Originally written in 2023, updated with new reflections. I recently learned something that really shifted how I experience one of my favourite places: Point Pleasant Park: where I live, work, play, and offer nature-informed therapy sessions and group workshops. I learned that this park was originally called Amntu’kati, meaning “place for spirits” in Mi’kmaq. Before…
Forest bathing is an emerging therapeutic intervention with 40 years of research behind it, proving our overwhelming need for time outside. What is Forest Bathing?Forest bathing is defined as “immersing oneself in nature by mindfully using all five senses.” Also known as Shinrin-Yoku in Japanese, forest bathing surfaced as a prevention and treatment technique in…
Don’t you love the feeling you get when you drive out of the city, the skyscrapers and traffic sounds fade away and you find yourself surrounded by crisp air, lush trees, and chirping birds? Ahh…the peace, the quiet, the release. If you’ve had this type of experience, you’re not alone: increasing research demonstrates the many…