Outdoor Therapy
My professional interest in Outdoor Therapy comes out of having been a member of a pioneering course that leads the country in ecologically training therapists how to safely and respectfully work outdoors. My therapeutic work outdoors with clients is also informed by research and ideas from ecopsychology, environmental art, and mindful, movement-based practices such as Yoga. These fields all place a high value on the natural environment and its potential benefits to our wellbeing and awareness.
I typically work outdoors, within the landscape close to my clinic known as ‘The Jumbles’. There is woodland with multiple paths, a stream and several large ponds. The area is populated with wildlife such as deer and birds, and is enjoyed by walkers and their dogs. In Outdoor Therapy all the traditional boundaries inherent within therapy will remain, including the mutually agreed content of the work, professional boundaries and issues around confidentiality.
Outdoor Therapy does not require a familiarity with nature, or high degree of fitness. There is always flexibility in receiving therapeutic treatment this way, informed by the client’s choice and the weather. If you prefer, it could be seated on a bench, exploring awareness exercises, or possibly a longer walk through woodlands beyond the usual therapy duration of an hour (subject to prior agreement).
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
