starts 1st December 2025
This course is brought to you by The Therapeutic Forest, who have combined clinical excellence with award-winning Paediatric Therapists to provide opportunities for Forest school leaders to gain insights from therapy and develop basic therapeutic skills.
Each of our modules is designed to enhance your practice and provide you with the skills to support children therapeutically in Forest School settings. By completing the full certification programme, you will be equipped with the skills to capitalise on the therapeutic benefits of the outdoors for both typically developing children and children with additional needs.
The practical insights provided by these experts have been instrumental in enhancing my skills and approaches, fostering a more effective and enriching experience for both myself and the individuals in the Forest School setting."
This programme is taught by accredited Psychologists, Therapists, and Forest School Leaders, which means you have access to a multi- disciplinary team of specialists who will be able to enhance your current skills and help you develop new ones
Core Course modules are led by Dr Charlotte Dunster- Page Clinical Psychologist and Award Winning Speech and Language Therapist Caspian Jamie.
Guest speakers from a range of backgrounds and disciplines
3 Interactive Webinars from Therapeutic Specialists, including a Play Therapist, Occupational Therapist and Clinical Psychologist
The Therapeutic Forest CIC is a Social Enterprise founded by a team of therapists with a passion for the outdoors.
Our Therapeutic Skills training programme for Forest School and Outdoor Leaders is the first of its kind in the world. To date we have trained more than 600 Outdoor Leaders and have over 190 Approved Practitioner's across the UK and Internationally.
The Certificate in Therapeutic Skills for Outdoor Leaders features specialist course material that is designed for those who already possess experience in outdoor teaching and working with children.
Applicants who are Level 3 certified Forest School Leaders will gain automatic acceptance and enrolment to the course.
However, we value diverse experiences, so we also welcome applications from those with significant experience working in the outdoors or with children who have additional needs.
This course could also be well suited to you if you have a degree in a health and wellbeing based field, such as psychology. If you have a relevant background and experience, you can apply for entry to the course and your application will be assessed on an individual basis.
Once you’ve successfully completed the course you will gain your Certificate in Therapeutic Skills for Outdoor Leaders.
This certification also demonstrates to schools, funders, and parents that you are committed to continuing professional development and the inclusion of children with a wide range of needs. You will leave the course with a toolkit of techniques to support wellbeing of children with a wide variety of needs and can immediately apply your new skills to your practice.
For those who wish to continue their learning journey, we offer an ‘Approved Practitioner’ programme. As part of the programme you can use our logo on your website and promotional materials, access an online workspace where you can benefit from peer support, advice from our paediatric therapy team and further CPD opportunities at a cost of £96 per year/£8.50 a month.
I have done lots of training over the years but TF is by far the best. I love the way the courses are so flexible and give different ways of learning. The short videos and activities are so useful and the fact that the content remains available to re access at any time."
Course Overview
Delivered by Clinical Psychologist, Dr Charlotte Dunster-Page
Key Topics:
Supporting the emotional well-being of children in forest settings
Improving emotional regulation
Assisting with growth mindset
Using solution focused approaches
Promoting resilience and motivation
Delivered by Speech and Language Therapist and Forest School Leader, Caspian Jamie
Key Topics:
Creating inclusive sessions
Reducing anxiety at Forest School
A Total Communication Approach
Adapting our Communication at Forest School
Delivered by Clinical Psychologist, Dr Charlotte Dunster-Page
Key Topics:
Understanding attachment theory
Tailoring strategies you can apply at Forest School to different attachment styles
Supporting Looked After Children
Delivered by Speech and Language Therapist and Forest School Leader, Caspian Jamie
Key Topics:
Supporting Speech and Language Development
Developing Social Communication Skills
Recording Outcome Measures
During the course, we are joined by Guest Expert Speakers ranging from:
Researcher and Lecturer, Dr Alexia Barrable
Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sam Walker
Outdoor Occupational Therapist, Steph Snowball
Nature-Based Play Therapist, Shuna Mercer
on a range of topics from implementing play therapy approaches at Forest School and meeting sensory processing needs to children's emotional recovery and the research into nature connection.
A Conversation with Andy from Spectrum Gaming (Supporting Autistic Young People)
A Conversation with Kirsty, Forest School Leader (Supporting Autistic Young People)
A Conversation with Sian, Forest School Leader (Supporting Young People with ADHD)
A Conversation with Imogen, Forest School Leader (Supporting Young People who disclose sexual abuse)
Delivered via our self-paced learning platform, you'll get started with Welcome Week on our course start date before beginning Module 1 and following our course timetable over 8 weeks, and longer if you prefer.
The core content is made up of short videos and a series of tasks on our online platform so that you can access them in your own time and with Guest Speakers and Course Mentor-led Study Sessions in the evening.
Costs £395 / £33 per month
Starts on 1st December 2025
Delivered over 4 days, you'll learn all the content delivered as part of the Certificate in Therapeutic Skills for Outdoor Leaders with lots of discussion and walk away on day 4 with your certificate.
An opportunity to meet like-minded Forest School Leaders!
2026 dates are yet to be announced.