Walk and Talk

Therapy doesn’t always have to happen in a counselling room. We are all different, and the way we experience and engage with therapy can be different too. What feels helpful for one person may not feel right for another.

Why Walk & Talk?

Walk and talk therapy is being fast recognised as very beneficial way how to approach therapy for various issues – depression, bereavement, moderate anxiety, self-esteem, confidence, life transitions, relationship issues and more.

Spending time outdoors and being physically active have both been associated with benefits for mental wellbeing. Being in nature can also offer a different kind of environment and stimulation from sitting indoors, sometimes making it easier to think, reflect and notice things differently.

New environment can offer stimuli for otherwise occupied mind. There is also a growing body of research exploring the relationship between physical activity, time in nature and mental wellbeing. Sometimes it can be hard to engage in exercise while dealing with mental health issues. Doing therapy outside can be first step as you get some movement by walking.

What might it feel like?

Some people are already lovers of the outdoors and find it difficult to sit still in a counselling room. For them, walking can make therapy feel more natural and relaxed. There can be something about moving alongside someone, rather than sitting opposite them, that makes difficult conversations feel a little easier.

Walk and talk format of the therapy can come with various challenges what are not present in traditional indoor therapy. Please read often asked questions to get answers to possible concerns.

Walk & Talk might be a good fit for you if the idea of talking while walking feels more natural than sitting in a counselling room.

You might be someone who:

• feels more comfortable talking side-by-side than sitting face-to-face
• finds being outdoors calming, grounding or simply more enjoyable
• has difficulty sitting still or finds traditional counselling rooms a little uncomfortable
• likes having space to think, notice your surroundings and let your thoughts unfold as you walk
• is going through a period of change and wants some space to reflect on what comes next
• feels overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected from yourself or unsure about the direction you’re taking
• would like to explore things at your own pace, without feeling that you need to arrive with everything figured out.

You don’t need to be particularly fit, experienced with walking or someone who spends all their time outdoors. The walking is not the goal. The therapeutic work is. We can choose a route and pace that feels manageable for you and adapt things as we go.

And you don’t have to know whether Walk & Talk is right for you before you get in touch. We can talk about what you’re looking for and decide together what kind of setting might work best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is walking confidential enough?

Confidentiality can feel different when therapy takes place outdoors, so this is something we would talk about before beginning Walk & Talk sessions.

Together we would agree practical boundaries around privacy – including what we would do if we encountered someone we know, how we would respond if someone passed us while we were talking, and how comfortable you feel with being emotional outdoors.

Your first session would take place in the counselling room or online. This gives us an opportunity to get to know each other, discuss confidentiality and boundaries, and agree how Walk & Talk sessions could work for you.

Do I need to be fit?

No. Walk & Talk isn’t about fitness or how far we can walk. The focus is the therapeutic conversation.

We would discuss the type of route and pace that feels comfortable for you, and this can be adapted as we go. A gentle, flat route may be much more appropriate than a longer or hillier walk. There is no expectation to push yourself physically.

Is walk and talk therapy suitable for everyone?

Not necessarily. Walk & Talk isn’t the right format for everyone, and suitability is something we would consider together.

There may be times when meeting outdoors isn’t appropriate – for example, if there are concerns about immediate safety, significant difficulties with mobility, or circumstances where a private and contained therapeutic environment would be more appropriate.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that counselling itself isn’t suitable. It may simply mean that another format would offer a safer or more supportive setting at that particular point in time.

We can review this together throughout our work and change the format if your circumstances or

Is it safe?

It can be. This comes down to you. I always suggest to clients to think realistically about their abilities. If you are not moving much, than slow walk on a flat park walk might be more suitable than going up hills. If you have poor health than maybe walk and talk therapy is not for you as specially Scottish weather can change drastically. Each one of us would be responsible for their own safety and this is not responsibility of the therapist

What if there is bad weather outside?

Living in Scotland means the weather doesn’t always cooperate with our plans!

We would agree in advance how we want to approach changing weather and what conditions would mean that we postpone or change the session. Depending on the circumstances, we might reschedule, meet in the counselling room or move the session online.

Sometimes adapting to the conditions around us can become part of the therapeutic process too – noticing how we respond when things don’t go according to plan, and finding ways to remain flexible without pushing ourselves beyond what feels safe or manageable.

Where would we walk?

I offer Walk & Talk sessions in Perth and Edinburgh (on Saturdays), using outdoor spaces that are accessible by foot/public transport or car.

We would discuss the location together based on your preferences, accessibility, the type of route that feels comfortable for you and my knowledge of the local area.

The exact route doesn’t have to be decided before we meet we can find what works for you together.

How much does it cost?

My fee for walk and talk therapy is currently 60£ (VAT included) per 50 min session.

Curious whether Walk & Talk could be right for you?

You don’t need to decide before getting in touch. We can talk through what you’re looking for, what might feel comfortable for you and whether working outdoors could be a good fit.