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Instytut Ekoterapii Relacyjnej

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REI Certified Forest Therapy Guide Training 2024 – Polish Group, Session 1

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REI Certified Forest Therapy Guide Training 2024, Polish Group, Session 1:

 

The first session of the forest therapy certification training in Polish language has come to an end. We worked every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. What happened during this time?

– 9 field trips

– 5 forest bathing walks in different models, terrain conditions (old open forest, nature reserve, park, garden) and times of the day (morning, day, afternoon, night)

– lectures and workshops on forest bathing and the work of forest therapy guides

– forest ecology workshop with prof. Bogdan Jaroszewicz, biologist

– expedition to the Strict Bialowieza Primeval Forest Reserve with Lucyna Żłobin and Grażyna Chyra – Bialowieza Forest professional guides (this expedition was the Participants’ own initiative)

– basics of the group process and psychological first aid with psychotherapist and supervisor Monika Gendek

– basics of psychopathology and acute mental crises with Dr. Katarzyna Simonienko, psychiatrist

– identifying edible and medicinal plants in the field, forest tea brewing workshops – with phytotherapist and certified herbalist Katarzyna Rutkowska

– first aid in the field and the basics of survival skills completed with a separate certification with Bartek Guentzel and Tomasz Modrzewski – qualified paramedic, member of the emergency service

During the entire meeting, we were accompanied by animal persons: our inseparable doggy girl Kulka and another one – Hajdusia who visited from time to time, our guest dog girl Bambi and about 7 different cats, a fox, bisons and even a wolf. An eagle peeked in, owls, orioles, peacocks (!) and ravens were screaming and singing. Carabuses (beetles) were running around, even mosquitoes came to visit, but not for long 😉

The final classes during this spring session of the forest therapy training included field first aid. They were led by the incomparable Bartek Guentzel and Paramedic Tomasz Modrzewski. The classes lasted all day and ended with a separate certificate recognized by the National Labor Inspectorate and the Sanitary Inspectorate. The quality exceeded our expectations. In addition to resuscitation, bandaging wounds, stopping bleeding, administering adrenaline and protecting against hypothermia, we learned how to build a shelter in the forest in case of a storm, start a fire in a wet forest and navigate in the dark.

 

The participants have almost 4 months of intensive work in mentoring, online lectures and congress No. 2 in September, as well as exams before them. We keep our fingers crossed for their further development on the path of forest therapy guides.

Trainers team: Katarzyna Simonienko, Katarzyna Grabka , Adam Markuszewski, Marzena Żachowska

Forest Therapy Bascics in Education, 2024

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Forest Therapy Basics in Education, 2024

To learn (really LEARN!) it is not enough to watch, listen, read… Effective learning should be based on information elaboration and engagement. When you add emotions, sensory experience, relating new knowledge to oneself, leaving space for reflection, coming up with and analysing one’s own projects (in one’s own context), discussion, sharing and interpreting to others, and all in contact with nature and each other – you have the perfect recipe for a workshop on the basics of forest therapy for teachers and educators.

And for dessert, scientific articles and materials, examples of good practice in educational projects, methods and tools… lots of tools!

And there was no time or opportunity to miss the administering methods, because with children it is (should be!) – active: “Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Let me act and I will understand” (Confucius).

And what was the workshop about, among other things? Substantively about working with children applying basics of forest therapy, concretely and practically. The forest bathing scheme of the Relational Ecotherapy Institute was intensively practised. There was a ‘lesson’ on creating forest invitations as a form of non-directive encouragement of forest activities. There was also the creation of ‘green prescriptions’ to later support the implementation of the tasks of the prevention and education programme of the kindergarten, school in supporting the mental health of children, adolescents and their families.

And also… working on and with oneself, with creativity, imagination and with attention to the need to take care of one’s own health.

And such things only in relationships: with nature, with other people and with oneself….

Just see the pictures 🙂

Your trainer- Marzena Żachowska

Trainers: Katarzyna Grabka and Marzena Żachowska

Klembów near Warsaw, 19-21st of April, 2024

 

What was in the programme?
🌿 Team integration based on circle work – part of introduction to group work (new class team, day care group, sociotherapy group, TUS group)
🌿 Forest bathing (practice)
🌿 Theory: Forest bathing – forest therapy – therapy in the forest?
🌿 Effects of highly urbanised and natural environments on central nervous system function, immunology, cardiovascular system and other aspects of health
🌿 Basic forest bathing scheme of the Relational Ecotherapy Institute – know how
🌿 Prevention of mental health care in children – sensory boredom, nature deficit syndrome.
🌿 Psychological and pedagogical support activities, revalidation, rehabilitation of disturbed functions and deficits in the cognitive, emotional, social and motor spheres in children, adolescents in the natural environment.
🌿 Forest therapy in educational, upbringing, preventive activities (forest therapy in the school educational-preventive programme) and revalidation activities of kindergartens and schools – work with the project method
🌿 The place of forest therapy in the core curriculum.
🌿 Forest therapy in the process of teacher’s professional promotion – innovations in education from an examiner’s perspective.

 🌿 Examples of good practice: projects, field programmes of nature education, nature and environmental education to be used in own kindergarten, school activities.
🌿 Methods, techniques, tools to use during forest mindfulness activities and forest therapy.
🌿 Forest mindfulness workshops for children – an idea of inclusive education.
🌿 Creativity work – forest activities, senses, imagination, when to focus on minimalism, when to focus on playfulness or maybe contemplation – art therapy in the forest.
🌿 Forest therapy based techniques to be used in a building setting e.g. for children, immobile students/ or in isolation (individual teaching).
🌿 How to apply forest bathing and where (educational institutions, parks, forests, city, home)?
🌿 What are green prescriptions and green recommendations and how to integrate them into the professional practice of the teacher, psychologist, educator so that they support the implementation of the tasks of the prevention and education programme of the kindergarten, school in supporting the mental health of children, adolescents and their families – we create recommendations.
🌿 Forest invitations as a form of non-directive encouragement for forest activities – we create invitations.
Dividing into groups, drawing of roles, preparation for tomorrow’s practical activities
🌿 Night in the forest – safety rules, National Forests programme “Stay overnight in the forest”.
🌿 Relaxing in a hammock – practical activities in hammock

Join us for more of our training courses and workshops!

