The Gentle Power of Forest Therapy – Exclusive Interview with Juna Ting-Wei Chang
Juna Ting-Wei Chang is a forest therapy guide, mentor, and the founder of Shinrin-Yoku Taiwan, a nature-based wellbeing platform dedicated to supporting individuals and communities in slowing down and returning their attention to themselves and the more-than-human world through forest therapy and Shinrin-yoku. She is the first Taiwanese guide certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) and also holds the Taiwan Forest Therapist Certificate, serving as a mentor within Taiwan’s forest therapy system in collaboration with the Taiwan Forest Therapy Society.
Juna Ting-Wei Chang, Forest Therapy Guide
Who is Juna Ting-Wei Chang?
Juna Ting-Wei Chang is a forest therapy guide and founder of Shinrin-Yoku Taiwan, supporting people in coming closer to themselves through nature.
Her journey began in 2017 at a Girl Scouts seminar in Switzerland, which inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree in Landscape and Recreation Management after completing an undergraduate degree in English and Spanish. Her research explored cyberbullying and sharing economy models in Taiwan’s forest therapy industry, bridging the realms of well-being and innovation.
Having lived in the U.S. and Panama, and traveled extensively, Juna blends a global perspective with local insight, transforming science, tradition, and personal experience into accessible, grounded wellbeing practices.
What inspired you to create Shinrin-Yoku Taiwan?
I’ve been a Girl Scout since age 10, and that sense of curiosity and service has guided me. My first encounter with forest therapy revealed the healing potential of nature, made more meaningful through seeing friends and family struggle with mental health challenges.
At the time, Taiwan had no formal forest therapy training, so I pursued ANFT certification. Today, through Shinrin-Yoku Taiwan and the family business Green Shower, I combine professional training, personal healing, and over 30 years of experience in nature-based wellness products.
Following my father’s motto, “bring the forest back home,” Green Shower imported wooded essential oils and developed Home and body care products with them, bringing nature’s benefits into daily life. My mission complements this: to guide people to interweave nature’s closeness into body, mind, and daily life, supporting lasting emotional, mental, and sensory transformation.
Who will come to you?
Most seek relief from the fast pace and pressures of modern life, wanting to slow down, breathe, and feel present. Some want to enhance self-awareness, emotional regulation, or social-emotional learning, while others are looking for practical, sustainable ways to care for mental and emotional well-being.
What makes your approach unique in Taiwan and beyond?
I am the first Taiwanese ANFT-certified Forest Therapy Guide, one of fewer than 20 in Taiwan. I also hold the Taiwan Forest Therapist Certificate and serve as a mentor in Taiwan’s forest therapy system.
With my background in languages and cross-cultural experience, I localize forest therapy and Shinrin-Yoku practices for Taiwanese participants while offering English-language sessions for international communities. I work with individuals, organizations, and international groups, keeping practices culturally grounded yet globally accessible.
How do you blend science, tradition, and modern wellbeing practices?
I integrate scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, and embodied experience. Studies show the benefits of forest therapy and nature-based interventions, while ancient wisdom affirms our deep connection with the natural world.
This approach ensures wellbeing is lived, felt, and sustained, supporting people in cultivating resilient, balanced lifestyles and preventive health strategies.
Who benefits most from your guidance?
Those willing to slow down and allow themselves to experience nature’s restorative potential. Forest therapy is not prescriptive; it invites presence, curiosity, and receptivity. My role is to create a safe, supportive framework, allowing each person to engage at their own pace, making the experience deeply personal and sustainable.
What does a typical client journey look like?
Sessions last 2.5-3 hours, often in urban natural settings, with occasional mountain or forest group sessions.
Participants follow the ANFT relational forest therapy sequence, developing sensory awareness, mindful presence, emotional regulation, and reflective integration. Shared reflection helps translate the experience into practical wellbeing insights for daily life.
Can you share a breakthrough moment that deeply moved you?
One of my most meaningful breakthroughs has been my own transformation. I struggled with perfectionism, searching for meaning, and self-doubt, and found healing through forest therapy.
Nature has been a steady, non-judgmental companion, guiding me back into presence, calm, and embodied awareness, which shapes how I guide others with empathy, care, and respect.
What do you wish more people understood about forest therapy?
Forest therapy is simple yet profoundly powerful. It is not a luxury or trend, but an essential practice that nurtures mental health, emotional resilience, and holistic wellbeing.
By engaging in forest therapy, we gently remember a sense of closeness and attentiveness to nature, supporting balance within ourselves and harmony with the world around us.
What future vision drives your work?
In a world of rapid change, social instability, and rising mental health challenges, I aim to help people return attention to human nature, nurturing connection, compassion, and sustainability.
Through forest therapy, I invite readers to explore nature-based practices themselves and experience how mindful engagement with the natural world can support daily well-being.
What would you say to someone hesitant about forest therapy?
I’d say it’s okay to start small and simply be curious. Forest therapy isn’t about doing anything perfectly – it’s about slowing down, noticing nature, and giving yourself space to feel calm and present. Every step in nature can support your wellbeing, and I’m here to guide you at your own pace.
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