The Forest as Physician and Therapist

Source: Mariya Muschard / Pixabay

Trees. We need them. We need more of them, and we know it, as not a week goes by without an article on forest bathing or green social prescribing making it into the news. And with good reason, as the evidence for the benefits of both to your mental health and well-being is very clear on the matter. Nature isn’t just good for those things; it’s essential.

A little earlier this year, Catherine, Princess of Wales (or Princess Kate as she’s called in some media), extolled the virtues of forest bathing as part of her cancer recovery journey. “Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease,” she said.

As the future Queen of England, the things she says carry quite some weight. But you don’t just have to take her word for it, as the science is also very much on her side.

Again, earlier this year, a study found that guided forest bathing improved cognitive function in the elderly, including attention, working memory, and even creativity. ¹

Another 2025 all-female study found that forest bathing alleviated the symptoms of depression in a significant number of participants. ²

And if that were not enough to have you grabbing your coat and heading off into your nearest woodland, other studies have found it really helps ease the symptoms of that number-one problem in the developed world: namely, stress. ³

A trip to the local forest can also improve the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, support grief recovery, build resilience, improve well-being outcomes, and so much more.

I’m an advocate, and, in a big effort to practice what I preach, I am currently living in the middle of a forest miles from the nearest town. I am improving not only my ecotherapy skills but also my nature-based spirituality skills, as, for me, the two go hand in hand.

And I’m not the only coach, counselor, and psychotherapist out there who has, is, or is considering adding a touch of nature to their offering. Cognitive behavior therapy, hypnotherapy, and counseling, but in a forest instead of a clinic room? Now, there’s a thing.

Meanwhile, forest bathing, if you don’t already know, originated in Japan as a way of improving mental health outcomes for its ever-increasing population. Its official name is Shinrin-yoku (which literally translates as forest bathing). It is meant to be a full-on immersive and meditative experience, one where you really engage all your senses and soak up the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and even flavors of the forest.

Yes, you read that right, taste. And while no one is advocating that you go around licking plants and trees, if you open your mouth and just breathe deeply and calmly, in and out, you’ll be amazed at what you discover on the tip of your tongue.

Think of Shinrin-yoku as a form of yoga or meditation, as you don’t just walk through the forest, chatting with friends as you go. Oh no! Instead, you tread softly and quietly. You linger in that forest; you savor every aspect of it. It’s a process of therapeutic relaxation with a focus on full-on sensory engagement.

Forest therapy, also known as sylvotherapy, is an ancient practice, the effects of which were even noted by the Roman author, naturalist, and naval and army commander Pliny the Elder, who hailed it as “salutary” to all those who were recovering from a long illness.

But back in the present, and here in the UK, healthcare professionals are moving away from a pills-first prescription for diagnoses such as anxiety and depression. Instead, they are looking at improving lifestyle factors (such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep quality), possibly alongside a course of therapy, before considering medication. And it’s working.

A big part of this involves green social prescribing. Also known as “getting people out in nature more,” it can involve any one of several things, depending on what floats your boat, including hiking, wild swimming, forest bathing, fishing, gardening, horticulture, and yes, floating your boat on a lake or a river.

Forest Bathing Essential Reads

The Forest as Physician and Therapist

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A recent £5.77 million cross-governmental-funded project showed that expanding access to green social prescribing does indeed boost well-being and improve mental health. And it’s not only better than medication, but it’s also more cost-effective, too. ⁴

Sadly, since the turn of the industrial revolution, we’ve cut down around 50 percent of the world’s trees, but given our increasing lifespans, the rising rates of anxiety and depression, and the ever-increasing healthcare costs involved, it’s high time we planted a few more. England, for instance, is about to get its first National Forest in more than 30 years.

Known as the Western Forest, it will see 20 million trees planted across Bristol, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset by 2050 and, when finished, will have created around 2,500 hectares of woodland for people to lose themselves in.

Elsewhere, former Reddit CEO Yishan Wong, founder of the reforestation company Terraformation, wants to plant a trillion trees and see three billion acres of woodland restored. And while the main aim of that is to combat climate change, the additional benefit will be all that extra woodland in which to immerse yourself.

When it comes to that immersion, the latest trend on TikTok (where else?) is the 20-5-3 rule, a framework for spending time in nature developed by Dr. Rachel Hopman, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah. It involves spending 20 minutes in nearby green spaces three times a week, five hours a month in a semi-wild environment, and three days a year completely off-grid out in the wilderness somewhere. And her peers seem to be supporting her rule.

As I finish this article, the sun is shining where I am, so I am going to take myself off into the forest, sit under a tree, and meditate for a while before starting work. Later, I will be looking at some off-grid holiday options.