International Leadership
A chronicle of Amos Clifford’s presentations, keynotes, and forest therapy immersions and retreats, offered around the world.
ANFT Founder Amos Clifford, age 19, wears a crown of Yerba Buena made by a student during a seminar he is leading. Officials of the Santa Barbara County juvenile justice department invited Amos to teach a course to incarcerated teenagers. In an unprecedented move, they decided Amos could take them out of the secure institution for the day. In San Roque Canyon they explored a diverse array of herbs and learned about their traditional uses. Each student wrote an essay and illustrated a plant. The collection was published by the Santa Barbara County Office of Education as Useful and Healing Plants of the Santa Barbara Foothills. Early roots of ANFT, reaching back to 1974.
Conference Presentations, Keynotes & Invited Lectures
- 2025
7th International Congress: Forest and Its Potential for HealthPresentation: Relational Forest Therapy: Building Networks of Connection Through Liminal Experience and Imagination2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy: Healing with NaturePresentation: Consciousness & Nature: A Depth Psychology Framework for Forest Therapy Guides
- 2024
6th International Congress: Forest and Its Potential for HealthPresentation: Relational Forest Therapy
Included both a presentation and an experiential Relational Forest Therapy session.
XXVI IUFRO World Congress — Forests and Society Towards 2050Presentation: The Emerging Global Network of Forest Therapy Guides1st World Forum on Forest Therapy: Forests for Health, Happiness and Well-beingWorkshopThe Rewilding SummitPresenterThe Heart of Nature SummitInterview with Kriste PeoplesFeatured alongside speakers including Paul Hawken, Tara Brach, Jane Fonda, Daniel Siegel, and Nina Simons.
Public Lecture on Forest BathingPublic lecture and guided meditation on forest bathingHeld in conjunction with the Lithuanian publication of Your Guide to Forest Bathing.
- 2023
INFOM International Symposium and Workshop on Forest MedicinePresentation: Relational Forest Therapy: ANFT Ideas and Practices for Forest Therapy and Its Potential for Soul EncountersSecond Croatian Congress of Forest TherapyPresentation: Forest Paths to Soul Encounters5th International Congress: Forest and Its Potential for HealthKeynote: Beyond Nature Connection: The Specifics of Relationship and Communication with Other-Than-Human Beings
- 2022
First Croatian International Congress on Forest TherapyPresentation: Way of the Guide and Relational Forest Therapy: Implications for ResearchFirst International Conference on Forest Therapy (ICFT)Keynote4th International Congress: Forest and Its Potential for HealthPresentation: Way of the Guide and Relational Forest Therapy: Implications for Research
- 2021
2021 International Forest Therapy ConferencePresentation: Trends in the Development of Forest Therapy in the United StatesWorld Conference on Forests for Public HealthPresenter and moderator
- 2020
The Embodiment ConferencePresentation: Forest Bathing: The Pleasures of Presence
An experiential introduction to forest bathing, including techniques used by forest therapy guides and ways of adapting them to homes, gardens, and workplaces.
- 2019
Madison Square Park Conservancy Horticulture Symposium: The Transformative Properties of HorticultureKeynote: The Importance of Forest Therapy in an Age of Climate Crisis
Followed by a Q&A and an optional guided forest bathing experience in Madison Square Park.
3rd International Congress: Forest and Its Potential for HealthPresentation1st Annual International Forest Therapy Conference and CongressPresentation - 2018
Americas Latino Eco Festival / Promotores Verdes SummitPresentation: Forest Health & Forest Bathing: Powering Resilient Communities
Also served on the Building Community Resilience panel.
International Forest Bathing DaySpecial presentation on forest bathing — its wellness applications, techniques, and resourcesFollowed by audience questions and a book signing.
Online Ecotherapy Conference: Deep RootsRecorded interviewOn the importance of forest therapy, its emergence as a field, and the distinctions between forest therapy and ecotherapy.
- 2016
Symposium of Forest Medicine SHINRIN-YOKU with International ParticipationKeynote: Forest Therapy: A Global Vision
Followed by a one-hour workshop in forest therapy practices and a next-day field workshop at Obedska Bara Nature Reserve.
Retreats and Forest Therapy Immersions Led
- 2025
Embodying the Way of the GuideLed with Geeta Stilwell and Ronna Schneberger
A five-day personal-exploration retreat centered on embodying the Way of the Guide.
- 2024
Embodying the Way of the GuideLed with Geeta Stilwell
An immersive exploration of the Way of the Guide and relational practice.
- 2022
Imaginal Alchemy: The Evolution of Forest Therapy
Forest therapy, imagination, the imaginal dimension of nature relationship, and the continuing evolution of relational forest therapy.
- 2019
Way of the Guide — Forest Therapy Immersion
The Guide archetype, liminal journeys, and partnership with the more-than-human world.
Council of Waters and Trees — Forest Therapy ImmersionBringing restorative-practice principles into relationship with forest therapy, exploring reciprocity with plants, waters, stones, and other beings.
- 2018
Council of Waters and Trees
Forest therapy, restorative practices, council, and relationship with the more-than-human world.
Council of Waters and TreesA four-day immersion in forest therapy, council, reciprocity, and relationship with the more-than-human world.
- 2016
Forest Bathing Spa RetreatLed with Nicole Daspit
A day-long retreat combining guided forest therapy invitations, a forest bathing walk, tea ceremony, contemplative time, and spa experiences.
Council of Waters and Trees — Forest Therapy ImmersionA four-day Council of Waters and Trees immersion.
Council of Waters and Trees — Forest Therapy ImmersionA four-day Council of Waters and Trees immersion.
- 2015
Council of Waters and Trees — Forest Therapy Immersion
One of the earliest clearly documented uses of the Council of Waters and Trees as a named forest therapy immersion.
- 2014
Council Circles and Restorative Practices Retreat for Educators
Council circles and restorative practices for educators. This retreat predates the later Forest Therapy Immersion series and was not specifically branded as a forest therapy retreat.