Walk and talk therapy combines counselling with walking in nature, offering a relaxed and supportive space to explore your thoughts and feelings.
For many people, being outdoors feels fundamentally different to sitting in a room. The open sky, the rhythm of walking, the sounds of nature – all of these can help you feel less stuck and more able to speak freely.
Research suggests that exercise and time in nature both improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety, making walk and talk a genuinely therapeutic combination rather than simply a change of scenery
What is walk and talk therapy and how can it help?
Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better – Albert Einstein
Walk and talk therapy is exactly what it sounds like – counselling that takes place outdoors, walking side by side rather than sitting face to face in a room.
Being in nature has a measurable effect on our mental health. Research shows that exercise reduces stress hormones, lifts mood and can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Combined with fresh air, natural light and the gentle rhythm of walking, many people find they can access their thoughts and feelings more easily outdoors than they ever could in a therapy room.
Walking side by side also changes the dynamic between client and therapist. Without direct eye contact, conversations can feel less intense and more natural – more like talking with someone than being observed by them. For many people this makes it easier to open up, particularly around difficult or painful experiences.
Sessions can support a wide range of difficulties including anxiety, depression, grief and loss and many others.
Being outdoors can be less confrontational for a client who is uncomfortable in a traditional counselling setting or perhaps is finding it difficult to face issues.
This can be particularly true for those who are neurodivergent and find the structure of a traditional therapy room difficult.
Others just enjoy combining the outdoors with their therapy.
Who is walk and talk therapy for?
Walk and talk therapy can be particularly helpful if you:
- find traditional therapy rooms feel claustrophobic or intense
- are neurodivergent and find sitting still in a confined space difficult
- are working through anxiety, depression or grief and find movement helps
- simply feel more comfortable talking while moving
- want to combine the benefits of nature and gentle exercise with your therapeutic work
- are in early recovery from addiction and find being outdoors grounding
Walk and talk is not suitable for everyone, and we would discuss together whether it feels right for you before beginning.
Where will Walk and Talk Therapy take place?
This type of counselling takes place in the local Warwickshire countryside. Sessions typically take place at Snitterfield Bushes Nature Reserve or the Welcombe Hills (Ingon Lane entrance), both local to Snitterfield near Stratford-upon-Avon.
I know these places well, so we will not get lost. Furthermore, once you know the route, you can lead where we walk within the agreed location.
What about confidentiality?
I have selected places where it is rare to see others, although this can happen occasionally. We can discuss this during our first session. However, it is important to remember that two people walking alongside each other happens regularly and so, a client and therapist walking side by side doesn’t look out of the ordinary.
We would discuss confidentiality concerns in more detail during our initial session together.
Feel free to share with me any anxieties you have if we go to a place and it doesn’t feel right for you. It is important that you feel safe and held for outdoor therapy to be of benefit.
What if I try Walk and Talk Therapy and realise it isn’t for me?
This is an invitation to work outdoors. However, we can agree to return to standard therapy sessions at any time you like. Additionally, we may decide not to work outdoors during the winter for example.
What about the weather?
On the morning of our session day, I contact clients via text to confirm the weather and check if they would like their outdoor session that day. After that, I leave it up to you to decide.
If you prefer not to walk and talk, we have other options. We can meet online, have a telephone session or at my Therapy Shed in Snitterfield near Stratford Upon Avon.
What are the benefits of Walk and Talk therapy?
Some clients report feeling more present. Others find that they leave their difficulties behind in the place we walk. Many clients have reported how nature seems to offer metaphor that reflects their experience. This can help the process of counselling by allowing a gentle and safe exploration.
Sessions at your pace
We will meet at a mutually arranged time, date and place. Session duration is 50 minutes with you, the client, setting the pace. I will monitor the time. You may prefer a slower, relaxing session or a faster-paced session. If you feel it is necessary to sit down at any time, we will if possible in the most appropriate place. In short, these decisions are led by you.
What can I wear?
I would advise wearing either walking boots or Wellington boots as the terrain can get muddy during the Winter, Spring or Autumn. As we come into summer, trainers may be fine.
What is the cost of a Walk and Talk session?
Sessions are charged at my standard counselling rate which is £60.00. An initial session (which is usually held in my Therapy Shed in Snitterfield) is charged at a reduced rate of £30.00 to give us a chance to see how we could work together. I have some limited sessions at reduced rates for clients on low incomes or benefits and counselling students.
Summary of the benefits
- Allows you to explore both physically in nature and metaphorically in yourself
- An opportunity to be with nature and experience fresh air
- A chance to take light exercise
- Gets you outside and moving
- Nature provides many metaphors for our therapeutic work
Risk Assessments
I have completed full risk assessments for both of the locations where we meet to ensure we are both safe when having therapy outdoors. These are available for any clients on request.
What issues can walk and talk therapy support?
Walk and talk counselling can support a wide range of difficulties, including:
- Anxiety and stress
- Depression and low mood
- Bereavement and grief
- Trauma
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship difficulties
- Neurodivergence
If you’re unsure whether walk and talk would suit your particular situation, please feel free to get in touch.
Walk and talk is a form of therapy I find deeply rewarding. There is something about being alongside someone in nature – rather than across from them in a room – that can shift the whole quality of a conversation. I feel privileged to offer this way of working.
Frequently Asked Questions — Walk and Talk Therapy
What is walk and talk therapy?
Walk and talk therapy combines outdoor walking with person-centred counselling, offering a natural and grounding alternative to traditional indoor therapy. Rather than sitting face to face in a room, we walk side by side in nature, which many people find less intense and more conducive to open conversation.
Where do walk and talk sessions take place in Warwickshire?
Sessions take place near Snitterfield, close to Stratford-upon-Avon, at either Snitterfield Bushes Nature Reserve or the Welcombe Hills (Ingon Lane entrance).
Is walk and talk therapy suitable for neurodivergent clients?
Yes – many neurodivergent clients find the structure of a traditional therapy room difficult, and the outdoors can offer a more comfortable and natural setting for therapeutic work.
Do I need to be physically fit for walk and talk therapy?
No – you set the pace entirely. Sessions can be slow and relaxed or more brisk, depending on what feels right for you on the day.
Is walk and talk available in winter?
Sessions can take place year round, though we may decide together to pause outdoor sessions during particularly harsh weather. Alternative online, telephone or indoor sessions are always available.
Call to discuss
You’re welcome to contact me for a chat. I would really like to hear from you.
Contact me via email or contact form whichever you prefer.
Mobile: 07886082333
Email: counsellingwarwickshire@gmail.com
Submit your query on my Contact Form.
I welcome diversity including all body size, age, disability, race, sexuality & gender (lgbtqia+), class, religion and political values.
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This page was written by Jenny Yates, Accredited NCPS Counsellor and Counselling Supervisor offering therapy in Warwickshire.