FOREST THERAPY PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
Our 16-week accredited Forest Therapy Practitioner training will certify you to be able to effectively promote your services as a Forest Therapy Practitioner.
The course was created by Lucy Duggan, who undertook a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust international research fellowship to study the health benefits of nature connection.
Her current research into the effects of forest therapy on post-partum depression has received a Royal College of Psychiatry innovation award and has been published in the British Medical Journal.
The training is delivered by course tutors Ava Maginnis, Jonny Elphinstone and Lucy Duggan.
We are a CPD Group-registered training provider and Complimentary Medical Association-registered training college.
By the end of this training you will:
Organise and lead safe and effective Forest Therapy sessions in woodlands and other natural environments
Grasp key theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of Forest Therapy practice
Understand fundamental group facilitation skills
Know essential research literature related to Forest Therapy and its impacts on human health
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“This course has already had a profound impact on my life and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. The depth of knowledge, quality of teaching and level of care and support has been above and beyond what I expected.
My experiences as a Forest Therapy Practitioner so far have brought me to a much deeper connection with myself and the natural world, and I now have the tools and ongoing support to build my private practice and spend my time offering that same connection to others. I’m forever grateful!”
- Hazel Monaghan, 2025 Graduate
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“The course was managed in a really effective way. The tutoring was great. The content of the modules were relevant and interesting. I loved how it was self paced but still laid out in manageable chunks.
I also really appreciate the good value for money compared to other similar courses, and the easy flexibility (for instance when I needed an extension).”
- Poppy Wildman, 2024 Graduate
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“Course content was in-depth and learning both online and module information provided was thorough, tutor phone calls were really helpful as were opportunities for peer support. Ava, our tutor was excellent and was supportive, informative and approachable. Thank-you for providing such an enjoyable training course which has prepared me for facilitating my own Forest Therapy sessions in the future!”
- Lou Barber, 2025 Cohort
Download Our Guide to Forest Therapy Practitioner Training
COURSE OUTLINE
The training takes place online over 16 weeks. There are four two-hour online training modules delivered via Zoom. Between these sessions there will be reading, practical and reflective assignments to complete.
The course includes an 8-week mentored practicum period where you’ll facilitate two walks, build foundational knowledge about your local geology, flora and fauna, answer test questions and submit an essay.
The programme includes two one-to-one mentoring calls and two group coaching calls.
The course fee is £1320 incl VAT. We have bursaries and payment plans available.
In what direction do our graduates take their training? Our Forest Therapy Training Graduates
FAQ: Why pick this training programme, when other providers are offering similar sounding courses for less than £100?
Our training isn’t about our learners downloading PDF modules, then ticking off a basic multiple choice test. Or taking part in an impersonal weekly Q & A session attended by scores of other people.
Instead, it is a rigorous live learning programme where:
You learn as part of a small, intimate group where all voices get heard
Your tutor gets to know you, and you them
Concepts are thoroughly debated and discussed
Your practice, and the depth of your skill and learning is individually, qualitatively assessed
With the help of:
A curriculum written by British Medical Journal published international researchers
A multidisciplinary learning approach encompassing neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, medical research, biochemistry, philosophy, aesthetics and spiritual perspectives
Live, facilitated module learning with expert tutors
Real time group discussions
One to one tutorial calls
Group coaching sessions
Detailed feedback given on all of your practical and written work
Our training ensures that our graduates are competent, confident and ethical practitioners, fully equipped to bring the power of nature connection into other people’s lives.
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Complimentary Medical Association Accredited College & Course
Light Box project CIC is registered as a Complementary Medical Association training college, and this training is accredited by them.
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CPD (Continuing Professional Development) Accredited Provider
Light Box Project CIC is a CDP approved provider number #788168 with The CPD Group.
Common Questions
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Yes. Anyone who is committed to learning and practising the necessary skills can become a forest therapy practitioner capable of supporting others to have restorative nature connection experiences.
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The only fixed attendance dates are the group coaching sessions and the classroom module learning: 6 dates in total. All learning sessions take place 6-8pm, after regular work hours and you can book your tutorials to be at a time that suits.
They are all recorded so you can catch up in the event you have to miss one of them due to circumstances beyond your control.
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The course fee is £1320. We have bursaries and payment plans available - you can choose to pay upfront, in 2, 4 or 6 instalments.
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The training has a large practical component which includes outdoor exercises (completed in your local area), leading a group and one to one session and undertaking a 5 hour solo immersion, alongside a certain amount of required reading and written assignments.
