Loss & the woods

One guide's path to forest therapy

In addition to my recent column, the editor of our local paper asked if I’d consider writing an article about my husband’s work in forest therapy. Chip and I sat down for an honest conversation about his journey through grief and loss and the healing he’s found in nature. This is the piece I am sharing with you this week. KW

“I’ve been fortunate I grew up in Western New York, and Wyoming County, in the country, right? And so I was able to just walk outside and be in nature.” 

Enjoying time outside is not just something Chip Matthews does, it’s part of who he is.

Chip Matthews

The Silver Springs resident fondly recalls walks in the woods and family camping trips — the great outdoors providing equal parts recreation and respite.

In the summer of 2020, Matthews connection to nature became even stronger following the sudden death of his wife, Sarah Matthews. He opened up about the depth of the grief and pain he experienced.

“I know that for me, I had times of contemplating my existence and continuation and there was a couple of things that kept me going: I’ve got two kids. And, you know, at that time it would be extremely selfish of me to do any kind of self harm and I didn't want them to go through any more pain, but it was a real thing in my mind. I was struggling with that.”

Matthews explains one of the things that brought some relief to that struggle was being outside. 

“I remember one morning that I woke up, and I said, ‘man, you got to do something, you got to get moving, because you're slipping,’ and I was slipping away. And so I just made a choice just to do a little bit that day.”

What would follow is a path toward forest therapy — a practice rooted in what is known in Japanese as Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. 

“You have your clothes on and we’re not getting in the water,” Matthews clarifies with a laugh.  “The idea is not about getting there, it’s about being here. We just take time to be present in nature, awaken our senses…and start to experience nature in a way that is reciprocal…moving from the thought that ‘nature is something that we consume,’ to ‘we are a part of nature.’”

Matthews also notes there are documented mental and physical benefits to spending time outdoors including reduced stress, lower blood pressure, enhanced immunity and improved attention.

Feeling a responsibility to share all he had learned and the positive results he experienced, Matthews completed a course to become a certified forest therapy guide this past summer and recently presented An Introduction to Forest Therapy at Letchworth State Park’s Winter Lecture Series. 

Chip Matthews presents: An Introduction to Forest Therapy at Letchworth State Park’s Humphrey Nature Center

The interest in this intentional approach to your average walk in the woods has proved to be high. Due to positive feedback and demand, Matthews is currently working to schedule more lecture dates in addition to talks already planned at The Silver Lake Brewing Project’s TAP Talk series in Perry, NY on Wednesday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. and at The Silver Lake Experience lecture series in August. He’s also looking forward to hosting walks this spring and summer. 

You can learn more, schedule lectures or walks and connect with Chip Matthews on his Facebook page, on Instagram: @chip4adk or through his website: www.evergreenlifecoach.com.