A Science-Based Approach
to Forest Therapy
The FTHub Method
Forest Therapy is a structured, facilitated practice designed to support health and well-being through intentional engagement with natural environments. The FTHub Method is how we teach it, and it is built on evidence, not assumption.
Research Backed
Informed by Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and Biodiversa+ funded projects
Continuously Updated
Curriculum evolves as new evidence emerges from the FTI Lab
80+ Countries
Applied across diverse ecological and cultural contexts worldwide
THE FRAMEWORK
What is the FTHub Method?
The FTHub Method is our integrated framework for Forest Therapy practice. It combines findings from health sciences, environmental psychology, and neuroscience with field-tested facilitation techniques to create a structured approach that is both scientifically grounded and deeply human.
This is not a rigid protocol. It is a set of principles, competencies, and practices that equip professionals to design and deliver safe, effective, and meaningful nature-based activities and interventions, adapted to their context, population, and environment.
CORE FOUNDATIONS
The Foundations
Six interconnected foundations that define how the FTHub Method works in practice.
Evidence-Informed Practice
Peer-reviewed research and our own applied studies through the Forest Therapy Institute Lab inform every element of the FTHub Method. We continuously update our approach as new evidence emerges, particularly from our internationally funded projects under Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and Biodiversa+.
Sensory Engagement
The method uses carefully designed sensory nature connection activities to shift participants from cognitive activity to embodied presence. These are not generic mindfulness exercises; they are specific techniques developed for outdoor, natural settings and refined through thousands of guided sessions.
Its “liquid” quality means it adapts as new research emerges and as contexts change, making it both scientifically grounded and practically flexible.
The concept of Liquid Modernity (Zygmunt Bauman) and the Theory of Social Becoming (Piotr Sztompka) inspire the Model, understanding that both individuals and the environments they interact with are in constant, dynamic change. In this framework, the determinants of health and well-being are not merely limiting factors; they are factors of possibility for individual, social, and environmental change.
The Liquid Interactions Model (LIM)
At the heart of the FTHub Method sits the Liquid Interactions Model, an integrative, interactional framework that connects the individual, the social environment, and the natural environment. The LIM provides the theoretical and practical foundation for designing Nature Connection Activities. It integrates the determinants of health, the mechanisms of natural environments, and the pathways to nature connection into a single, evolving model.
Level 1
Nature Connection
Level 2
Forest Bathing
Level 3
Forest Therapy
Nature Connection Continuum
Rather than treating Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy as a single activity, the FTHub Method positions it on a continuum from nature connection (introductory, accessible to all) to therapeutic intervention (structured, population-specific). Our three-level certification pathway maps directly to this continuum.
Safety and Risk Management
Professional Forest Bathing guides and Forest Therapy practitioners require more than good intentions. The method includes comprehensive frameworks for physical risk assessment, psychological safety, group management, and environmental responsibility. These are not optional add-ons; they are core to every FTHub certification.
Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability
The method is designed for international application. With practitioners in 80+ countries, the FTHub Method provides a consistent professional standard while respecting local ecological, cultural, and social contexts.
CONNECTIONS
How the Method Connects
How the Method Connects to Training
The FTHub Method is the backbone of all our certification programs. Each level (FTHub Certified Nature Connection Specialist, FTHub Certified Forest Bathing Guide, and FTHub Certified Forest Therapy Practitioner), builds on the method’s principles, adding depth and applicability as practitioners progress.
How the Method Connects to Research
The Forest Therapy Institute Lab’s research directly informs and refines the FTHub Method. When our projects generate new evidence on health outcomes, facilitation techniques, or population-specific approaches, those findings are integrated into the method and, through it, into our training curriculum.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What methodology does Forest Therapy Hub use?
Forest Therapy Hub uses the FTHub Method, an integrated framework combining health science, environmental psychology, neuroscience, and field-tested facilitation techniques. At its core is the Liquid Interactions Model (LIM), a proprietary framework that connects the individual, social, and natural environments. The method is structured around evidence-informed practice, sensory engagement, a nature connection continuum (from introductory activities to therapeutic interventions), comprehensive safety protocols, and cultural adaptability. It is continuously refined through internationally funded research conducted by the Forest Therapy Institute Lab.
How is the FTHub Method different from other Forest Therapy approaches?
The FTHub Method is distinguished by its direct link to ongoing internationally funded research, its progressive structure (from nature connection to therapeutic intervention), and its emphasis on evidence over tradition. At its core is the Liquid Interactions Model (LIM), a proprietary integrative framework that connects the individual, social, and natural environments. While other approaches may draw on cultural or spiritual practices, the FTHub Method is built on peer-reviewed science and continuously updated through the Forest Therapy Institute Lab’s applied research.
