Walk and talk therapy in East Kilbride
Outdoor counselling in Calderglen Country Park, with the choice to walk, find somewhere to sit or do a bit of both — whatever feels most comfortable for you.
A chance to talk, move and explore what's going on with a little more space around us.
What is walk and talk therapy?
Walk and talk therapy is counselling that takes place outdoors rather than in a traditional counselling room. My outdoor sessions take place in Calderglen Country Park in East Kilbride.
Despite the name, we don't actually have to walk. We can walk and talk, find somewhere to sit or do a bit of both. You can decide what feels right on the day and change your mind at any point.
The counselling itself isn't radically different from being in the room together. You bring whatever's going on for you and I'll listen, ask questions and help you explore it.
Additional reading: Walking and talking (BACP)
Being outdoors changes things
For some people, talking can feel a little easier when we're walking side-by-side rather than sitting opposite each other. Being able to move can take some of the intensity out of the conversation, and there's less expectation of constant eye contact.
The natural environment is part of the session too. Something around us might catch your attention, help you feel grounded or connect with something you're talking about. If it does, we can be curious about that together.
Nature therapy can mean different things to different people. For some, symbolism becomes part of the journey. For others, it's just a good place to talk.
What can we work on together?
You don't need to fit neatly into a particular category to come to outdoor therapy. You might know exactly what's been bothering you, have a few different things going on at once or simply know that something doesn't feel right.
We can start with whatever feels most important to you.
What counselling with me is like
My approach is person-centred at heart, so sessions are shaped around you and what's going on for you. I'll listen, ask questions and help you explore things a little deeper, sometimes noticing patterns or looking at things from a different angle.
Nature therapy gives us a few more possibilities. We might keep moving while we talk, stop somewhere when something needs a little more space or notice what's happening around us. If something in the environment connects with what you're exploring, we can be curious about that too.
I also work integratively, so we can bring in other approaches when they might be useful. That could include practical CBT tools, mindfulness or compassion-focused work.
There's no particular way you have to use outdoor therapy. We can work out together what feels useful for you.
What to expect
Starting outdoor therapy can feel a little different if you’re not sure what a counselling session in a park is actually going to look like. We’ll agree the practical bits beforehand, then the session itself can be pretty relaxed.
Introductory call
Meeting point
Walk, sit or both
Ongoing sessions
Practical information
Outdoor counselling comes with a few extra practical things to think about, but nothing too complicated. We'll agree where to meet beforehand, keep an eye on the weather and have a backup plan if being outdoors isn't going to work that day.
Remember we're in Scotland! Preparing for four seasons in the space of an hour is probably a good idea.
Counselling in Calderglen
A little look at some of the places we might walk, talk or stop at along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some common questions about in-person questions. If you can't see what you're looking for feel free to get in touch.
Not at all. Some people come to counselling knowing exactly what they want to explore, while others aren't really sure where to start. Either is completely okay. We can start with whatever feels most important when we sit down together.
I usually see clients weekly or fortnightly, particularly when we're first starting out. Counselling is open-ended, so there's no set number of sessions you need to commit to.
You can pay by bank transfer in advance or by cash or card on the day.
The counselling room isn't currently wheelchair accessible. If this means in-person counselling isn't accessible for you, I also offer online counselling.