Volunteer Senior Community-Centric Research Forest Therapy Facilitator

Volunteer Senior Community-Centric Research Forest Therapy Facilitator

Community-Centric Research Forest Therapy Facilitator

Volunteer Role. It is an unpaid, virtual volunteer role. Ie it's not financially compensated.

Reports To: Director of Research and Educational Programs or equivalent

Role Overview:

The Community-Centric Research Forest Therapy Facilitator operates at the intersection of research, functional medicine, and community engagement. This role focuses on guiding and empowering our app users and course participants in the pursuit of improved health and wellbeing through forest therapy, grounded in the principles of functional medicine. The facilitator will use digital platforms to encourage and facilitate physical nature immersion experiences, using a research-based, community-collaborative approach.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research-Informed Content Development and Delivery: Develop content for our nature counter app and courses using evidence from scientific literature, functional medicine, and community experiences. Craft digital materials that inspire and guide users to reap the benefits of physical forest therapy experiences.
• Community-Engaged Research and Support: Use participatory action research and citizen science methodologies to involve community members in the generation, analysis, and application of their own data, optimizing their personal nature immersion experiences. Respond to user queries and provide support based on principles of functional medicine.
• Outreach and Advocacy: Act as an advocate for forest therapy, raising awareness about its potential health benefits. Engage with community members, healthcare providers, and the broader public to increase understanding of functional medicine principles.
• Collaborative Engagement: Work closely with diverse stakeholders, including community members, researchers, healthcare practitioners, and educators, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective action. Collaborate with our team to enhance user experience and outcomes, utilizing insights and feedback from the community.
• Continuous Learning and Improvement: Stay updated with the latest research in forest therapy, functional medicine, participatory action research, and attention restoration theory. Apply this knowledge to refine and improve app and course content.

Qualifications:

• A degree in Psychology, Therapy, Community Health, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Certification or substantial experience in forest therapy, nature immersion therapy, or functional medicine.
• Experience with participatory action research and/or citizen science projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster collaboration between individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Proficiency in designing and delivering therapeutic interventions through digital platforms.
• Strong passion for promoting mental health, wellbeing, and a connection to nature through a community-based, research-oriented approach.

Personal Characteristics:

• Deep belief in the healing power of nature and the principles of functional medicine.
• Patient, empathetic, and respectful of individuals' unique journeys.
• Innovative and research-oriented, with a desire to leverage digital platforms to enhance physical nature-based therapeutic experiences.
• Committed to continuous learning and staying informed about the latest research and community-based trends.

This voluntary, pro bono role is designed for those with a passion for research, functional medicine, community engagement, and nature-based therapy. Although it does not offer monetary compensation, it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the community, engage with cutting-edge research, gain experience in participatory action research, and join a community dedicated to the healing power of nature. It is an unpaid, virtual volunteer role. Ie it's not financially compensated.

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