Intensive Course: Clinical Forest Therapy with a Focus on Psychosomatic Conditions

What Is This Training About?

The Health Relevance of Psychosomatic Conditions and Mental Health Disorders

Psychosomatic conditions and mental health disorders are among the most common challenges in modern healthcare. They arise from the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors and often present as complex patterns of symptoms. Typical conditions treated in psychosomatic, psychotherapeutic and rehabilitative settings include adult ADHD, affective disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, stress-related and exhaustion syndromes, functional and somatoform physical symptoms, personality traits with psychosomatic relevance, sleep disorders, chronic pain conditions and stress-related regulation disorders.

Many of these conditions are associated with autonomic overactivation, stress dysregulation, cognitive overload, inner restlessness, muscular tension, difficulties in emotion regulation or impaired self-perception. Modern psychosomatic medicine therefore works in a multimodal, integrative way and remains closely oriented toward the biopsychosocial realities of patients’ lives.

Therapeutic Pathways in Clinical Forest Therapy

In this context, Clinical Forest Therapy is becoming increasingly relevant as a therapeutically structured method. Numerous studies suggest that time spent in forests can support:

• Stress reduction
• Autonomic nervous system regulation
• Mood and wellbeing
• Mindfulness and self-awareness
• Emotion regulation and affect stabilization
• Physical and psychological relief
• A sense of calm and connection

Most of these effects have been observed in connection with time spent in forests or mindfulness-oriented contact with nature. For specific clinical diagnoses and therapist-guided forest interventions, the existing evidence suggests that nature-based experiences can provide meaningful support within multimodal psychosomatic treatment concepts.

In this context, Clinical Forest Therapy is understood as an evidence-informed complementary treatment approach that meaningfully extends the biopsychosocial model. It can help reduce tension, rumination and stress patterns, stimulate resource-oriented processes and support positive therapeutic experiences. Many patients report a stronger sense of connection and describe how the forest helps them gain inner clarity, access stabilizing resources and develop a stronger presence in the moment.

Clinical Forest Therapy unfolds its greatest potential when it is integrated into multimodal concepts, for example in psychosomatic clinics, day clinics and rehabilitation facilities, where it can complement therapeutic processes on an experiential level. The strength of Clinical Forest Therapy lies in its practical everyday applicability, its accessible nature and its ability to support improved autonomic and emotional self-regulation — a key factor in many psychosomatic and mental health conditions.

Target Groups and Admission Requirements

Target Groups

The intensive course is designed for physicians, healthcare professionals and therapeutic practitioners who want to apply forest therapy methods professionally in rehabilitation, psychosomatic, day-clinic or outpatient settings. This includes, in particular:

• Psychologists and psychotherapists
• Professionals from rehabilitation and specialist clinics
• Therapeutic staff in outpatient settings
• Nursing professionals with additional psychosocial qualifications
• Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and sports and exercise therapists
• Naturopathic practitioners, including practitioners specialized in psychotherapy
• Nature and environmental therapists with a healthcare background
• Health scientists and professionals from prevention and public health

Admission Requirements

• Medical, therapeutic or psychosocial professional qualification
• Professional context in healthcare, therapy, rehabilitation or prevention
• Physical ability to walk safely in the forest for several hours
• Willingness to participate actively in theory, practice and self-study phases
• Access to the required technology for live online sessions
• Completion of a written final assignment and participation in an individual final interview
• Other professional backgrounds may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Structure and Content

The intensive course is designed as a hybrid, modular certificate program. It combines online theory, structured self-study, an in-person practice phase at the IWSA model site of Psychosomatische Fachklinik Sonneneck in Baden-Württemberg and a final written assignment.

Four Online Theory Days

The four online theory days provide the scientific, clinical and methodological foundations for forest therapy work with psychosomatic and psychological conditions.

Topics Include

• Foundations of Forest Medicine and Forest Therapy
• Effects and therapeutic pathways in psychosomatic and psychological conditions
• Psychology and neurobiology of nature experience
• Mindfulness, breathing and stress management
• Communication and therapeutic conversation skills
• Forest ecology, nature conservation and setting design
• Safety, legal issues and risk management for vulnerable and multimorbid patient groups

Teaching Methods

Knowledge transfer is based on a clearly structured, interactive learning format:

• Evidence-informed professional input
• Clinical case examples
• Introduction to clinical application and decision-making logic
• Exchange, small-group work and reflection
• Transfer tasks for participants’ own professional settings

Self-Study Phase

The self-study phase deepens the theoretical content and creates a solid foundation for the practical phase. It includes, among other elements:

• Study reading and in-depth background knowledge
• Reflection tasks on autonomic regulation, clinical presentations and indication logic
• Observation tasks related to nature perception and sensory awareness
• Methodological preparation for the practical phase

Two Days of In-Person Practice

The in-person practice phase takes place at our model site, the forest therapy area used by Psychosomatische Fachklinik Sonneneck. Here, long-standing expertise in complementary medicine and an outstanding forest medicine setting come together.

