We have been asking our members from across the industries the reasons why they became a CPD provider. This CPD Member case study was provided by Nature and Therapy. For more information, please visit their CPD Member Directory page.
Please provide us with a brief overview of your organisation. What do you do?
Nature & Therapy is a UK-based organisation specialising in Forest Bathing (shinrin yoku) training. Operating since 2017, they have trained over 600 people through their practitioner training programmes delivered in-person across natural locations in England, Scotland, and Wales. Their training follows a multi-stage approach that includes mentoring and support. Graduates include therapists, healthcare workers, educators, and career changers seeking personal growth while helping others.
The organisation emphasises experiential, embodied learning in nature rather than online training, believing direct immersion in woodland environments is essential for understanding and teaching Forest Bathing practices. They work with numerous healthcare institutions and universities. Once qualified, practitioners can lead Forest Bathing sessions for various groups.
Why did you become a CPD provider?
We chose to become a CPD-accredited provider because the majority of our students are established professionals from diverse backgrounds—including therapists, healthcare workers, educators, and other career practitioners—who are seeking to enhance their existing skill sets with Forest Bathing and ecotherapy training. CPD accreditation is important because it lends credibility and professional recognition to our training programmes, facilitating greater uptake - and it is particularly valuable for our students who need to demonstrate their commitment to Continuing Professional Development within their current careers or regulatory bodies.
How did you implement CPD accreditation in your organisation?
We implemented CPD accreditation by integrating it into our existing three-stage Practitioner training structure. We mapped our Forest Bathing training content to CPD learning outcomes and documented the learning hours and objectives for each level. CPD credit information is clearly stated on our course descriptions and promotional materials.
We enhanced our course materials to meet CPD standards by incorporating clear learning objectives, assessments, and reflective practice elements. Each course includes reflective journals for students to document their learning journey, and we conduct post-course evaluations to ensure quality and learning outcomes are being met.
We prominently display CPD accreditation logos and information on our website and marketing materials, making it clear to prospective students that our training is professionally recognised. While students primarily receive their Nature & Therapy certificates upon completion of each level, they have access to CPD credit information through our course materials and can request formal CPD documentation if needed for their professional requirements. Our existing administrative systems for tracking student attendance and course completion support the CPD framework, ensuring we maintain accurate records that meet accreditation standards.
How has CPD helped your organisation achieve its learning objectives?
CPD accreditation has significantly enhanced our ability to achieve our core learning objectives in several ways:
Professional Integration: Our primary objective is to enable established professionals—therapists, healthcare workers, educators—to integrate Forest Bathing practices into their existing careers. CPD accreditation has made this seamless by providing them with formally recognised professional development that they can evidence to employers, professional bodies, and clients. This has removed a significant barrier to applying their learning in professional contexts.
Enhanced Learning Commitment: The CPD framework has strengthened the quality of reflection and engagement from our students. The reflective journals and learning logs required for CPD standards encourage deeper integration of the material, which aligns perfectly with our objective of creating competent, embodied practitioners who truly understand the principles they're teaching.
Credibility and Standards: CPD accreditation has reinforced our commitment to maintaining rigorous training standards. It provides external validation of our curriculum and approach, which is particularly important given that Forest Bathing is still an emerging field in the UK. This credibility helps us achieve our objective of legitimising nature-based therapeutic practices within mainstream health and wellbeing sectors.
Attracting the Right Students: The CPD accreditation has helped us attract serious, committed professionals who are invested in genuine skill development rather than casual interest. This has elevated the calibre of our cohorts and strengthened the professional community we're building.
We hope this brief CPD Member Case Study was both interesting and helpful. Please go to the Nature and Therapy CPD Member profile page for more on their available CPD. Alternatively, please visit the CPD Industry Hubs to find courses, events and articles relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
CPD accreditation for training and events
Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.
If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail.
