Our Services

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What is Nature Therapy (Sylvotherapy)?

Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese practice of forest bathing, join us as we immerse ourselves in nature in a way that invites healing for the body and mind, our fraught ecosystems, and our community.

We’ll quiet our minds, awaken our senses, and restore our relationship with ourselves, each other and the earth with a mini retreat (2-4 hours long) to appreciate the healing benefits of nature. The forest is the therapist. Your certified forest therapy guide opens the door. A series of thoughtfully crafted activities invite participants to experience nature in a new way. It all culminates with a tea ceremony in which your guide will serve snacks and a wildcrafted infusion of local plants. Upon departure, we’ll have an enhanced appreciation for the natural world, and a new practice that we can readily apply in our daily lives.

We offer services in Rockingham County, Botetourt County, Augusta County, and surrounding areas of Virginia.

More about Sylvotherapy

Nature Therapy Walks

A woman with dark hair, wearing a light pink shirt, dark shorts, and hiking shoes, carrying a brown backpack, walking on a narrow trail in a forest with leafless and green trees.

Community Walks

$50 Donation– 2 hours

Community retreats are group experiences, open to the public and available at a lower price point. These dates/times are prescheduled dates/times by your guide and can be found on the Home page.

Book on Home Page

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Private Sessions

$80 Donation– 2-4 hours

Private retreats are closed to the public and available only to guests of the person booking the experience. You will schedule a date/time that fits your schedule.

Book Private Session

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Group Sessions

$60/person Donation– 2-4 hours

Group sessions are scheduled in advance and may include individuals/groups from multiple bookings. Corporate retreats are available up to groups of 25.

Book Group Session

PARTNERSHIPS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND 12-STEP PROGRAMS

Are you involved in a program that focuses on addiction or mental health? Seeking to amplify and diversify your clients’ activities to include forest bathing, nature therapy, or mindfulness? Root Cause will enhance your program with a heart-centered, relational experience through the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We can also discuss the possibility of visiting your site, here in the United States or worldwide. Email Rootcause@rootcausenaturetherapy.org for a free consultation on how we can work together to create a custom experience to complement your treatment plans.

MINDFULNESS IN NATURE

Looking for something more physical than forest bathing but equally magical? Join us for a mindful hike featuring easy, moderate or advanced trails throughout Virginia. Every hike is customized based upon your unique needs, the season, desired views (waterfall, mountain-top vista or riverside swimming holes), and fitness level. We have an abundance of trails to suit every body.

We believe there is a time to DO and a time to DO NOTHING. Together, we will explore and move, while also making time for silence and stillness. Are you hiking for healing? In need of an experienced guide to help you make the most of your time in the mountains? We've got you covered.

Root Cause can integrate mindfulness into a variety of outdoor activities, including kayaking trips, bringing you into the present moment with a dose of wonder and awe. We'll help you experience the magic of the Blue Ridge Mountains! Email Rootcause@rootcausenaturetherapy.org to create your custom experience.

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