When we launched Treebath back in 2017 we could never have foretold where we would end up. Never did we expect to become the first nature-based therapy program to achieve ASWB accreditation for example!
The Approved Continuing Education (ACE) certification that the Association of Social Workers Board (ASWB) has awarded us now means that social workers who complete out training will receive 9 General Social Work Practice continuing education credits- a momentous step forwards for nature-based therapies.
“Achieving ACE accreditation for our Forest Therapy Practitioner training program highlights our dedication to upholding the highest professional standards to ensure the validity and continued growth of Forest Therapy. Through achieving this accreditation, Treebath’s training materials and methodology have been rigorously reviewed and found to offer the highest quality of continued education, according to best practices.” - Nicole Elmgart, Co-Founder of Treebath
Treebath is therefore leading the way in validating Forest Therapy as a successful practice with evidence-based findings. Our own NAFTI research, in combination with other sources, has been vital in evidentiating that nature-based interventions can improve overall mental health, as well as be effective in supplementing standard treatment and rehabilitation for certain mental illnesses.
Our course was designed to teach both licensed and certified professionals in social and human services (such as social workers and healthcare professionals) how to blend Forest Therapy into their existing practices in the hope to offer a more holistic, 360 approach to mental wellness. The skills taught in our course reflect this goal; attendees are taught how to create a calm, safe, and connected space through the medium of nature, and instructed in ways to create a mindful sensory experience. It is our continued hope that this accreditation will lead to more social workers finding value in Forest Therapy and choosing to integrate it into their own practices.
We’re particularly glad to have achieved this accreditation following on from the turmoil of the last 18 months; in a time where isolation has been mandatory and social distancing has been our saving grace, it has been heartening to see so many people finding comfort in nature. Getting outdoors adopted a whole new meaning for many of us following on from our time holed up in our homes, and the newfound appreciation for nature following on from this reassures us of the necessity of our work.
It’s onwards and upwards for Treebath, and we can’t wait to continue paving the way for Forest Therapy as an essential therapeutic practice.
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