Walk and Talk Individual Therapy Counselling

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

- Albert Einstein

If sitting in a room doesn’t feel like the right fit, we can take this outside

This is one-to-one therapy, just in a different setting.

We walk side by side, at a pace that suits you, and talk as we go. For some people, that feels easier than sitting face to face. There’s less pressure, more space, and often a different kind of conversation.

You might find it easier to speak when you’re moving, or when there’s something else to focus on alongside the conversation.

We still do the same work. We just do it in a way that feels more natural for you.

What we explore will often come back to your relationships… how you connect with others, what tends to happen when things feel difficult, and how your past experiences may be shaping things now.

Being outside can also help you notice things differently. Sometimes the environment gives us a way into conversations that might feel harder to access in a room.

You don’t need to have a clear starting point. We can begin with whatever feels most present.

Get in touch

What it’s like working together outdoors

I’ll still be actively involved in the work. The setting might be different, but I’m not stepping back or leaving you to figure things out on your own.

We’ll walk, pause when needed, and come back to things when they feel important.

You might bring something that’s happened recently, a conversation, a situation, or something that’s been on your mind. We can slow that down and look at it together, what you felt, what you needed, what happened in response, and what stayed with you.

Sometimes it’s easier to access those moments when you’re moving rather than sitting still.

We can also notice what’s happening in the moment… how you respond to the environment, the pace, the silence, or even walking alongside someone rather than facing them. That often connects back to how you experience relationships more generally.

I’ll guide the conversation, reflect what I’m noticing, and help you stay with things long enough to understand them properly.

How we work will always depend on what you bring and what feels most useful.

Most people come because they want something to feel different. That might be understanding themselves more clearly, feeling less stuck, or responding differently in their relationships.

We’re not rushing to fix anything, but we are working towards change. As things begin to make more sense, people often find they start to respond differently to themselves and to others.

Get in touch

How we’ll begin

We’ll start with an initial conversation over video.

This gives us a chance to see each other properly, talk through what’s brought you here, and get a feel for whether this way of working suits you. It also helps create a sense of familiarity before we meet outside, and means we’re both clear on how we’ll work together.

We’ll use that space to go through the practical side of things so you know what to expect before we begin. We’ll make sure nothing feels unclear before we start walking together.

That includes agreeing a location and pace that feels comfortable, and thinking about how we’ll use the space. There’s no pressure to keep moving the whole time. We can walk, pause, or sit when needed, depending on what feels right for you.

We’ll also be clear about where the walk will begin and end. It doesn’t need to be a full circuit, as we may stop, pause, or spend time reflecting in one place. What matters is that we both know what to expect at the end of the session, including how we separate and go our own way, so that boundaries are maintained clearly.

We’ll also think about confidentiality in an outdoor setting. For example, if we were to see someone you know, or someone I know, we’ll agree in advance how you’d like that to be handled so there are no awkward or unexpected moments.

We’ll talk through the practicalities of being outside more generally. That includes what happens in poor weather, or if conditions make it unsafe to walk. In those situations, we’ll agree alternatives ahead of time, such as moving the session online or rearranging, depending on what feels most appropriate.

We’ll also make sure the pace, distance, and environment feel manageable for you. You don’t need to be particularly fit or used to walking, this is about finding a way of working that suits you.

Once we’ve talked these things through, we’ll begin the sessions and adjust as we go depending on what you need.

There’s no pressure to commit straight away. It’s simply a starting point.

Get in touch

What sessions look like

Sessions are usually weekly.

They last 50 minutes, or longer (around 1 hour 20 minutes) if that feels more helpful. We can decide that together depending on what works best for you.

We’ll walk at a pace that suits you. There’s no expectation to keep moving the whole time. We can pause, sit, or slow things down when needed.

The focus of the work remains the same. We’ll explore what’s happening in your life, particularly in your relationships, and how things are affecting you day to day.

Over time, the work builds. As patterns become clearer, and things start to make more sense, people often find they begin to respond differently.

Get in touch

A note before you reach out

You might find this way of working helpful if sitting face to face feels too intense, or if you think more clearly when you’re moving.

You might prefer being outdoors, or feel more comfortable talking side by side rather than across from someone.

You might want therapy to feel a bit less formal, while still doing meaningful work.

Or you might simply be curious about trying something different.

You don’t need to be particularly fit or used to walking. We’ll work at a pace that feels manageable for you.

We’ll talk through whether it feels appropriate for you, including any physical or practical considerations.

This isn’t a crisis service, and if you need more immediate or specialist support, I’ll help guide you towards the right place.

We’ll also consider confidentiality in an outdoor setting, including the possibility of passing others, and agree how to manage that in a way that feels comfortable for you.

Are you ready to take the next step?

Get in touch

Possible Walk and Talk Locations

We’ll agree a location together, but I tend to use a small number of places that feel suitable for this kind of work. These are spaces that offer enough privacy, a steady walking pace, and the option to pause when needed.

Longton Park (Stoke-on-Trent)

Longton Park
Queens Park Avenue
Stoke-on-Trent
ST3 4AU

A well-kept park with a mix of open space and quieter areas.

Parking: free on surrounding roads, some limited on-site parking
Toilets: available on site
Café: small cafe on site
Walk type: mostly flat paths, easy to manage, with places to sit if needed

Tunstall Park (Stoke-on-Trent)

Tunstall Park
Queen’s Avenue
Tunstall
Stoke-on-Trent
ST6 6EE

Parking: Parking in the park by the Floral Hall and on-street parking nearby
Toilets: Within the park and the Floral Heall
Café: In the Floral Hall
Walk type: flat and compact, shorter walking routes

Westport Lake (Stoke-on-Trent)

Westport Lake
Waterloo Road
Stoke-on-Trent
ST6 4RZ

Parking: (Paid on site)
Toilets: available
Café: cafe on site
Walk type: mostly flat, circular route around the lake

Victoria Park (Stafford)

Victoria Park
Tenterbanks
Stafford
ST16 2QP

Parking: nearby car parks (paid), some on-street options
Toilets: available
Café: cafe on site
Walk type: mostly flat with a mix of open and shaded paths

Ashbourne Park (Ashbourne)

Ashbourne Park
Cokayne Avenue
Ashbourne
DE6 1EJ

Parking: on-street parking outside the park
Toilets: available Tuesday to Sunday
Café: pavilion for refreshments
Walk type: mostly flat, smaller and more contained

Other possible locations

These tend to offer longer or more varied routes, and we can talk through what might suit you best.

I’m also open to suggestions if there’s somewhere you already feel comfortable. Any new location would need to be risk assessed beforehand to make sure it’s suitable for this kind of work.