When people discover the magic of guided Forest Bathing, the first question is often: “How can I do this for a living?”
It’s true that becoming a certified Forest Bathing Guide is an incredibly rewarding and purposeful career path. But what exactly are the skills and innate qualities that separate a good guide from a truly transformative one? Being a guide is about holding space – creating a safe, non-judgmental container where participants can truly slow down and connect.
If you’re considering training, here is an honest look at who the Forest Therapy Course is designed for (and who it might not be for).
Who is the Forest Bathing Guide Training For?
The best guides already possess a deep desire to serve and a passion for the natural world. Our training is designed to give these individuals the professional framework and confidence they need to turn that passion into a successful practice.
1. The Empath and Caregiver
If your current job or life path involves caring for others – perhaps you are a yoga teacher, coach, therapist, nurse, social worker or forest school teacher – you already understand the importance of wellbeing. You have an innate ability to connect deeply and empathise, and you are looking for a gentle, restorative modality to enhance your existing offerings. And did you know that Adore Your Outdoors offers concessions for these professions?
2. The Committed Nature Lover
You are already someone who finds deep comfort and connection in the outdoors. You recognise that time in nature is not just a hobby but a vital component of mental and physical health. If you’ve ever said “nature saved me” to yourself, then this Forest Therapy course might just be the one for you. You are now ready to professionalise that innate wisdom and share it with others in a structured, therapeutic way.
3. The Outsider Who Found Belonging in Nature
If you’ve spent your life feeling like you don’t quite fit the mold, perhaps identifying as queer or belonging to another minority group, you know the powerful relief of finding your place. Mother Nature offers a space free of judgement, welcoming and celebrating you exactly as you are. If you recognise that incredible lift and want to share safe, inclusive connection with others, this training is for you.
4. The Career Changer Seeking Humane Pace and Purpose
You might be coming from a busy corporate background, feeling the hollow ache of burnout and a desire for more meaningful, flexible work. Or perhaps you already run your own wellness business, but seek to expand your reach to help more people and Mother Earth. Our training is for the Downshifter – someone prioritising wellbeing over material success. These people seek a rhythm of life that feels more humane, balanced and aligned with your deeper values. Our training integrates self-care with service, allowing you to earn a sustainable worthwhile living while prioritising your own wellbeing and treading lightly where you go.
The Essential Skills and Qualities of a Great Guide
A great guide requires two core things: the innate soft skills you already have, and the technical skills you gain through accredited training.
Innate Soft Skills (The Heart)
- Presence and Deep Listening: The most vital skill is the ability to be fully present. This means not rushing, listening with your entire body and being comfortable with silence. Your job is to facilitate discovery, not lecture on botany.
- Non-Judgmental Holding of Space: Participants often arrive carrying stress or emotion. A good guide creates and holds a safe, non-judgmental space – the therapeutic container – where any response to nature is welcomed and validated.
- Patience: Forest Bathing operates on “nature’s time”, which means slow, deliberate movements. A great guide is comfortable with silence, stillness and moving at a pace that allows for true immersion.
- Authenticity and Vulnerability: Trainees must be willing to engage in their own deep personal practice. Your ability to connect authentically with nature and yourself is what allows others to connect with you.
Acquired Technical Skills (The Practice)
- Rhythmic Invitation Delivery: Learning how to deliver forest bathing invitations (the sensory, mindful activities that underpin the experience) and sharing circles in a way that is structured, safe and effective for guiding participants into a mindful state.
- Risk Assessment and Safety: Mastering the practical skills required to run sessions safely, including dynamic risk assessments and emergency protocols.
- Post-Session Integration: Knowing how to gently transition participants out of the immersive experience and back into their everyday lives, often through sharing and reflection.
- Business Acumen: Understanding how to market, manage bookings, handle payments, and promote your services effectively. We teach this because your passion needs a sustainable structure to thrive.
Who is the Forest Bathing Course NOT For?
It is just as important to understand if this work isn’t the right fit at this moment in your life:
❌ The Quick-Fix Seeker: This is not a passive, easy certification. Our twice-accredited training requires deep personal commitment, coursework, and reflection and it’s the best Forest Therapy course for those committed to the work. If you’re looking for a weekend course to quickly add a line to your CV without doing the necessary personal work, this program is not for you.
❌ The Fact-First Lecturer: If you feel the urge to correct people, provide detailed scientific lectures, or prioritise botanical facts over sensory experience, you may struggle. Forest Bathing is about feeling, sensing and noticing, not knowing or proving. There often isn’t a right or wrong way for your participants to feel or be and you need to respond accordingly.
❌ The One Who Pours from an Empty Cup: While this work is healing, it is not a cure for deep-seated personal trauma. You must already have a strong commitment to your own self-care practice. You cannot effectively guide others if you are consistently running on empty.
If you see yourself reflected in the ideal qualities – the desire for a deeper connection, the commitment to serving others and the willingness to learn – then you have the heart required for this transformative journey.
If you are ready to explore the curriculum and the six-month structure, I encourage you to download the Forest Therapy course prospectus or book a free discovery call.
Learn more about the course and grab the prospectus: https://adoreyouroutdoors.co.uk/forestbathingguidetraining/
Book a discovery call: https://adoreyouroutdoors.co.uk/letsconnect/
