Member of the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy
Forest Therapy in Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychiatry
“In my psychiatric practice, I repeatedly see how effectively salutogenic approaches can be supported by multimodal treatment programs that incorporate nature. Contact with forests and nature can be beneficial at every stage of treatment: it can create distance from stressful life situations and professional demands while also helping to build a trusting therapeutic relationship. In this process, the forest can become a valuable co-therapist. The further our lives move away from nature, the more important it becomes for our psychological balance. Forests, in particular, can help us reconnect with our own inner nature – on our own or with therapeutic guidance.”
Dr Aran Tomac, MD, PhD, FRANZCP (AMFCAP), MCPsychI, is a specialist psychiatrist with extensive clinical experience in child and adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry and psychotherapy. His particular interests include holistic approaches to treatment and the ways in which forests and nature can support mental health and therapeutic processes.
Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Dr Aran Tomac is a specialist psychiatrist with more than 20 years of experience in child and adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry and psychotherapy. He practises as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Australia and is also licensed to practise in Ireland and the United Kingdom. His therapeutic approach is holistic and biopsychosocial.
Research, Teaching and Professional Societies
Dr Aran Tomac is Adjunct Associate Professor at the Medical School of The University of Western Australia (UWA). Alongside his clinical work, he is involved in research and teaching and is active in international medical professional societies. He also serves as Vice Chair of the WFCMS Technical Committee on Forest Health Research.
Forest Therapy and Salutogenesis
A particular focus of his work is on nature-based approaches in psychiatry and psychotherapy. For many years, Dr Aran Tomac has explored how contact with nature, forest therapy and salutogenic concepts can complement multimodal treatment and support mental health and well-being.