Forest Therapy Groups for Businesses & Corporations
Greetings!
I guide Forest Therapy Sessions (Forest Bathing Experiences) with invitations that help your employees explore their relationships with self, each other, and nature through various mindfulness and bodyfulness modalities. They can be fun and uplifting, and/or deeply restorative and rejuvenating.
I’ll be happy to guide just your department or all your employees in a session designed just for you! I tailor a theme to fit your specific needs. There are hundreds of possible Invitations to engage the earth in restorative ways, and I can pick them based on the land, the weather, your needs, and your goals.
We begin with a 15 minute guided meditation and end with tea that I've locally harvested. The activities in-between are slow and sensory. There are several opportunities to share and be heard through Listening circles. They total 2- 2.5 hours. This sequence has been proven to reduce stress! You can read about Stress Reduction Theory and Attention Restoration Theory here.
Read the info below, then Contact Me
with your theme idea, location request, some possible dates, and number of people. Then we’ll schedule a 20-30 minute phone call to iron out details, and I’ll email you the final plan.
~Shannon Gorres, MDiv, MA, ANFT certified guide
01
Pick a Theme
New employees? Celebrating? Merging departments? Big changes? Just need to really relax?
Let me know what your intentions or curiosities are, and I’ll attune to them.
Some themes people have requested were:
“Team Building after Trust has been Low”
“10th Anniversary Celebration”
“Stress Reduction after a Long Haul”
I've led group sessions for the Kansas City Kansas Schlagle Nature Library, City of Lawrence Park and Rec, Lawrence Rotary Club, The Resilient Activist of Kansas City, Journey to New Life Kansas City, Ernie Miller Nature Center in Olathe, and more.
02
Choose Location
You can choose a location:
~Hidden Valley Camp (40 acres of private wooded and prairie land inside West Lawrence). It has ample parking, groomed trails, picnic tables, roofed shelters, and latrines.
~Your own land. I travel up to 15 min from downtown Lawrence for no extra cost. If further, a small travel time fee is added ($1/minute).
Each person's experience is unique, no matter the location. Various thoughts and feelings are welcome, and I’ll hold space for individual experiences within the whole group. There is no expectation of being a certain way, other than following safety rules. :)
03
Payment
1-5 people $250
(ex: Leadership team)
6-10 people $350
(ex. Board of Directors)
11-25 people $500
(ex. Group of employees)
I’m happy to support larger groups by bringing an assistant; please contact me to make arrangements for this.
Very small or start-up businesses may qualify for the non-profit rates.
Payment is due at time of booking.
04
Prepare
How can I describe Forest Therapy to my employees or leaders?
“Forest Therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, ‘forest bathing.’ Studies have demonstrated a wide array of health benefits, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and improving mood and cognition.
We build on those benefits and look beyond, to what happens when people remember that we are a part of nature, not separate from it, and are related to all other beings in fundamental ways. Heart-based Relational Forest Therapy™ focuses on rebuilding relationships with the More-Than-Human World as a foundation for healing people and the planet.
~Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (you can see the science at Research | Association of Nature and Forest Therapy)
Weather
There’s all sorts of wonderful kinds of weather to Forest Bathe in! If approached with an open mind, exploring in unusual weather can be fun or heart opening! Unless it is unsafe to be outside (lightning, dangerous heat index, or wind chill below freezing), I will keep our agreed upon date. If the weather is totally unmanageable for you, you have the option to defer once by contacting me at least 2 days ahead of time to pick a new date within a 2 week period (from the option/s I have available). Or I can guide you in an indoor or virtual session that day (helping you experience therapeutic interbeing with plants in your home, building, or yard), and/or you can elect to purchase a new in-person session.
Dress in layers and pack extra warm gear if it’s winter. Since we are moving slow and not hiking, it will likely feel cooler than you’re used to.
If it’s rainy or muddy, consider clothes and shoes/boots that can get wet and dirty, and dress in layers. Bring a separate pair of shoes/socks for the drive home, and a plastic bag to put dirty items into for the car ride. Bring an umbrella and/or raincoat.
If it’s hot, bring an umbrella or choose shady spots to sit. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Wear breathable, thin long sleeves to keep direct sun rays off your skin. Bring extra water with ice in it. Bring a washcloth and a bag of ice water to dip the cloth in, then put around your neck. Feel free to wet your hat or neck bandana as well, as the evaporation will cool you.
Respect
Shannon respects individuals' rights to participate in the way that is most comfortable for them. There is no obligation to share thoughts or engage specific activities. Each person will explore what feels most helpful for them. Shannon holds a strong container of support and respect for the group to also support one another in diverse ways of being.
