Walk and Talk
The calming effect of being out in the open air and the movement can help you reset your nervous system and gain new perspectives on your feelings, allowing a new, kinder relationship to yourself.
Walk and Talk Therapy;
The healing power of talking and nature combined
I offer walk and talk therapy on the edge of Stroud, in beautiful natural surroundings where the healing power of talking in nature can help you to slow down, reflect, sense deeper into your feelings, process your emotions, and listen to your inner voice. It's often easier to talk about difficult issues while walking outside.
Walk and Talk therapy can feel much easier than being in a room if you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious or at a crossroads in your life. We walk side by side, giving you space to talk, think and explore what's happening without the formality of sitting face-to-face.
Walk and Talk could help you if you:
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Find direct eye contact or sitting face-to-face uncomfortable.
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Feel mentally overloaded and appreciate being outdoors.
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Find moving your body helps reduce your stress levels.
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Find it easier to talk while walking.
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Are struggling with stress, burnout or a major life transition.
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Find it difficult to talk about your problems.
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Want a less formal way to have counselling.
Walk and talk therapy is much more than just counselling outside, while you’re walking. We are tuning into nature, breathing more deeply, slowing our pulse, resetting our nervous system. We are made for being outside, in touch with the wind, the sun, the rain, the bird song. We feel at home and can start to relax. Our animal bodies need to be in nature. It helps us get in touch with wider perspectives - like a bird of prey flying over, seeing far and wide. Exploring ourselves and our difficulties from this place is a different experience to exploring yourself in a room. Metaphors abound. Silences feel natural, there is time to pause and reflect, time to just be. Sadly, this has become rare in our busy world, but we can still find this connection inside us when we are outside in nature.
And something mysterious can happen when we are out in nature - A Kestrel soars high overhead just as we are realising that our life view has become narrow and we need a wider perspective. A Robin sings it's little heart out with a beautiful song, reminding us of the joy that can be there in any moment when we stop and pause. As we pass an old oak tree, we imagine how deep it's roots go into the earth, helping us remember how much we need to feel grounded and belong. Again and again, I hear clients say that it feels so good to have counselling outside, that they feel good at the end of a session.
I usually suggest that we meet on Rodborough or Minchinhampton Common, where there is plenty of space to walk, places to sit and beautiful views.
When the weather is wet, we can either agree to wrap up and walk in the rain - I have umbrellas (if you'd like one) and know of more sheltered routes where we can walk under the trees. Or we can meet online for that week or we can try to rearrange the session during that week. It continually surprises me how few sessions each year are actually disrupted by the weather and often walking in different weather can bring new opportunities inside us. Please see my FAQ page for more details or send me an email with any questions.
What people say...
I put off having counselling for years because I couldn't face sitting in a room opposite someone. I have found walk and talk counselling so helpful because I feel less in the spot light and being in such a beautiful place really helps too. Lisa is really kind and gentle and has helped me come to terms with things I never thought I would.
Stephen
I was really worried about starting counselling because I usually find it so hard to express my feelings and know what to say. Lisa has helped me to understand myself so much more and I've come away with new tools that feel part of the way I live now. I have found walking alongside one another while talking much easier than sitting in a room feeling awkward.
Dave
I've been having walking sessions with Lisa for over a year now and have noticed so many positive changes in myself. Lisa is very patient, kind and understanding and a great listener. I have had quite a lot of counselling in my life, but having it outdoors has been so much better. I come away from each session feeling so much more myself.
Annonymous
Having counselling out in nature has helped me to connect back to myself. Meeting outside each week, whatever the weather, with Lisa by my side gives me the strength to keep going. I just wish I had started all this a long time ago.
Annonymous
Having counselling with Lisa while walking has been such a good experience for me. Everything feels so much less pressured outside, I feel I can take my time and Lisa has really helped me be curious about my emotions which is something I've never tried before. I can feel the benefit after only a few sessions. Thank you, Lisa
Annonymous
I have been finding the walk and talk sessions with Lisa so beneficial. Talking while walking feels so natural with more space to reflect. I love Lisa's way of helping me expand my awareness to encompass the land and the sky as well as my big emotions. It seems so simple but it makes so much difference. I'll never return to counselling in a room!