Working on site allows participants to apply the course content in a clinically safe, methodologically precise and patient-centered way. This real-world setting is a central quality feature of the intensive course.

Topics Include

• Therapeutic process guidance in natural settings
• Breathing work and autonomic regulation in the forest
• Station-based work according to the IWSA/INFOM framework
• Embodiment, sensory activation and rhythm-based processes
• Therapeutic conversation skills in individual and group settings
• Practical case work with indication-specific scenarios
• Safety and risk management in outdoor settings

Teaching Methods

• Guided practice sequences
• Simulation of clinical application situations with realistic process steps
• Structured process observation
• Peer supervision
• Feedback loops for methodological and professional development

Final Assignment

After the practical phase, participants complete a written final assignment as a recognized demonstration of competence. It documents their ability to plan and implement forest therapy interventions in a professionally sound, safe and clinically appropriate manner.

Components

• Analysis of a selected clinical field of application
• Design of a forest therapy intervention in an individual or group setting
• Structured assessment of indications and contraindications
• Process logic, therapeutic sequencing and methodological rationale
• Reflection on the participant’s own role, clinical and safety-related requirements and transfer options for their own professional setting

Certificate

After successful completion of all modules — online theory, self-study phases, practice and final assignment — participants receive the certificate:

Clinical Forest Therapist – Focus: Psychosomatics (IWSA)

This certificate confirms that you are qualified to use forest therapy interventions competently, safely and on a clinically sound basis in rehabilitation, psychosomatic, day-clinic and outpatient healthcare settings.

Course Workload

The total learning workload is approximately 90 hours, divided as follows:

• Online theory: approx. 28 hours
• Practical phase: approx. 14 hours
• Self-study: approx. 24 hours
• Final assignment: approx. 18 hours
• Preliminary consultation and follow-up: approx. 2 hours

This workload corresponds to the usual scope of a 3 ECTS module and is provided for comparability with academic continuing education. ECTS credits are not currently awarded.

Dates and Location

Theory

May 7 and May 8, 2026

July 17 and July 18, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day

Location: remote, live online

Practice

October 16 and October 17, 2026

Alternative date, if a postponement is required for organizational or safety-related reasons:

October 23 and October 24, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day

Location: Psychosomatische Fachklinik Sonneneck, Wilhelmstraße 6, 79410 Badenweiler

Final Assignment and Certificate

Submission of final assignment: one month after completion of the practical weekend

Assessment by IWSA: within one month

Individual final interview: 20 minutes, online, by appointment

Certificate issued: in print by post and digitally as a PDF

Group Size and Course Leaders

Group Size
4 to 12 participants

Course Leaders
Dr. Melanie H. Adamek|Sabine Oberg

Costs and Services

Participation fee

1980 € Including VAT per person. Bookings made until March 14, 2026 receive 10% discount.

Services

The participation fee includes:

• Full course leadership during all online and practical modules
• All course materials, digital and, where applicable, printed
• Support during the self-study phase
• Professional assessment of the final assignment
• Individual 20-minute final interview online
• Issuing of the certificate “Clinical Forest Therapist (IWSA) – Focus: Psychosomatics”

Accommodation and meals are not included. The in-person course generally takes place in all weather conditions. In the event of severe weather or force majeure, we reserve the right to postpone the date or provide a partial refund. Participants take part at their own responsibility. Terms and Conditions.

Your Next Step

If you are interested in participating in this training program, we would be pleased to receive a short, non-binding expression of interest by email. To help us assess your professional background appropriately and ensure a protected framework for the course, please include the following information:

• First and last name
• Profession and qualification
• Your professional context or institution
• Your preferred email address, ideally a professional address
• Your telephone number for a brief callback
• A few sentences about your particular interest in this continuing education program

After receiving your message, we will contact you for an initial telephone consultation. During this conversation, we will answer your questions and jointly assess whether the course is a good fit for your professional profile.

Upon request, you will also receive the invitation link to the free online information evening on March 4, 2026.

We look forward to getting to know you and accompanying you on your path toward Clinical Forest Therapy.