Meet the guide
Linda Coutant, Ed.D.
I have long held an appreciation for nature and the wisdom it can share with us.
Growing up in East Tennessee, I was fortunate to live near woods where my friends and I built lean-to forts, studied insects and played at pond edges. My dad was a biologist and turned family hikes and camping trips into intriguing lessons about how nature works.
As an adult, I’ve hiked regularly and lived in the North Carolina mountains near Boone and Blowing Rock for nearly 30 years. Nature is my natural place to be.
I became certified as a Forest Therapy Guide through The Forest Therapy School, which is accredited by the International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance, and hold a commercial use permit for Blue Ridge Parkway trails.
Additionally, I introduced and taught the Koru Mindfulness curriculum at Appalachian State University for six years, where I also worked for 27 years in public relations/marketing.
When I’m not advocating for the practice of forest bathing, I work as a staff writer for the National Parks Conservation Association.
What people are saying…
“Our forest therapy walk with Linda was an amazing experience! It gave us the opportunity to participate in a walk in the woods on a much deeper level. All of our senses were involved and we experienced a profound sense of peace and connection.”
“Linda’s gentle spirit, knowledge, and guidance allowed me to be open and relax into the experience. I was a participant in the wonders of the forest by using my senses. I actually felt part of the forest, and this level of connectivity has changed the way I relate to nature.”
“Linda was a great guide and brought her experience with meditation and mindfulness to a new and wonderful sensory practice for us. ”
Credentials:
Certified Forest Therapy Guide — The Forest Therapy School, completed 2022
Mindfulness Instructor — The Center for Koru Mindfulness, 2016-2022
CPR Training — Institute for Wilderness and Emergency Medicine, completed 2022
Wilderness First Aid — Institute for Wilderness and Emergency Medicine, completed 2022
