Into the Forest: A Child and Family Therapist's Journey

Abstract

This dissertation is an autoethnographic study of a personal journey of becoming a forest guide. Through a conceptual framework of ecopsychology and reflective analysis this journey is offered within the context of being a child and family therapist. Forest therapy is conceptualized as a pathway in working with children and youth. My relationship with the forest is the focus for making meaning from my lived experiences enlisting nature as a therapeutic partner in my child and family therapy practice. This dissertation goes beyond the practical uses of this therapeutic model and makes a contribution to theory, in particular at the interface between nature therapies and Western psychotherapy. This study offers valuable information to advance the use of forest therapy to promote well-being and in particular as a trauma-informed practice used by mental health practitioners.