Forest Therapy Victoria

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Forest Therapy Victoria

Health and well-being in nature

18/02/2026

We had an amazing time under the trees at Grant’s Picnic Ground in the Dandenongs today.

The weather was good.

The people were great.

And nature provided. Again.

At one point the group was dispersed exploring the bush with magnifying glasses. I was waiting on the side of the track for them to rejoin me.

When a vehicle started to approach.

A little unusual, but I have seen the ranger drive along here before.

But it wasn’t the ranger.

Different vehicle.

With blue and red lights.

The police.

They pulled up next to me and wound down the window.

“Is everything ok?” I ask.

“There’s been a series of fires deliberately lit around here over the last few days. One just in the bush where your group is”

I look back at the group.

They all have magnifying glasses.

The police are looking for a fire bug.

This doesn’t look good…

“No stress, it’s not your group we’re after. We love what you do here.”

Depp. Breath. Out.

The group laughed about it later. And we expressed our frustrations that somebody would want to deliberately destroy this beautiful place.

Just another day in the life of Forest Therapy Victoria!

16/02/2026

Counsellors, psychologists, social workers - any body in helping, caring or teaching roles!

Our next professional development workshop on “Using Forest Therapy in Your Therapeutic Practice” is coming up on Feb 25th.

This four hour workshop is designed to give you a mix of the history, theory and science of forest therapy, plus practical ways you can use nature based interventions with your clients.

One hour inside. Three hours outside! And lots of stories of healing from working with our clients over the years.

We’ve only got six places left for the February intake. Book your place here:

https://www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au/programs-and-activities/professional-development/

See you under the trees!

15/02/2026

Yesterday was the annual weekend camp out for the in the stunningly beautiful Toolangi State Forest in Victoria.

This is the third time they have run the event and the third time Forest Therapy Victoria has joined the fun and led the group on a three hour forest therapy experience.

We led the group of 35 deep into the forest, told stories, learnt about how nature helps regulate our nervous system, engaged in a series of activities, and slowed down. Right down.

The pics tell the story of what happened next.

There were some tears.

Some discoveries.

Some things fell into place.

A deep sense of connection.

Healing.

Rest.

At the end, Cam from Zorali and I surprised the group by giving them each a copy of the Forest Therapy Journal as a reminder of our time together and an encouragement to continue the practice over the coming year.

Thank you to my offsider , and , and from Zorali. Love the work we do together!

We’ll see you there next year!

09/02/2026

A first for Forest Therapy Victoria!

This weekend marked our first Dandenongs walk not led by me — and I wasn’t even there.

Beautifully guided by Laura, with support from Asfia and Rhiannon, this walk signals a new chapter for Forest Therapy Victoria.

One that means more guides, more walks, and more people getting outside more often for their health and wellbeing.

Deeply grateful for this growing team and what’s unfolding.

The team looks forward to seeing you under the trees!

07/02/2026

Fractals are woven through forests.

Branching limbs, leaf veins, bark textures — the same patterns repeating, softly, at every scale.

Our nervous systems evolved in these environments.

Long before modern life, our eyes and bodies learned to settle among trees.

Fractals offer gentle complexity.

Enough variation to hold attention, enough order to feel safe.

When we spend time in forests, the brain works less to make sense of what it sees.

Visual effort drops. The body follows.

Breath slows. Muscles soften. Stress hormones ease their grip.

Forest therapy isn’t about doing anything at all.
It’s about letting these ancient patterns do what they’ve always done.

The forest speaks in fractals —
and the nervous system remembers how to listen.

You’re invited to join us under the trees to exprience the of the rhythms and patterns of the forest.

www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au

03/02/2026

We’ve got some places left for our Forest Therapy event at Eagles Nest in the Dandenongs this coming Saturday (7th February, 9:30am - 12:30am).
This is my favourite location to run Forest Therapy. It’s deep in the heart of the mountains. There’s little noise of human origin. The smell of the bush is rich. The bird and wild life is amazing.
Laura Cox will be your guide. Laura brings a background in Adventure Therapy and counselling to Forest Therapy Victoria and has a unique ability to lead you into a deep experience of the bush.
Join Laura under the trees this Saturday! Link in bio.

02/02/2026

Last week I was at the shops picking up some groceries for the week. I’d just finished a Forest Therapy event and was still in uniform.

The guy who was taking my payment was in his late thirties. When he saw the Forest Therapy Victoria logo on my hat and shirt, he looked puzzled.

“Do you take people outside for counselling sessions?”

“Yes”

“As in, people with trauma or mental health and stuff like that?”

“Yes”

He looked at me. A little tear appearing in his eye.

And then, in a quiet whisper.

“Where were you when I was a teenager?”

I reassured him that help was available now if he still needed it. He thanked me and placed my groceries in the trolley.

Forest Therapy Victoria is well known for its public Forest Therapy Events. Of course, we also run professional development workshops, corporate team days, private events for couples and families, and offer keynote presentations at conferences.

But Forest Therapy Victoria is also a counselling practice. Several members of the team are professionally trained, accredited counsellors and are members of the ACA or PACFA. Individual sessions are held outside (weather permitting) and nature becomes part of the therapy, alongside other common modalities.

Counselling is available for adults and children. If you or somebody you know would like to explore outdoor counselling or have some more questions, send through a private message, or call 1300 38 50 20.

Matt and the team at FTV.

24/01/2026

It’s 40 degrees in Melbourne today.

Disgustingly hot.

Of course, doing out door work with Forest Therapy Victoria means a number of events every year have to be cancelled or postponed.

Had our Forest Therapy walk this morning been cracked for the mountains, it would likely have been cancelled. We don’t want add to the numbers of people that have to be evacuated should a fire break out.

Today, however, we were at the Urban Forest in East Malvern, just a short walk from the imposing Chadstone Shopping Centre.

While the park is very lush and bushy, the fire risk was minimal. Rather than cancel because of the heat, me made the start time 90 minutes earlier. I was there at 7am to walk the trail and complete the risk assessment, all in readiness to kick off at 8am.

The morning air was cool.

The bush smelt fresh.

Birdsong joyfully as the woke to the day.

The occasional early riser nodded as the jogged past with their dogs.

And, as always, nature did its thing.

Peace and calm became the feature early on this summer morning.

We finished our tea ceremony and sharing circle by 11am and headed home before the heat started to bite. All thankful for being held safely by the trees.

19/01/2026

Come and join us in Toolangi in Feb!

14/01/2026

A mum bought her son and his girlfriend a Forest Therapy experience and a copy each of the Forest Therapy Journal for Christmas.

I joined them this afternoon in the mountains to lead them on three hours of creative, sensory and mindful, nature-based activities.

Over tea and snacks at the end, they shared how much they have missed their childhood experiences of being outdoors. Using the journal they are planning to reclaim that and start a weekly Forest Therspy ritual together.

So beautiful.

And well done Mum on such a thoughtful gift for your son!

https://www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au/

10/01/2026

Our first forest therapy event for the year this morning, led by Laura Cox with me as the trusty assistant!

Touch and go yesterday whether we would go ahead or not, but cooler temperature and a sprinkle of rain in the mountain over night and all was good.

Greeted by a very exhausted looking park ranger when we got there. I think he’s had zero sleep these last few days.

Lots of public events coming up, but don’t forget one on one nature based counselling is also available.

See you under the trees!!

Forest Therapy Victoria

Address

148-150 Yarra Street
Warrandyte, VIC
3113

Website

http://www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au/

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