NRMT Seminar - Health Benefits of Forest Therapy

Event Date: 
Friday, February 28, 2020 - 11:30am to 12:30pm EST
Event Location: 
BB-1054
Event Contact Name: 
Jenn
Event Contact E-mail: 

The Faculty of Natural Resources Management in partnership with EcoSuperior, co-sponsored by the Department of Geography and Queen Elizabeth Scholarships Advanced Scholars at Lakehead University, invites the university community to attend our special seminar on Fri., Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. in BB-1054.

Ben and Romola Porchuk of the Global Institute of Forest Therapy will present on the Health Benefits of Forest Therapy. Those interested in becoming a certified forest therapy guide are invited to stay afterward for an information session.

Spending the early part of his career as a wildlife researcher, Ben earned a Master’s degree for his work studying the ecology and conservation of the endangered Blue Racer Snake on Pelee Island. Later, Ben became a restoration ecologist, with projects including much work with Indigenous communities in southern Ontario. It included Traditional Medicinal native plant inventories, including several plant-based meditations led by Native Elders. With this experience, Ben co-wrote and instructed the first Restoration Ecology course at the University of Guelph. Since being certified as Canada’s first Forest Therapy Guide in 2015, he has led over 200 forest therapy walks. Along the journey, Ben was inspired to co-found the Global Institute of Forest Therapy, an ethical non-profit organization for training forest therapy guides.

Romola holds a doctorate in clinical and organizational psychology, as well as a Master’s degree in educational psychology. She has practiced in the field since 1993 working as a clinician, consultant, and adjunct professor at Western University. She is also a certified forest therapy guide and trainer. Romola has worked clinically in the areas of anxiety and depression, trauma, eating disorders, addiction, sexuality, family and marriage/partnership, custody, mediation, and cultural repair. She has the privilege of time spent specifically working with First Nations both in Ontario and Saskatchewan. Romola develops a process and curricula based on clinical humanistic foundations to help the forest therapy guide provide a bridge with their participants to experience growth and healing within the forest.