What Is Forest Therapy? A Beginner’s Guide to the Practice

Forest therapy is having a moment, and for good reason. What started as a quiet practice in Japan has grown into an international movement embraced by therapists, coaches, and nature lovers alike. But despite its growing popularity, many people still aren’t quite sure what forest therapy actually is, or how it differs from simply going for a hike. If you’re curious about the practice and where it might fit into your life, this beginner’s guide will walk you through the basics of forest therapy and why it has captured so much attention.

What Happens During a Forest Therapy Walk?

At its core, forest therapy is a slow, guided practice designed to help people reconnect with the natural world through their senses. Unlike a hike, which is often about covering distance or reaching a destination, a forest therapy walk rarely covers more than a mile over the course of two to three hours. A trained guide leads participants through a series of invitations, simple prompts that encourage noticing texture, sound, light, or scent. There’s no rush, and there’s no wrong way to experience it.

Guides are trained to hold space rather than lead in the traditional sense. Their role is to create safety, offer gentle structure, and step back so each participant can have their own experience with the land. Many walks end in a shared tea ceremony, made from foraged or local plants, as a way to close the experience in community.

Research behind the practice has grown substantially over the last decade. Studies have linked time in forest therapy settings to lower cortisol levels, reduced blood pressure, improved mood, and even measurable boosts to immune function. For many participants, though, the benefits are simpler to describe: a sense of calm, presence, and connection that’s hard to find elsewhere.

It’s also worth noting that forest therapy isn’t reserved for any one type of person. Participants range from busy professionals looking for a reset, to therapists and educators exploring new tools for their own work, to people simply craving more time outdoors with intention. No experience with meditation, mindfulness, or the outdoors is required; the practice meets people exactly where they are.

Forest therapy isn’t a trend so much as a return to something we’ve always known: that time spent in relationship with nature is good for us. Whether you’re looking for a single walk to slow down and reset, or you’re considering a deeper path into the practice, forest therapy offers something rare in modern life: permission to simply be present. A forest therapy retreat training experience can be a powerful way to deepen this practice quickly, surrounded by land and community.