Imagine swapping four walls and a chair for sea air and a gentle stroll. Instead of sitting face to face, we’re walking side by side, talking freely as we go along. Walking therapy combines the benefits of counselling with the calming power of nature.
I’ve been offering walking therapy in East Lothian for several years, and I’ve seen how it can gently open up conversations, spark insights, and bring a sense of calm.
What is walking therapy?
Walking therapy is counselling outdoors. Instead of sitting face-to-face in a room, meeting online or speaking on the phone, we walk side by side, perhaps along the beach, through the park or along a quiet coastal path. The rhythm of walking, the changing scenery, and the open space can make it easier to share your thoughts, talk about sensitive issues and see things from a new perspective.
How walking therapy can help you
Here are some benefits clients have experienced:
- Lift in mood and energy: Getting out of the house or away from the office, perhaps away from the sources of tension, and walking, even at a gentle pace, can ease anxiety, lift low mood and boost to emotional energy.
- Easier conversations: Walking side by side often feels less intense than sitting face to face. Walking in step, we’re a team, helping your thoughts and feelings flow more naturally.
- Mindfulness in motion: Being outdoors in nature encourages you to notice the here and now – the breeze, the birds and the waves. Whatever may be going on in life, in the moment there’s some respite, time to think and simply breathe in fresh air.
- Gentler approach to difficult topics: Walking can make it easier to talk about sensitive subjects without feeling under pressure
- Physical health benefits: Walking therapy supports overall well-being – from lowering blood pressure to improving sleep. Some clients see the walk as part of their commitment to looking after themselves better.
Is walking therapy right for you?
It can be a great choice if you’re feeling anxious, hopeless, overwhelmed or stuck or if you simply prefer meeting in person without being indoors. I’ve also noticed it can suit clients who are perhaps quite shy or uneasy in a counselling room or online.
It’s not for everyone. If you have mobility challenges, live far away from anywhere suitable, or simply don’t like the idea, the other options are available.
What to expect in a session
We’ll meet locally, most often by the beach. A quick hello and ‘how are things?’ will get us on our way at your pace. While I plan the route, you set the speed.
We will be walking side by side, talking as we go. We can pause to take in the view, or just to reflect on something important. There’s a real sense of perspective sometimes from realising that whatever is going on the tide will turn and the birds will be flying whatever happens. We can talk, or we can sometimes simply walk.
I tend to walk on the beach to a natural turning point and then return. I’ve noticed the client will often tell the story or say what’s on their mind on the way out. We will reach the turning point, pause, look around, and then head back. On the return we often focus on options and next steps, finding clarity.
Every time the experience is different, we’re sharing the changing weather, the seasons, nature around us. Side by side, step by step we are working through the issues.
Does that appeal to you?
Nature as a partner
The idea that nature offers therapeutic benefits makes sense to me. Research shows that spending time outdoors can lower stress hormones, improve focus, and boost a sense of connection. The changing seasons, the sound of the sea, the leaves changing on the trees are all these elements that can become part of the dialogue. We are reminded change is constant, even when we feel stuck.
For some clients the physical act of moving forward, step by step, mirrors their progress. Every decision, every little change makes a difference.
Common questions
- Confidentiality: I tend to go to wide, quieter beaches. We choose quieter routes. If we pass someone you know, you decide how to respond. We agree on this in advance.
- Weather: The old joke is that there is no bad weather, just the wrong clothes. My own limit is horizontal rain! Some clients enjoy walking in any weather, but we can always reschedule or meet online if it is too bad.
- Safety: Safety is paramount. Routes are chosen for security and ease for walking.
Top tips for making the most of a session
- Dress for the weather: wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
- Bring water, sun protection, or a raincoat as needed.
- Be open to silence: Not every moment needs to be filled with conversation. Embrace pauses, notice your environment, and allow space for think and just breathe.
- Think about what you would like to focus on before the session
- Share preferences about location, pace or privacy with your counsellor.
My perspective as a counsellor
I have worked with clients in person in a room, online on the phone and outdoors. Each method has benefits and drawbacks. For those who want to walk, I have found the movement, fresh air and shared environment dissolve barriers and help clients open up. I have seen it work, particularly if clients are feeling hopeless, stuck or overwhelmed.
Of course, it’s not for everyone – I remember a particular client who wanted to give it a try but while we were out the wind picked up and it ended up as a bit an endurance test walking back with sand swirling. That individual decided it wasn’t for them, which was fair enough! Meeting in a room or online has a predictability which walking can’t offer, which is a benefit and a drawback.
For those it suits, it can be grounding and liberating.
Ready to take the first step?
If you’re curious about walking therapy, I’d love to walk alongside you — literally. Whether you’re seeking clarity, working through difficult times, or simply want to feel more connected to yourself, this could be a gentle yet powerful way forward.
Get in touch to arrange a free introductory chat, and let’s see where the path takes us.
book a free session
jane green counselling 