Abstract

There has been generalized expectations and beliefs that the forest(nature) has an recovering effect on body-mind health. But, the research related to exploring variables and mechanisms of therapeutic effects of the forest has been insufficient. The Korean Alcohol Research Foundation & Korea Forest Foundation examined the Therapeutic effects of the forest on alcohol dependence patients and their families. Especially, considered that the 2006 research carried out pre-post test only for experimental group, the comparison group was comprised of other alcohol dependence patients and their families receiving similar therapeutic interventions at outpatient centers(called 'Alcohol Counselling Center' in Korea) for alcohol problems and therapeutic communities. Dependant variables were emotional stability, acceptance behavior, level of stress perception, and self-esteem. Considered that alcohol problems are characterized as family disease, patient's families also received the same intervention and assessment. The results were that emotional stabilities were generally improved in both patients and their families, acceptance behavior obviously improved in family group than patient group and self-esteem has been elevated in patients group than family group. In conclusion, Forest-healing(experience) program was proved to have similar and better effects on patients and families than the various programs of the outpatient centers and therapeutic community. It suggest that this program has mutual synergistic effect with the other general alcohol programs. And limitations and propositions were discussed.