"It was inspiring, exhaustive of the topic, substantive and very interesting."
"Lots of help, materials for participants, great workshop."
"The trainers were very professional and empathetic to the needs of the course participants. They created a great atmosphere."
"I am satisfied. I gained knowledge and relaxed."
What the Participants say

Forest Therapy Basics for Medical Professions, 2024

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Forest Therapy Basics for Health Professionals, 2024

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On 26th – 28th of  April, in the Biebrza River Valley, the 1st Workshop on the Basics of Forest Therapy in Medical and Aid Occupations took place. The weather was great, the sound background of screaming cranes, concerting frogs, green woodpeckers and hoopoes, the stunning scents of black cherry flowers, moist soil and sun-warmed forest undergrowth supported us in experiencing the benefits of nature and assimilating knowledge. Dobarz Manor, as usual, served generous portions of delicious vegetarian food.

The Worhskop embraced theory and practice of forest therapy and forest bathing in caring for one’s own and patients’ wellbeing. Participants could learn forest therapy methods for groups with different health needs, practiced how to counteract professional burnout and introduce nature-based techniques into daily work with clients and patients. They designed green prescriptions and nature- based acitivities supporting helath. The group included doctors, occupational therapists, nurses , phytotherapists, psychotherapists, psychologists and educators. 

Friday started quite intensively – first with a theoretical introduction to forest therapy and ecotherapeutic nomenclature, followed by a forest bathing experience in the REI model (structure-based, i.e. the so-called ‘Western’ model), led by Dr Katarzyna Simonienko. During the activity the participants experienced the forest therapy in person, to be discussed in detail on their return.

Tha scent of the forest was amazing. We discovered the curiosities of the forest undergrowth, and immersed ourselves in metaphors and symbols of the coniferous wood.

In the evening, a surprise awaited us – ornithologist and psychologist Sergei Sidaruk, a participant in our workshops and at the same time a guide from the Polish Forest Bathing Association, spontaneously organised a Night of the Owls for us! We learned a lot about these interesting birds and listened to the concert of the dusk-shrouded forest. We were accompanied by a hooting male tawny owl, stories about the habits of eagle owls, fawns and the ‘ghost’ of a marsh owl, which was patrolling the Ławki Swamp near us, but remained invisible (we only saw it through a professional ornithologist’s lens).

The following mornings were very intense, quite busy or completely unhurried depending on the needs of the participants. The eager ones went birding just after sunrise, another group undertook a practical experience of relaxation in nature based on Jacobson training, the rest prepared for a delicious regional breakfast.

We started our regular Saturday classes traditionally with practice, which is what we place the greatest emphasis on at the Institute. We believe that personal experience and the opportunity to work on one’s own under the guidance of trainers develops curiosity, strengthens the sense of competence and helps to build relationships within the group and personally – with nature. Katarzyna Grabka led the forest bathing this time in the flow model (without a specific structure, referred to as ‘Eastern’), which we also discussed in detail afterwards, comparing the two styles. Katarzyna invited us to dive into the micro-world of forest secrets using jewellery magnifiers, prepared delicious tea and proposed forest meditation in movement and mindfulness practice.

During the afternoon we focused on the practical implementation of green prescriptions – recommendations proposed by professionals to support patients in the process of prevention, recovery and rehabilitation. We created green prescriptions for different groups of patients and clients, and considered their use in a day unit, outpatient clinic or hospital. We considered activities for patients on the autism spectrum, intellectual disabilities, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, for cancer patients, for children and seniors, and for adults. Participants received materials for further work in the form of training booklets and printed copies of various green prescriptions to use within their own practice.

In the evening we enjoyed a trip to the marsh, birdwatching and a beautiful sunset on the Bagno Lawki March.

On Sunday morning we worked on practical issues concerning the work of a forest bathing guide. We discussed types of challenging clients, difficult field situations, practical aspects of preparing for and conducting a forest bathing in different types of terrain – from forest and national park to garden and city park. We created a variety of scenarios dedicated to groups with different needs. Some activities took place indoors (such as practical relaxation with elements of forest bathing for immobile patients) and some outdoors. We also learnd about  therapeutic ornithology, the classes were led by our expert Dr Slawomir Murawiec 🙂

In the final part of the workshop, participants independently led a forest bathing walk in the garden area, which we then discussed together.. The beautiful, innovative invitations, land art, creative process and fresh perspective made it a unique experience. We are sure that they will be great forest bathing guides and will successfully incorporate the new practices into their work with patients or clients, look after their own wellbeing and pass on the message that without a healthy environment, it is impossible to talk about human health.

 

After intensive work, it was time for a summary, ideas and discussion – how to start conducting forest bathing on your own, in your own environment. A Commemorative group photo in the Dobarz garden and we were ready to go home.

Many thanks to the Participants, the team of Dobarz Manor House
and the Biebrza River and its Valley with its wildness and surprises for this wonderful time!

Some of the above photos are here becaus of courtesy of the participants. Thank you very much! We have had a wonderful time with you working, disussing and wandering through the woods and marshes.
We look forward to seeing you again next year!

Katarzyna Simonienko i Katarzyna Grabka, trainers.