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Forest Therapy Alone or with a Guide: Is There a Difference between Self-Guided Forest Therapy and Guided Forest Therapy Programs?

Author

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  • Jin-Gun Kim

    (Korea Forest Therapy Forum Incorporated Association, Cheongju 28644, Korea)

  • Won-Sop Shin

    (Department of Forest Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea)

Abstract

There are generally two types of forest therapy. One is to walk or view the forest alone without a guide, and the other is to be accompanied by a guide. This study aimed to investigate the healing factors and health benefits of self-guided forest therapy and guided forest therapy programs and examine the differences in characteristics between interventions. Thirty-seven undergraduate students participated in a randomized experiment (19 in the self-guided forest therapy and 18 in the guided forest therapy program). Data were collected from 111 self-reported essays after each intervention (three essays per person). Results revealed that the forest healing factors contained four categories in common: auditory element, visual element, tactile element, and olfaction element. Forest therapy’s health benefits included five categories in common: change of mind and body, introspection, change of emotion, cognitive change, and social interaction. Among the typical differences, the self-guided forest therapy group mentioned more keywords related to introspection than the guided forest therapy program group. On the other hand, the guided forest therapy program group mentioned more keywords associated with the change of emotion and social interaction than the self-guided forest therapy. Our findings show that self-guided forest therapy provides an opportunity for self-reflection to focus on and think about one’s inner self. On the other hand, guided forest therapy programs provide positive emotional changes and promoting social bonds through interaction with others. Therefore, because the effects that can be obtained vary depending on the type of forest therapy, participants can utilize forest healing to suit the desired outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin-Gun Kim & Won-Sop Shin, 2021. "Forest Therapy Alone or with a Guide: Is There a Difference between Self-Guided Forest Therapy and Guided Forest Therapy Programs?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6957-:d:584526
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    Cited by:

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    2. Daniela Huber & Johanna Freidl & Christina Pichler & Michael Bischof & Martin Kiem & Renate Weisböck-Erdheim & Gabriella Squarra & Vincenzo De Nigris & Stefan Resnyak & Marcel Neberich & Susanna Bordi, 2023. "Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Ralf C. Buckley & Sonya Underdahl, 2023. "Tourism and Environment: Ecology, Management, Economics, Climate, Health, and Politics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-11, October.
    4. Poung-Sik Yeon & Jin-Young Jeon & Myeong-Seo Jung & Gyeong-Min Min & Ga-Yeon Kim & Kyung-Mi Han & Min-Ja Shin & Seong-Hee Jo & Jin-Gun Kim & Won-Sop Shin, 2021. "Effect of Forest Therapy on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-27, December.
    5. Anna Koprowicz & Robert Korzeniewicz & Wojciech Pusz & Marlena Baranowska, 2022. "Sociodemographic Determinants of Poles’ Attitudes towards the Forest during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, January.

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