About Your Guide

Therese is a Nature & Forest Therapy Guide certified by the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy (ANFT). She is trained in evidence-based practices that support sensory awareness, nervous system regulation, and connection to nature. Her approach integrates current research in nature and forest therapy with a grounded, observational presence.

Born and raised in California, regular exposure to coastal and wild landscapes shaped her early connection to the natural world. Growing up near the Pacific Ocean, Therese thrived in dynamic ecosystems influenced by marine mammals, seabirds, tidal rhythms, and open-air environments—conditions known to support sensory engagement and psychological restoration.

Her professional path later expanded into the medical field and writing, grounding her perspective in both science and communication. Throughout this time, her consistent return to nature reflects what research increasingly supports: that repeated, immersive exposure to natural environments plays a meaningful role in regulating stress, supports cognitive function, and enhances overall well-being. She is currently working on her third book—and, perhaps unsurprisingly, has chosen to stay with something she knows very well: the healing aspects of nature and the earth’s forests.

Therese has spent extensive time in diverse ecological settings, including long-distance treks on the John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Camino del Norte, as well as alpine and coastal routes such as the Tour du Mont Blanc and South West Coast Path. She has also summited notable peaks including El Capitan, Half Dome, Mt. Whitney, and Mt. San Jacinto. These experiences have provided sustained, firsthand engagement with varied terrains, climates, and biodiversity—deepening her understanding of human-environment interaction.

Therese holds certifications in CPR and Wilderness First Response, serving as a medical volunteer with the Santa Barbara Medical Reserve Corps and the American Red Cross. She is an avid SCUBA diver, and an active birder and volunteers with International Bird Rescue, contributing to wildlife rehabilitation and conservation efforts.

About Yamadori Nature & Forest Therapy

In bonsai, yamadori refers to trees “collected from the wild” — organisms shaped over time by environmental forces such as wind, water, temperature shifts, and ecological stressors. Their form reflects adaptation and resilience. At Yamadori Nature & Forest Therapy, we draw from this concept as a parallel to human health, with prolonged exposure to natural environments supporting our own capacity to adapt, regulate, and restore.

Yamadori Nature & Forest Therapy offers guided forest therapy sessions for individuals and groups in the areas around beautiful Santa Ynez Valley in northern Santa Barbara County, California. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor planning a trip to this spectacular region known for its many vineyards, wineries, and local cuisine, we would be happy to arrange a calming forest therapy respite.

We also offer remote sessions for clients wherever they happen to be located, as well as adjunct services to interested healthcare professionals.