Nature is the Missing Piece for Me--and Maybe You

Try Forest Therapy, Three Different Ways, to Settle Your Mind, Body, and Heart

Imagine yourself in a natural setting that deeply appeals to you. For me, it’s any forest where huge, old trees dwarf me as I look up through their branches to the sky. Maybe for you it’s lying in a meadow of grasses and wildflowers, sitting in the sand on a beach, or even sitting in your home, surrounded by special houseplants, rocks, or seashells.

Let yourself take in what it feels like to be in this place. Notice what you smell, the colors you see, the sounds nearby and distant, maybe the flavor of something you sip, like tea (nature magically transformed in a mug). Pay attention to anything that shifts in your body as you visit with nature.

How are you feeling now?

Your imagination can help you settle.

Your breath evens out. Your thoughts stop swirling. Your body unclenches. Your emotions float by.

You see what your next step could be on the path you most want to take.

Feels great, right?

But sometimes it’s hard to imagine, visualize, or meditate on our own.

I want this experience for you. Heck, I’d like it for myself more often, too.

But sometimes we need to connect with nature in a tangible way to truly settle and discern our next steps.

You can have this experience in your real, everyday life with the help of forest therapy.

What is Forest Therapy and What are Its Benefits?

Forest therapy is an ecotherapy and wellness movement rooted in the healing power of nature as a resource to support people and the planet. Originally developed from the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, forest therapy has evolved into a holistic approach practiced worldwide.

Unlike hiking or outdoor exercise, forest therapy is a slow, mindful practice. You might find people practicing forest therapy in nature reserves, city parks, botanical gardens, suburban yards, or even indoors. Because forest therapy is about connect to yourself and to the rest of the natural world in a powerful, authentic way, it can be adapted to for people of all ages, physical capabilities, and places of residence.

At its heart, forest therapy offers a research-supported way to:

· Lower stress and cortisol levels

· Boost immune function, reduce inflammation, and improve healing

· Enhance mood and mental focus

· Promote mindfulness, boost attention, and support inner calm

And all of these personal benefits come with a deeper connection to the land and nature of which we are a part. Many certified forest therapy guides, including me, see these practices as essential for helping people learn to love nature enough to work to protect the environments in which we live.

Why is Forest Therapy a Good Fit for the Singularly Sensitive Community?

If you’re here, I presume that you identify with being sensitive. Maybe you’ve taken the quiz and found out you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP), you consider yourself an empath, or you just know that your heart and mind are pulled to feel and think deeply.

As sensitive people, we’re deeply impacted by the negatives and the positives in life (what researchers refer to as differential susceptibility).

The negatives? My hunch is that there is no shortage of those in your history, your current life, and the world around you.

But the positives in life? You can’t undo the past, but ask yourself: Are you doing enough to cultivate positive experiences in your life now?

If you’re honest with yourself, you might notice that certain bad habits creep in a little too often. Or we find ourselves knowing that we would feel better if we (journaled, meditated, exercised, drank more water, called a friend, etc.), but we find ourselves distracted, overcommitted, or unable to slow down.

Forest therapy walks are a gentle way to shift those patterns and create more positive experiences in your life. And you can get those benefits without actually going into a forest or walking. All you need to do is set the intention to experience and interact with the nature that is all around you.

Even in our homes, we encounter wood, water, food, perhaps plants, rocks, seashells, feathers, a pet. Lie in your bed or sit in a chair, and you can still take in nature and experience the benefits of forest therapy.

Sensitive people are ideally suited to forest therapy. We often need something external to focus on in order to settle our breathing and let our nervous systems regulate.

Forest therapy uses sensory awareness, mindfulness, and embodiment techniques so that we’re not consciously trying to settle our minds or shift our emotions. We’re simply slowing down and allowing ourselves to experience what it is like to be in relationship with the rest of nature.

And so many of us sensitive ones have a strong connection to plants, animals, and the land. Forest therapy lets us nurture and strengthen that connection. It’s filled with opportunities to experience wonder, awe, and aesthetic pleasure as we deepen our relationship with nature.

I’d Love For You to Join Me

Whether I’ve piqued your curiosity about trying forest therapy for the first time or you’ve already experienced its benefits, I’d love for you to join me in some forest therapy offerings designed specifically for sensitive people.

Nurtured By Nature Virtual Forest Therapy Walk (free)

Friday, September 19, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM Eastern

Nurtured By Nature Virtual Forest Therapy Walks, hosted on Zoom, combine mindfulness practices, options for slow, gentle movement or stationary practices, and opportunities to share with other participants. You can join from anywhere indoors or outdoors, as long as you have a reliable internet connection. Some common choices are a yard, porch, or balcony; a quiet spot in a local park; a favorite indoor spot with a view of nature through a window; or indoors near houseplants, a bowl of fruit and vegetables, leaves, or other natural objects. You can read more about Nurtured By Nature here or sign up here.

Nurtured By Nature Mentoring Sessions

Scheduled at your convenience.

Imagine if forest therapy and coaching had a baby, and you’ll get a sense of what a Nurtured By Nature Mentoring Session is like. We’ll meet 1:1 on Zoom and use forest therapy practices to help you calm your mind and body, open your heart and spirit, and discern what the next right-for-you-right-now steps are on your path to a goal or dream. It’s a great way to learn forest therapy skills that you can use as you continue to make progress towards what matters most to you, even if the world is burning around us. NBN Mentoring Sessions are designed as a one-meeting process, designed to help you get unstuck or accelerate your journey.

This is a new service I’ve created, so I’d really like to get some feedback about how people experience it (after all, what I think would be great may not quite be what you’re looking for). I’m offering 5 people the opportunity to try a mentoring session for only $50 and request that they complete a short survey afterwards with honest, constructive feedback that will help me tailor these sessions for the future. After those 5 slots are filled, appointments will be available at the regular price of $150. Please read more and register here.

October Soundings Circle: Nature (free)

Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 7:00-8:00 PM Eastern

Each month I gather with members of the Singularly Sensitive community to pause, reflect, respond to journal prompts, and share with each other. Usually, I end the circle with a guided meditation. For October’s Sounding Circle on Nature, I’m going to conclude with a forest therapy practice (which will have a lot in common with guided meditation, so our circle will end on a similar note). Please register here and join in this small, intimate group experience. All you’ll need to bring is something to write with, a curious mind, and an open heart.

Why I Want You to Experience Forest Therapy

Like many converts of whatever sort, I am zealous about connecting you with forest therapy practices. I believe they offer so much potential to help sensitive people take care of ourselves well enough that we can do the good things, make a difference in the world, and see our big dreams come to life. Each of us needs that. We need that in our community. And the world most certainly needs our contributions.

And forest therapy techniques are a natural fit with Singularly Sensitive—both emphasize starting exactly where you are, with the reality of your life at this moment. You can make forest therapy part of your everyday life, whether you live in a concrete jungle, suburban cul-de-sac, or on 200 acres of land. You can do a “walk” by hitting a trail, sitting in a greenway, or looking out your window. If you have mobility issues (like me) or have other accessibility concerns, I can help you figure out how to make forest therapy work for you.

At its heart, forest therapy is just a tool to help us rediscover our place in the whole of nature. Please sign up for one (all) of these offerings and find ways to use this tool to support your Singularly Sensitive lifestyle. I think you’ll be glad you did.