Leesa loves exploring our wild world slowly and sharing her gentle physical, sensory and creative practices for restful recovery. Leesa has over 25 years’ experience in the Arts, Education, Disability, Community and Outdoor Health Sectors. Simultaneously, she was experiencing the debilitating effects of chronic illness on her mental health and wellbeing. This ultimately turned Leesa toward the healing and restorative impact nature had always provided for her. She began to immerse herself in long bush walks as a way to slow down and reconnect with the natural rhythms of the wild world. As part of her recovery, she studied Creative Arts Therapy at MIECAT and then completed her Forest Therapy Guide studies through the Institute of Forest Therapy.

Leesa’s Mission

Leesa wishes to assist herself and others to:

• Find your slow with nature’s flow

• Connect with yourself, others and the wild world of rich biodiversity

• Embody, simple, sensory, creative and physical practices for restful recovery.

• Create natural wellness and well-being for daily awe and wonder.

What is Forest Therapy?

Based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku 森林浴, Forest Therapy is a guided relaxing immersion in forest like surroundings. During a session you are guided to slow down your movement, tune into your senses and follow your curiosity, producing experiences of deep relaxation and connection. When combining Creative Arts Therapy & Forest Therapy, nature works as co-therapist in a range of physical, sensory and creative activities. There is space for quiet listening, reflection and inquiry, so everyday life may recede into the background.

Forest therapy has been scenically shown to reduce the overall production of stress hormones, calm the sympathetic nervous system and promote immune function for far reaching physical and mental health benefits.

Forest Therapy can benefit those experiencing

• Chronic Stress (lowers cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenalin)

• Anxiety and Depression

• Lowered immunity by increasing the body’s Natural Killer (NK) cells.

• High blood pressure

• Impaired ability to focus, sense of distraction and low concentration

• Poor sleep and low energy

• A sense of emotional distress, disconnection or overwhelm

• Grief and loss

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after winter” -Rachel Carson.

For more information on Forest Therapy click here.