Walk and Talk Therapy

Walk and talk outdoor therapy in the Yorkshire Dales & Lake District National Parks

We offer walk and talk therapy, swopping indoor therapy sessions for a walk and a talk in the natural environment. Intrigued?

Exploring the local landscape and being immersed in nature can bring multiple benefits to the therapy experience. Walk and talk therapy combines the expected outcomes of traditional therapy sessions with the benefits of connecting to the natural world.

We offer walk and talk therapy here in Harrogate and Yorkshire, as well as in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria. Our therapists are professionally trained with the relevant qualifications and membership registrations for this area of therapy.

There are great benefits to a therapeutic conversation taking place outside. You could be walking with a therapist or sitting somewhere together in nature, such as by a stream or in a wood. Working therapeutically outside can bring a sense of progress towards the changes you want to see. You can be literally moving forwards physically.

Walking and being in nature is proven to be good for our minds, our bodies. Numerous studies over the past 40 years have shown we are happiest and healthiest in nature – seeing, hearing and smelling it. We are fortunate to have access to beautiful countryside, within Harrogate where we are based, and with two national parks close by. That’s why we offer our walking and talking therapy in Yorkshire and the Lake District.

There are multiple benefits to walking and talking therapy. Being outside releases endorphins and is generally mood-enhancing, can support weight loss, lowers blood pressure, boosts immunity, speeds up digestion, and improves heart health. When we move and shift our environment, it’s possible to also think differently about aspects of life that seem immovable. Relaxing physically can also help our minds to open up.

Walking side by side can benefit the client and therapist relationship too. Hugely valuable silences in therapy can be easier to bear against the gentle soundtrack of nature, and potentially intense eye contact is removed for those who find it an uncomfortable part of therapy sessions.

Outdoor counselling is good for those who may feel anxious or claustrophobic in a one-on-one session in a therapy room. It can be especially helpful for people who don’t often have the opportunity to get out into nature and for those who feel they thrive in the outdoors. The suitability of a walk and talk approach is based on individual needs, the problem presented, any practicalities or issues concerning health or accessibility, and consent and confidentiality.

Contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our therapists, to arrange your first session. We’ll match you to the person who best meets your needs and preferences. Alternatively you can have a free, brief chat with a therapist before booking.