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We put together the following list of key skills and attributes:
Communication skills
Emotional intelligence
Time-keeping
Empathy
Adaptability and flexibility
Ability to plan and prepare for sessions
Ability to be (or act) confident
Self-awareness: our own style of communication and facilitation (Which may be discovered during the course if no prior facilitation experience), our personal strengths, and weaknesses
Ability to handle (rare!) difficult group situations
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If you already have a forest therapy practice that you share with others, gaining accreditation may add impetus to extend your reach and introduce your practice to new audiences, and offer a route to gaining formal recognition for your existing skills and knowledge.
The training also provides opportunities to work in closer contact with a community of individual practitioners, and will enrich your existing practice by expanding your knowledge of methodologies, research literature and theoretical and philosophical perspectives on the practice.
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We recommend that you download our course guide so that you have all the information before making a decision. You’ll find booking information at the end of the guide.
We’ve outlined everything you need to know about our Forest Therapy Practitioner Training in a free PDF Guide.
Learn how Forest Therapy practice could transform your life and the lives of others.
TRAINING DATES
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Tutor: Ava Maginnis
Tuesday 24th March 6-8PM: MODULE 1 Overview & values | Nature & the mind
Tuesday 7th April 6-8PM: MODULE 2 Research literature | Health benefits
Tuesday 21st April 6-8PM: MODULE 3 Session structure | Role of the senses & practitioner
Tuesday 5th May 6-8PM: MODULE 4 Facilitation skills | Building your practice
Tuesday 19th May 6-7.30PM: GROUP COACHING #1 and 8-WEEK PRACTICUM BEGINS
Tuesdays 26th May - 1st July: PERSONAL MENTORING #1 and #2 (5.00PM-7.30PM slots)
Tuesday 7th July 6-7.30PM: GROUP COACHING #2
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Tutor: Jonny Elphinstone
Wednesday 25th March 6-8PM: MODULE 1 Overview & values | Nature & the mind
Wednesday 8th April 6-8PM: MODULE 2 Research literature | Health benefits
Wednesday 22nd April 6-8PM: MODULE 3 Session structure | Role of the senses & practitioner
Wednesday 6th May 6-8PM: MODULE 4 Facilitation skills | Building your practice
Wednesday 20th May 6-7.30PM: GROUP COACHING #1 and 8-WEEK PRACTICUM BEGINS
Wednesdays 27th May - 2nd July: PERSONAL MENTORING #1 and #2 (5.00PM-7.30PM slots)
Wednesday 8th July 6-7.30PM: GROUP COACHING #2
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Tutor: Ava Maginnis
Thursday 26th March 6-8PM: MODULE 1 Overview & values | Nature & the mind
Thursday 9th April 6-8PM: MODULE 2 Research literature | Health benefits
Thursday 23rd April 6-8PM: MODULE 3 Session structure | Role of the senses & practitioner
Thursday 7th May 6-8PM: MODULE 4 Facilitation skills | Building your practice
Thursday 21st May 6-7.30PM: GROUP COACHING #1 and 8-WEEK PRACTICUM BEGINS
Thursdays 28th May - 2nd July PERSONAL MENTORING #1 and #2 (5.00PM-7.30PM slots)
Thursday 9th July 6-7.30PM: GROUP COACHING #2
The impacts of nature-based intervention
Light Box is active in the field of Nature and Health research. We are currently working in partnership with the University of Bristol’s Psychiatry department investigating the impacts of nature-based intervention on mothers with postnatal depression, and their babies. See the video for an overview:
What is covered in the Forest Therapy Practitioner Training?
Core competency standards: what a Forest Therapy Practitioner should understand and be prepared to do
Nature and Forest Therapy research findings
How to achieve embodied awareness through sensory invitations
Safety considerations
Group facilitation methods to promote interactive learning
“I loved this course, it was so inspiring, useful, well presented, clear and enjoyable.”
Dr Mary Delaney, 2022 Cohort. (Mary is a Psychologist who has since set up 'Neuro in Nature CIC' which supports individuals and families living with neurological conditions)
“I'd recommend the training because of the knowledgeable and passionate tutor, engaging and exciting content and the flexibility to fit around other commitments.”
Sarah Barber, 2022 Cohort.
Deciding whether to make the financial and time commitment required to gain certified Forest Therapy Practitioner status can be a carefully weighed decision, with many different training options out there to navigate and choose from.
We have a free guide which will provide key information to help you decide whether our training is right for you. Just click the button and sign up using your email address
Looking for a qualified Forest Therapy Practitioner?
Meet some of our graduates here: Our Forest Therapy Training Graduates
More about Forest Therapy
In a world that often glorifies busyness and productivity, the practice of forest bathing provides a much-needed pause – a chance to reconnect with the beauty and serenity of the natural world.
Forest bathing offers the tools and guidance needed to fully immerse in the healing embrace of nature. As we strive for balance and well-being, a forest bathing course can be a profound step towards cultivating a healthier, more harmonious life.