better document our outcomes
Be more precise in our claims
Integrate standardized measurement tools
Moving Forward: A Guide's Action Plan
Based on this research, I'm implementing several changes in my practice:
Session Documentation
Adding standardized mood assessments
Creating clear protocols for different group needs
Documenting environmental conditions
Program Design
Offering both short and long-term engagement options
Including control measures where possible
Being more specific about expected outcomes
Client Communication
Being more precise about benefit claims
Acknowledging the emerging nature of our research base
Emphasizing personal experience while being honest about scientific evidence
Personal Conclusion
As someone who has dedicated their professional life to forest therapy, this review doesn't diminish my belief in our work. Instead, it challenges us to grow more rigorous in our approach. The magic I witness in the forest remains real – we're simply being asked to document and understand it better.
For my fellow guides reading this, I encourage you to:
Study this research carefully
Implement more structured evaluation methods
Contribute to building our evidence base
Stay humble and curious about what we don't yet know
The forest has always been our teacher. Now, science is helping us understand exactly how and why our work matters, while reminding us there's still much to learn.
Keywords: forest therapy, nature therapy, mental health research, evidence-based practice, therapeutic outcomes, forest bathing, shinrin-yoku, nature-based intervention
