Professional Identity, Agency, and Ethical Responsibility of Forest Therapy Guides

This article presents a structured approach to the assessment and optimization of invitations used in guided forest therapy sessions, arguing that invitations should be understood not as neutral prompts, but as core methodological elements that shape participant experience, safety, and potential outcomes. Using the invitation Mindfulness Step by Step: A Meditative Walk into the Heart of the Forest as a case study, the paper outlines a practical framework for invitation design and evaluation that includes clarification of purpose, identification of intended benefits, assessment of physical and emotional risks, application of preventive, active, and reactive measures, participant preparation, and post-session reflection and revision. Particular attention is given to the dual necessity of supporting both safety and meaningful engagement, especially in relation to terrain, weather, pace, sensory sensitivity, emotional activation, and individual readiness. The article emphasizes that effective invitation design requires the guide to balance methodological structure with flexibility, contextual awareness, and ethical responsibility. It further suggests that invitation assessment is not a one-time procedural step, but an ongoing reflective process embedded within session planning, facilitation, and self-evaluation. By proposing a comprehensive and practice-oriented methodology, the article contributes to the professionalization of guided sessions while preserving the relational, sensory, and human-centred character of the practice.