As winter loosens its grip and the first signs of spring appear across Sweden, the Swedish GreenME intervention is launching a new round of Nature-Based Stress Therapy (NBST) programs in Stockholm County.
NBST is a structured 12-week manualised Forest Therapy program designed for individuals experiencing diagnosed stress-related conditions, low mood, and anxiety. The program is based on the Scandinavian Eco Forest Therapy methodology and structured through the SHIFT M.A.P. framework, developed by licensed psychologist Petra Ellora Cau Wetterholm, founder of the Scandinavian Nature and Forest Therapy Institute and Shinrin-Yoku Sweden.
A team of Certified Forest Therapy Guides is preparing to lead participants through the changing landscape of spring and summer. The program will take place in two different forest settings (urban and peri-urban) allowing researchers to explore how varying environments influence participants’ experiences and outcomes.
“The methodology is developed to meet both clinical and research standards. GreenME offers a unique opportunity to investigate forest therapy as a structured, evidence-based intervention in primary healthcare.We look forward to walking with the participants into spring and summer. It will be delightful,” Petra adds.
Beyond the program itself, awareness of forest therapy and its broader impact continues to grow. In early March, Petra delivered a lecture at the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, focusing on the practice of forest therapy and its connections to sustainability.
During her talk, she highlighted how guided forest therapy experiences can not only support stress reduction and mental wellbeing, but also foster a deeper relationship with nature. This connection often encourages behaviors that contribute to environmental preservation.
Petra also presented the GreenME Project, emphasising its research on Nature-Based Therapy (NbT) as a promising approach to supporting both mental health and sustainability. The lecture sparked lively discussion among attendees, reflecting a growing recognition of the links between personal wellbeing and ecological responsibility.