Forest & Nature Therapy walks with Kelly Hutchison,  ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
(Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Courtenay-Comox)
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All images are copyright-protected by Dave Hutchison Photography.  For image use requests, please contact Dave through his website.

Forest Therapy Guide | Nature-Based Wellness on Vancouver Island

I’m Kelly Hutchison—an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide, artist, and author of the BC bestseller Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape. I live on central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with my husband and our two dogs. When I’m not writing or painting, you’ll find me sitting by the ocean, wandering forest trails, or exploring new parks along the shores of the Salish Sea—often with a camera in hand.

Nature is beautifully imperfect and perfectly whole. Along the coastline and in the forests, trees grow and twist to form unique shapes. The tides rise and fall. Soft green mosses blanket the trees and fallen logs. Nothing strives to be different from what it is—yet everything belongs.

Through guided forest therapy walks, sit spots circles, and creative nature-based workshops, I create gentle spaces where you can step away from the pace of daily life and remember who you are. The forest is always waiting—not to change you, but to welcome you home.
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May you find yourself in the forest,
~Kelly
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir
Slow down. Breathe deeply. Reconnect.
Join me on beautiful Vancouver Island for a journey into the heart of nature—and into yourself—through the practice of Forest Therapy. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, or “forest bathing," which means “to bathe in the atmosphere of the forest.” Following extensive research in the 1980s, the Japanese government formally recognized this practice for its health benefits—a recognition that continues today.

Forest bathing isn’t about rushing or reaching a destination. This gentle practice is about slowing down and immersing yourself in the presence of trees, plants and all the life around you. Through a mindful immersion of your senses, you’ll rediscover the simple, healing connection between the natural world and yourself.

During a guided walk, you will be offered a series of gentle, open-ended invitations—ways to explore nature with curiosity; there is no right or wrong way to participate. As your guide, I hold space for your connection to deepen, with the forest, and with yourself. As Amos Clifford, the founder of ANFT, beautifully says, "the guide is not there to speak for the forest. The guide is there to create space for the forest to speak."

Walks are generally one to two kilometres (or less) in length and between two and a half to three hours. We move slowly and mindfully, making the practice of forest therapy accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages and abilities.

Come walk with me and experience the healing power of forest and nature therapy.

Quiet Reflections from the Forest

What Happens When You Finally Slow Down in the Forest?

When was the last time you were in nature and truly slowed down?

​Not walking for exercise, not on your phone, or talking in conversation—but being fully present? Read more...

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Why Forest Therapy?

Spending intentional time in nature isn’t just calming—research shows it can nourish body, mind and spirit.

Benefits of forest therapy may include:
  • reduced stress and anxiety through lowered cortisol levels.
  • lowering blood pressure and heart rate.
  • strengthening of the immune system by boosting natural killer cells.
  • brighter mood, enhanced creativity and clearer focus.
  • better sleep and increased energy.
  • deeper sense of calm, presence and inner peace.
  • greater connection to yourself, to others, and to Mother Nature.


​"We all know how good being in nature can make us feel.  We have known it for millennia. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air—these things give us a sense of comfort. 
They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. 
Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us." 
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​~Dr. Qing Li, The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing, how trees can help you find health and happiness.