Forest Therapy Victoria

01/12/2025

The Forest Therapy Journal is a month old now.

It’s always a little surreal seeing a project that has been so close to your heart for such a long time, suddenly become a reality.

The feedback has been wonderful so far, as has been the creative ways that people have been using it.

A group of friends have purchased a copy each and are doing the year in nature together. Not always physically together to do the activities, but to share their experiences of nature when they catch up for coffee etc.

A workplace has purchased copies for every employee to encourage a healthier green/screen balance.

Several counsellors and psychologists have added it to their resource shelves and use some of the ideas from the journal on outdoor sessions with clients.

It’s been a popular Christmas gift.

And, of course, many people have bought it for themselves as a self-care tool for the coming year.

The first edition of both versions was a limited print run and if the current trend continues we are likely to sell out in the next 2-3 weeks. More will become available in the new year, but if you’re hoping to get it as a gift for somebody, my suggestion would be to get onto it quickly!

To read more about the journal or to purchase, visit https://www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au/the-forest-therapy-journal/

28/11/2025

It’s two days until Summer here in Melbourne.

It’s cold and wet.

We had giant hail stones this week.

Winds strong enough to blow my house to Oz.

Looking out the window, you’d swear it was Winter.

But, in a rare moment of sunshine, the paper daisies were smiling.

A reminder that everything will be ok.

24/11/2025

the trees tell me everything.

22/11/2025

Our final Zorali Outdoor Club Forest Therapy event was held this morning at Eagles Nest in the Dandenongs.

We extended our usual three hour program out to five hours and included a gentle 3km walk through the majestic tree fern gully. It’s hard to describe what the bush was like, but ‘magic’ comes close.

Afterwards we gathered for tea and snacks, with the consensus being that the slower pace combined with the mindful, sensory and creative activities brought a new level of calm.

We’re working on some dates for 2026 as well as some additional locations. We hope to see you under the trees!

Wishing everybody a safe and peaceful holiday season.

Matt and the team from Forest Therapy Victoria.

17/11/2025

Out scouting locations for some upcoming Forest Therapy corporate team days. I haven’t been to the Organ Pipes National Park since I was a child - an oasis squished between two freeways and the airport. Forest Therapy is all but booked out for team days for the rest of this year, but booking for 2026 are open. Dates for public events in 2026 are soon to be announced!

13/11/2025

https://www.theage.com.au/national/i-did-what-the-doctor-ordered-i-introduced-myself-to-a-mushroom-20251111-p5nedw.html

If you go down to the woods today … you’ll be better for it, according to an ever-growing body of research into forest bathing.

03/11/2025

It’s November already?

While the available places for counselling in 2025 are filling up, the team at MGA/FTV has capacity to take on new clients and supervisees.

It’s tempting to say, “I’ll wait until the new year and get onto it then.”

But why wait?

If you can achieve a goal, move towards healing, or start the process of recovering from grief or trauma, can I suggest you take the first steps now.

Even if that first step is just sending an email or making a phone call.

With my team, we’re happy to explore possibilities with you, and suggest others in our network if we’re not best positioned to help.

For small and medium size businesses looking to establish an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for their staff, now is a great time to begin that process so it is ready to launch in 2026.

More information is on the website: www.mgacounselling.com.au

Please share with anybody you think may benefit. Or get in touch if you’d like some more information.

27/10/2025

Forest Therapy Victoria now has merch!

I’d love to say this was part of a well thought out business plan designed for strategic growth.

But…no.

It was an accident.

The caps my team wear needed replacing, but I couldn’t source the old ones anymore. So I went for a slightly new look with a slightly different colour scheme.

They look great.

I only needed eight.

But the minimum order was fifty.

So… I have a lot of caps!

When I was putting together the online store for the journal launch, I figured I might as well add the spare caps too. Then, on a whim, I ordered some bamboo pens (so you can write in the journal, of course!) and some funky FTV logo lapel pins.

And just like that, we have merch!

So, if you’re buying a journal for someone, consider throwing in a little something extra too.

Otherwise, if I wear a new cap every year, I’ll be promoting FTV well into my nineties!

Visit the store: https://www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au/shop/

PS: gift vouchers are available too!

25/10/2025

Why a Forest Therapy Journal?

When you come along to a Forest Therapy event, we take care of everything — the program, the timing, the flow — so you can simply relax and let nature do what it does best.

But it got us thinking… how could we help people bring that same experience into their everyday lives?

That’s where the idea of the Forest Therapy Journal was born.

It’s your year-long companion, guiding you through gentle, creative, and mindful activities that connect you deeply with the natural world. Some practices, like the sit spot, are woven throughout the seasons. Others, like sketch a rock, pop up once to spark curiosity and reflection. After each activity, there’s space to jot down your thoughts, sketches, or whatever comes to you under the trees.

These aren’t just nice ideas — they’re carefully chosen to help lower stress, boost immunity, and improve sleep and mental clarity. Over time, you might notice you’re breathing a little easier, thinking a little clearer, and finding a deeper sense of calm.

I’m quietly proud of what our teams at Forest Therapy Victoria and Zorali have created together.

The Forest Therapy Journal is available now on our website: www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au

I look forward to hearing about your moments of stillness, creativity, and connection out there among the trees.

20/10/2025

19/10/2025

It’s been a big day for Forest Therapy Victoria with two 3-hour events back to back at Eagles Nest in the Dandenongs.

The first was a themed event with High Sensitivity Australia to give those with the high sensitivity personality trait an opportunity to learn how to use nature to help regulate their central nervous system.

The second was also a themed event in partnership with poet and counsellor Cameron Semmens. Combining sensory nature based activities, poetry readings, and personal writing time made this a unique forest experience.

New dates are up on the Forest Therapy website if you’d like to join us for an upcoming event. Vouchers are available if you’d like to give the gift of forest therapy to a loved one.

And…the long awaited reveal of the outcome of our three year project with Zorali happens this week.

If you haven’t already, you really should join us under the trees some day soon.

15/10/2025

We received notice that the printing of the ‘thing’ is all but complete and they’ll be delivered late next week.

Which means the count down is on to when we no longer call the thing the ‘thing’ but can share it with you properly.

It’s will be the culmination of three years of work between myself and the team from Zorali. It’s designed to equip you with all you need to learn how to connect with nature differently, to boost your wellbeing.

Two versions of the thing will be available.

Two ‘bundles’ will be available that both contain the thing.

And, our hope, is that a community grows around the thing and we share the experience over the year together.

I hope you can join us.