Walk and talk sessions help dissolve tension, relax the body and boost blood to the brain, making outdoor therapy a wonderful aid to the healing process. Being outside also help us to breathe more and feel present in the moment, working on the concepts of positive psychotherapy (PPT). PPT focuses on improving wellbeing and function, by building positive emotions, relationships and strengths. The aim is to build resilience, thereby helping clients move forward, protecting them against future stressors. You might have heard walk and talk therapy being called 'nature therapy', 'eco-psychotherapy', 'wilderness therapy', 'positive therapy', ' forest bathing' or a variety of other terms all celebrating the added benefits to body and mind from exchanging counselling in the natural environment. Spending time walking outdoors can support the therapeutic experience in many ways... Nature can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity and can facilitate concentration. Outdoor activity is the ultimate de-stressor, as sunlight helps keep your serotonin levels up. Time in green spaces significantly reduces your cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Nature also boosts endorphin levels and dopamine production, which promotes happiness. Studies have shown that being in nature produces faster psychological stress recovery time. The natural environment has influenced humans' ability to speak and the amount of vocabulary we use, therefore science would suggest it is easier to express yourself outside. Nature helps us gain a sense of peace and a boost to our self-esteem, as well as providing new visual and audio stimuli which can aid relaxation. Going outdoors can be grounding and centering, helping to reduce tension, stress and anxiety levels. Fresh air, exercise, raising energy levels, boosting blood circulation and contributing all help improve physical wellbeing and contribute to a better night's sleep. ​Walking in nature, whilst interacting with our natural environment means we are not bombarded with stimulation, which can lower our cortisol levels and give us pleasant biophilic patterns. Walking side by side with a therapist also allows the client to avoid eye contact, when and if they need to, which can feel less pressured than conducting face-to-face therapy in an enclosed room or online across a screen. Many people say they find it easier to talk in a more creative way while walking, as thoughts flow more openly while the body is moving. Outdoor therapy - whether in green or urban spaces - can also be a helpful motivation for clients to get out of the house and experience new environments, which may be particularly beneficial during times of bereavement, loss or depression. “Nature has this calming and enchanting effect. Walking in the woods, smelling the fresh forest air, or sitting on a bench watching birds. Magical.” mental health.org.uk

Outdoor walking therapy is suitable for clients of all ages and abilities, tailored to suit the needs of each individual. That means taking things at your pace if you have reduced mobility or you've been out of the habit of exploring new environments. Many teenagers and young people seem to respond particularly well to counselling on a walk. Being outdoors can help children open up, reducing the awkwardness that some may feel in a face-to-face indoor setting. Please get in touch with me if you'd like to discuss your unique circumstances and any concerns you might have in advance of booking an outdoor counselling session.

Absolutely. The client sets the pace when it comes to counselling, and that applies to the physical pace in an outdoor setting, as well as to the therapeutic process. We're blessed with a range of beautiful locations to walk in around the Gloucestershire area, including with footpaths suitable for wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

Choose from a range of beautiful locations for walk and talk therapy in the towns, villages and surrounding countryside of the Cotswolds. Walking counselling sessions can take place anywhere within a 20-minute radius of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, including in and around: Tetbury Cirencester Nailsworth, Woodchester Lakes Stroud Minchinhampton Common Westonbirt Arboretum

To book a walk and talk therapy session, get in touch via the online contact form or email florajardine@icloud.com. You can request a favourite walking spot, or receive recommendations from Flora around your preferred area, within a 20-minute radius of Tetbury. Please come dressed appropriately for the weather and for walking, to ensure maximum comfort. Walk and talk therapy cost: £60 / 50-minute session.

One of the benefits of modern technology is that it opens up greater freedom and flexibility to get the support you need, wherever you may be living or whatever your practical circumstances. I provide online therapy sessions for clients all around the world who may need specialist support following a bereavement, divorce or separation, or to begin recovery after any kind of loss. Online counselling gives you the flexibility and freedom to fit your counselling around a busy work or home-life schedule, wherever you are in the world. If you're local to my practice in Gloucestershire, England, and want to mix and match your counselling between walk-and-talk, in-person or online therapy, that's fine too. Having that added flexibility can be a great way to keep up your regular therapy sessions if your circumstances change and you're under the weather, on holiday, or need to accommodate a busy workload.

Conducting your grief and loss counselling online via computer can be particularly helpful if: You have a busy work-from-home schedule and don't have time to travel to a therapist; You're located outside Gloucestershire, UK, and would like to benefit from my specialist expertise in grief and loss; You are feeling unwell, or have physical accessibility or mobility issues; You don't have easy access to transport; The outside world feels overwhelming at a time of bereavement or mental stress; You prefer the privacy and personal space that a screen provides; You prefer speaking with cameras off, without any face-to-face contact.

To book an online counselling therapy session, get in touch via the online contact form or email florajardine@icloud.com. We'll arrange a time to fit around your schedule, which could be a regular slot each week, or flexible depending on your needs. You will need access to a smartphone, tablet or laptop and a reliable internet connection for the duration of our online meeting. Online counselling costs £60 / 50-minute session.