Walk and Talks promote a collaborative approach to therapy. The physicality of walking side by side can potentially interrupt the therapeutic process. However, the research identified that some clients reported the lack of eye contact as helpful for them to open up compared to the intensity of a face-to-face therapy session.

Walk and Talk Counselling described the benefits of bilateral movement and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma and exposure therapy.

Mind, the mental health charity supports the view that being outdoors is beneficial for physical and psychological well-being and recognises that spending time in natural environments has a positive impact on people’s lives and helps to alleviate symptoms such as depression, anxiety and stress related issues (Mind, 2018).

As a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) outdoor therapy has become more beneficial as a therapy since the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result of this, counsellors are now offering alternative methods of counselling, such as online and telephone appointments. Outdoor Therapy has the potential benefits to counselling in terms of offering clients choices in accessing alternatives to traditional counselling (BACP, 2022).

Whilst the therapy room provides a safe contained space, the intensity of face-to-face therapy can be anxiety provoking and intimidating for some clients, so natural spaces have been found to support those who may struggle to engage with therapy. Evidence has shown that being able to step out of the indoor environment and into the outdoors helped to change the intensity.

A client found they were able to open up more, unlike in the indoor environment which was found to be more intense and contained within the safety of the walls. A participant said ‘The outdoors is my happy place, where I feel comfortable, relaxed and able to open up’.

Another client discussed the outdoors as a grounding experience. “I love the idea of it, and I am quite an outdoor person who likes to go and hug a tree”. Research has found that the role of nature is a key element to facilitate therapeutic change. ‘Tree Hugging’ helped one participant ‘It made me aware of the power of nature and my need to let go to its forces in order to achieve peace and power’. This relates to Berger’s (2006) theory about expressing oneself by connecting with nature in creative ways by using it as a partner in the process.

We are in the UK and used to the unpredictability of the English weather. Ultimately, it is your decision. A waterproof coat, suitable footwear and an umbrella are required. If for any reason, the weather is too bad for us to walk and talk together, sessions can be changed to online.

Concerns about confidentiality and anonymity about bumping into someone you might know and being overheard are commonly expressed in the outside environment.

Working ethically outdoors with the emphasis being on ethical considerations is the most important factor applied to all counsellors working outdoors or within an indoor environment and a professional requirement upheld

in the BACP ethical framework (BACP, 2018). A contract will be drawn up detailing an agreement of code of conduct of counsellor and client to mitigate the risk of lack of anonymity.

A solid contract is negotiated at the start of therapy in order to protect you, but it also emphasises the challenges that need to be accounted for in relation to confidentiality and working in an unpredictable environment. Thereafter process contracting, which is an ongoing contracting process to be maintained throughout the duration of therapy for the uncertainties of working outside. This will be discussed at the start of the therapy, that it may be a possibility and how we decide to manage that should you bump into someone you know.

Whilst we all have different levels of fitness. Walk and Talk therapy is a slow moderate walk. The routes are generally flat, and the health of the client will be taken into consideration. The counselling session can also be adapted by taking a pause in a seating area or spending the session outside in a seating area.

If you feel that you are unable to walk for 1 hour or commit to this level of exercise, then walk and talk therapy would not be an option for you. There are other options available for you including indoor face-to-face counselling, telephone counselling and online counselling.

Research has shown that spending time in green spaces can benefit your mental health. Mind, the mental health charity supports the view that being outdoors is beneficial for physical and psychological well-being and recognises that spending time in natural environments has a positive impact on people’s lives and helps to alleviate symptoms such as depression, anxiety and stress related issues (Mind, 2018). The benefits of being outside include fresh air has more oxygen, green spaces raises serotonin levels, more sensory stimulation, increases feelings of wellbeing and lowers depression, sun exposure increases vitamin D and helps optimise hormones.

I believe people are very much like trees we can grow, flourish and thrive given the right conditions as Carl Rogers a humanistic psychologist and father of person-centred therapy believed that all people can change given the right conditions to grow.

For a person to "grow", they need an environment that provides them with genuineness (openness and self-disclosure), acceptance (being seen with unconditional positive regard), and empathy (being listened to and understood). Without these, relationships and healthy personalities will not develop as they should, much like a tree will not grow without sunlight and water. Just like trees need water, soil and sunlight to grow (right environment).

Rogers believed that every person could achieve their goals, wishes, and desires in life. When, or rather if they did so, self-actualization took place.