Forest Therapy Guide Training
Cedar
- Cohort 173
- October 6, 2026
- to
- March 30, 2027
A remarkable journey into the heart of the forest; an encounter with the heart of humanity
This course is for anyone who wants to become a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. No prior knowledge or training required.
In this training, you will learn:
- Learn how to guide ANFT’s Standard Sequence – A Powerful approach to nature connection
- Sequencing forest therapy invitations for maximum impact and benefit
- The heart-centered Way of the Guide approach
- The Language of Invitation to help create powerful connections with self and nature
- Somatic techniques for embodied awareness
- The pedagogy and fundamentals of nature connection
- Nature and forest therapy research and knowledge
- Trail awareness and safety -how to choose a forest therapy trail
- Getting to know your bioregion, its history, watershed, awarenesses and more
- Facilitation skills that promote an open environment for group sharing
- Expressive arts activities for forest therapy
- Competency standards: what a Forest Therapy Guide should know and be able to do
- Tips for successfully promoting your forest therapy offerings
Schedule for Live Events
- Enrollment Deadline:
- October 6, 2026
- 2:30 pm
- (PST)
- First Call Date & Language:
- October 6, 2026
- English
- To access the detailed schedule please click
- HERE
For your local time check HERE
What is Included in the Training?
14 modules, over 120 lessons
Over 14 live calls with your trainers and cohort
Small group discussion calls with trainers
Downloadable manual
30+ short videos, recorded by different trainers
40+ assignments / self exploration activities
20+ nature connection activities
Access to research papers and studies
Fun Facts and Reflections
Remote Forest Therapy walks guided by trainers
Guide your own walks and debrief them
Access to the largest forest therapy guide's community
Tuition
The tuition for the six month core guide training program is $3350 (USD).
The tuition for the four-day immersion is $495 (USD). Wait to pay until you are ready to register for a specific immersion. You will have two years from the completion of your core guide training to do the immersion. This price does not include lodging, meals nor transportation.
Other costs include payment for Wilderness First Aid training, which is required for Certification, and is provided by third parties. Prices range from $100 to $300.
Tuition figures are subject to change.
Training Team
- Amanda Yik
- Amanda’s deep connection with nature has supported her through life’s many challenges, including multiple career transitions and critical illness. She felt called to be of service to the earth in 2006, but it took her many years and a winding path before encountering Forest Therapy, a practice that deeply resonated with her calling. Having trained as part of Cohort 18, Amanda has been an ANFT Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide since 2017, when she founded Shinrin-Yoku Hong Kong, through which she has offered more than 200 forest therapy and nature connection experiences, on- and off-line, to support busy urbanites on bodyful and soulful journeys of homecoming through reconnecting with nature. Amanda is particularly called to support people in transition and those facing chronic stress, and she collaborates extensively with the corporate sector, environmental and conservation organizations, the social service sector and educational institutions. Amanda is honoured to be a mentor for guides-in-training, and the first Asia-based ANFT trainer. She is also an International Coach Federation Certified Professional Coach for Transformation and long-time yoga, mindfulness and tai chi practitioner.
- Makiko Sugishita
- Makiko is a Forest Therapy Guide and Therapist, based in Yakushima/Japan, where the first nature and forest medical research activities were conducted in the world. She is the first Japanese trained guide by ANFT and also certified by Forest Therapy Society in Japan. Since she moved to Yakushima in October 2020, she has been guiding over 500 people in her Kaleidoscope “deep shinrin-yoku” program. Prior to becoming the guide, for 20 years she has been involved in various international projects with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and other UN organizations, focusing on improving the health status of the vulnerable people especially in Africa and Southeast Asia regions. In addition to being a guide, she is currently delegated to be ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) global advisor for the School Board in Yakushima, giving lectures for teachers and pupils. She is also the Board member of Yakushima Onoaida clinic run by her husband who is engaged in forest medical research activities. She holds B.A. in international law from Kansai University in Japan, M.A. in Public Health (international health) from Johns Hopkins University, and M.A. in Economic and Social Development from University of Pittsburgh in USA.
Certification Pathway
STEP 1
6-Month Remote Training
You will start with a 6-month remote training, covering the content on live calls with the support of your trainers, fellow students, a very user friendly learning platform, many self exploration and nature connection activities that are done outside. After completing this training you get a provisional certification as a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. To view the available trainings scroll down
STEP 2
4-Day In-Person Immersion
After completing module 4 you can apply to attend a 4-day in-person immersion, for hands on forest therapy guiding experience with trainers and fellow students. You have two years time to complete this step.
STEP 3
Get Your Certification
After completing the 6-month remote training and the 4-day in- person immersion, you will receive your permanent certification as an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide and be part of the largest Forest Therapy Guide Community Worldwide.