Walk and Talk Therapy in County Durham

Durham riverside surrounded by trees as a setting for walk and talk therapy

What is walk and talk therapy?

Walk and talk therapy, also known as walk and talk counselling, is a form of counselling/psychotherapy which involves therapy done on an outdoor walk instead of an office or online setting.

I have a number of safe, open routes within the Newton Aycliffe (Woodham), Bishop Auckland, and Durham City Centre areas.

Before either of us commit to this form of therapy, we would have a free informal meeting online to discuss your needs and make sure this form of therapy is right for you.

Woodland trail on a sunny day for walk and talk therapy in County Durham

What are the benefits of walk and talk therapy?

Walk and talk therapy combines the benefits of traditional counselling and psychotherapy with walking in a natural environment. County Durham offers many walks and settings suitable for this form of therapy.

Other benefits include:

  • Physical activity

  • Walking side-by-side which can make it easier to discuss difficult issues

  • Feeling able to talk more openly than in a traditional setting

  • Connection with nature - natural landscapes have positive effects on both physical and mental health

Leaves on a woodland floor during a walk and talk therapy session in Durham

What do I offer as a walk and talk therapist?

As a qualified and accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, I draw upon a range of therapies to help you understand yourself, overcome challenges through psychological change, find meaning and purpose in life, and give you the tools/skills needed to move forward.

My approach is integrative - drawing upon different models of therapy to tailor treatment to your needs. This includes person-centred therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Logotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

You may not have a name or diagnosis for the difficulties you’re facing or you may be dealing with specific struggles such as those listed below. Walk and Talk Therapy can help you understand these issues, gain new perspectives, and equip you with the tools to move forward.

Select from the issues below to find out more:

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for anxiety disorders including: generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), health anxiety, social anxiety, and existential anxiety.

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for depression, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). This also includes existential OCD.

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for grief and bereavement. This includes complex bereavement issues and pet bereavement.

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for life transitions including relationship endings, divorce, retirement, and career changes.

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for those experiencing stress and burnout. This includes stress/burnout as a result of workplace issues, school/college problems, domestic difficulties, and ADHD.

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for individual’s with chronic or life-limiting illnesses.

  • I provide walk and talk therapy for people experiencing spiritual difficulties. This may include spiritual crises, issues of faith, leaving a particular religion/spiritual path, or struggling with aspects of your religion/spirituality.

Ivy growing on a tree during a walk and talk therapy session in Durham

However these struggles are showing up for you, whatever challenges you are facing, there is a way forward and together we can find it.

My approach is:

  • Integrative - drawing upon different approaches to tailor treatment to your needs (such as ACT and CBT)

  • Relational - seeing the therapeutic relationship as one of the main drivers of change

  • Existential - focused on finding your meaning and purpose, drawing upon Logotherapy and Existential Analysis

    Find out more about my approach here.