Nurse-led forest connection: Science-backed reset for the chronically overextended.
I’m not great at meditation. Maybe I haven’t worked at it enough, but my mind pings around and I have such a hard time sitting still. On the other hand, being in the woods shifts me into someone who is all senses. The thoughts and many worries recede, and I’m just a noticer. The birdsong, the damp moss, the directional light.
I’m not escaping anything, nor running from the world. What I am doing is connecting and paying attention to things that have a longer lifespan that any person. I’m listening to something other than the noise of the human world. It gives me perspective, the long view, and quiet can sneak in and bring rest to my buzzing heart and mind.
What is Nature and Forest Therapy?
Modern Forest Therapy began in the 1980s as an intervention for stress-related illness. It acknowledges a simple, scientific truth: most of human history has been spent in the company of trees, plants, animals, and fungi. Our move away from them has come at a cost to our health.
Forest Therapy uses gentle, guided, sensory-based prompts that help you slow down and find your footing in a world that often feels too fast. It is a meditative and healing experience.
This isn’t a ‘hike in the woods—sessions are designed for recovery, not exertion. We begin with a brief check-in, followed by alternating slow walking and sitting, as I guide you through thoughtful exercises that help you connect with nature, and with yourself. Because this is about regulation rather than distance, it can be tailored to almost any physical ability.
My role is to offer sensory invitations that help you bridge the gap between your busy mind and the forest floor. Through a gentle sequence of prompts, you’ll engage with the forest in a way that feels quiet, grounded, and entirely yours.
Nature is Medicine
Forest Therapy is a research-backed reset shown to decrease markers of burnout and stress. Science shows the following benefits:
Physiological Restoration
Nervous System Balance: Shifts the body from "Fight or Flight" to "Rest and Digest" mode, stabilizing heart rate and blood pressure.
Cortisol Reduction: Clinical studies show immersive forest environments significantly lower serum cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
Immune Support: Inhaling phytoncides (natural tree compounds) increases Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and immune response.
Circadian Regulation: Natural light helps regulate sleep-wake cycles for deeper recovery.
Mental Recovery
Brain Fog Relief: Facilitates Attention Restoration, allowing neural pathways used for high-stakes decisions to recover.
Emotional Resilience: Provides a sensory buffer against high-stress careers by reducing anxiety and mental exhaustion.
Mental Clarity: Clears the "mental deck," offering a fresh perspective on daily challenges and long-term goals.
Want to learn more? Read more from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy
For those in caring roles like healthcare, teaching, social work, or parenting, the forest is a venue for active recovery.
Forest Therapy Offerings
Public group Mindfulness walk Sessions
A group of up to 12 people. We’ll get to know each other briefly, sit down for a centering awareness practice, and then stroll through a natural space paying attention to what’s around us. We will alternate between slow walking and stillness, and share observations between prompts. The session concludes with the sharing of tea together.
Private sessions for 1-3 people
Whether you are ready for some solitude or have a small group of friends you’d like to spend time with, private sessions give you the option to make your experience exactly what you need.
*additional guests can be added for a fee
Workplace Wellness
With burnout and overwhelm rampant in so many professions, work on workforce retention and build resilience in your team. Single outdoor sessions, weekly series, or indoor stress management in-services available. Contact Shannon for pricing and to discuss what would best support your workplace.