What’s New in Psychology
Need Therapy? Go to the Forest.
Jim Windell
As I was writing this, I was sitting on the deck of our cabin that is surrounded on three sides by lush forest. On a late June day, the sun sparkled on the leaves of the Maple and Oak trees and tall Pine trees created a wall of green. If the effect wasn’t exactly therapeutic, at least it was peaceful and serene.
However, the accumulating research is impressive. Spending time in a forest – an experience known as Shinrin-Yoku, or “forest bathing,” in Japan where the practice originated – can lift mood, reduce stress, and promote physical health.
Taking a walk in the forest appears to be beneficial and may have therapeutic potential, notes researcher Donovan Dennis, a third-year medical student at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Dennis says it is something physicians could consider prescribing to their patients when he presented his findings in May, 2025 at the American Psychiatry Association Annual Meeting.
While I’m fortunate to have a cabin in a dense forest, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban environments. Managing stress and maintaining a positive mindset during crises can be difficult in an urban setting. Over time, chronic stress can contribute to anxiety and fatigue.
As a result of where most people live, experts are increasingly exploring alternative and holistic approaches to mental well-being, spurring research into the psychological benefits of immersing oneself in nature, particularly forest settings. Japan has been a leader in this movement. As of 2019, the country had designated approximately 60 official forestry therapy trails.
Dennis’ study reviewed 15 studies conducted in Japan, the U.S., Poland, and several other countries. Although the study designs varied in the research Dennis reviewed, certain conclusions could be drawn. For instance, most participants were considered “healthy,” although some studies included individuals “with depressive tendencies.” The study populations also varied by setting – for example, one study focused on healthcare workers, while another involved patients from a psychiatric hospital. However, all of the studies examined forest bathing, typically defined as walking in a forest. Dennis noted, though, that the practice itself lacks a standardized definition.
Most of the studies involved walking in a forest for about two hours, twice a week. However, durations varied – some had participants walk for as little as 10 minutes, while others extended sessions to three hours, according to Dennis. In some cases, the intervention was defined by distance rather than time; for example, one study involved a 2.5-km walk, and another covered 4 km. The overall length of the studies also varied, ranging from a few weeks to several months.
Researchers examined both psychological and physiological effects of forest bathing. While most studies used the validated measure Profile of Mood States (POMS) to assess mood, several also measured physiological markers such as serotonin levels, blood pressure, and heart rate, Dennis noted.
The analyses generally showed positive effects of forest therapy on mental health, with some studies also reporting benefits for the cardiovascular and immune systems, as well as improvements in inflammation and antioxidant activity.
“Forest therapy might be therapeutic for folks living with depression or anxiety, but also preventatively to support general wellness, and connectedness with nature,” says Dennis.
Dennis notes that it is not clear from the studies the role of factors such as frequency, duration, or seasonality in shaping the benefits of forest therapy. While the findings are promising, he says, they do not support forest therapy as a replacement for pharmacological treatment. Larger, well-controlled studies with standardized protocols are needed to confirm its benefits, he concludes.
To read the original article used for this blog, find it at:
Anderson, P. (2025). Growing evidence for the healing power of ‘forest therapy.’ Medscape Medical News. Retrieved from://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/growing-evidence-healing-power-forest-therapy-2025a1000dan
