An Invitation into the

 heart 

of the Wild

Large tree with lush green leaves and a swing hanging from one of its branches, set in a grassy area with other trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

The Nature of Forest Therapy

What might it feel like to be still, fully present and open? What if, in that quiet, you also tuned in to your own heart?

An Invitation to Connect
Forest therapy —also known as forest bathing— offers a slow, heart-centered experience in nature. Participants are guided through a series of invitations that allow for deep pause to engage their senses and access the present moment in the natural world.

Why It Matters
A growing body of research shows that time in nature supports our physical, emotional and mental well-being. Benefits may include:

  • Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression

  • Improved mood, sleep, and self-esteem

  • Enhanced creativity and focus

  • Boosted immune function and energy

  • Strengthened social connection, gratitude and generosity

More specifically, guided forest therapy walks have been shown to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and increase a sense of community.

A Path to Reciprocity
As our connection with the natural world deepens, we begin to walk differently—more slowly, more respectfully. We start to notice not just beauty, but history. We remember the land’s stories, its caretakers and our responsibility to protect it.

This practice becomes a path to reciprocity, one that teaches us how to be more open-hearted caring stewards of our generous Earth.

You’re invited to join a walk. Nothing is required.

Learn More about Forest Therapy
A man and woman walking on a dirt trail in a dense, green forest.
Five women outdoors in a wooded area, some sitting on a wooden bench and others standing nearby, engaged in a conversation or listening.
Group of children walking on a forest trail surrounded by trees and greenery.
A small, rocky creek flowing through a lush, green forest with dense foliage and moss-covered stones.
Group of five people having a picnic near a lake, sitting on a blanket under trees on a sunny day.
A Monarch butterfly perched on a pink coneflower in a garden.
Close-up of a tree with significant bark damage, exposing the inner wood, in a forest with green foliage and dirt ground.
Two people walking on a narrow trail through a dense forest with green foliage and sunlight filtering through trees.
A forest with tall, slender trees, green leaves, grass and shrubs, under a partly cloudy sky.
Two people sitting on a bench by a river, surrounded by lush green trees and foliage.
A winter landscape of a frozen lake with snow and ice, surrounded by leafless trees under a partly cloudy sky with patches of blue.
Three deer in a forest clearing surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.
A hand with three fingers resting on a bed of bright green moss.

Your Guide

A smiling woman with glasses and a nose piercing wearing a light green beanie and a green sweater, standing outdoors on a rocky beach with trees and a person in the background.

“My connection to nature feels deeply etched in my heart, a knowing in my bones that I am part of all that is on Earth. I bow with deep reverence to all the beings of the natural world. I bring them the gift of my presence and attention. I belong in their circle, sitting quietly among them, bearing witness, listening to their whispers, waiting for their slow mysteries to be revealed. I am rooted. Not for my sake alone, but for the sake of all. I’ve heard the call to invite others to remember their own connection….”

Cathy McCauley is a certified forest therapy guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides & Programs (ANFT). Her journey to becoming a guide started well before she could read or write, when she was picking green beans in her backyard, tasting forbidden raspberries from the neighbor’s garden and watching glorious Door County sunsets melt into Lake Michigan.

As a relational forest therapy guide, Cathy holds space in nature for people to experience whatever comes up for them in nature. It may be wonder, joy, grief, awe or even boredom. It is all welcome. Cathy acknowledges that she cannot know what others need—that is an individual experience between the person and the land. She trusts the wisdom that, “The forest is the therapist; the guide opens the door.”

Cathy currently leads children’s groups as a nature educator and also serves as president of the Ela Area Public Library Board of Trustees in Lake Zurich. In the past, she has facilitated groups as a community organizer, workshop leader, and nonprofit board staff member. Cathy is certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid and carries forest therapy practice insurance. She holds a BA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Most recently she practiced holistic health for more than 10 years, offering therapeutic bodywork and a variety of healing modalities. She is a married partner and mom breaking generational patterns and living in sobriety. She creates art, writes frequently and loves to plant native plant and vegetable gardens. Reach Cathy at info@birdsongnatureco.com.

  • Reduce Stress and Anxiety

    "Before the walk I was curious what it would be like. In the beginning, I was a little antsy due to the slow pace. Once I settled in, I found it to be a great way to relax into nature and to reduce stress and anxiety."

    Jason M., Forest Bathing Participant

  • You Are Heard

    "Cathy has a calming presence. She is an active listener who makes every participant feel seen, appreciated and accepted."

    Shari G., Forest Bathing Participant

  • Give it a Try!

    "I urge you to be open to this idea and give forest bathing a try. Let nature be your guide."

    Anonymous, Forest Bathing Participant

  • Community with Other Moms

    “This was a well-rounded experience. Being able to do it with the kiddos and other moms was great! I notice I felt more relaxed after the walk and more observant of my surroundings."

    Michelle J., Forest Bathing Participant

  • A Beautiful Practice

    “I find the experience incredibly grounding and calming, and I always leave with a greater sense of connection to myself, the people I am with and the earth. Forest therapy with Cathy is a beautiful practice in gratitude for and awareness of our place in the world. “

    Shanna S., Forest Bathing Participant

A robin bird perched on a moss-covered branch with its beak open as if singing.