Eco Therapy and Walk Talk Counselling....Far more than just a walk
Some of the benefits of Eco Walk Talk Therapeutic Sessions are:
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What is Eco Therapy?
Eco therapy is a broad term that can be used to describe a variety of approaches that aim to restore physical and mental wellbeing through interaction with nature or nature based activities. In addition to counselling, there are now a great many services that incorporate aspects of eco therapy within them including nature based activities such as garden therapy to animal assisted therapy. Eco therapy for mental health is growing in its popularity and much research points to great benefits. One of the most well known pieces of research was conducted by the charity MIND who highlighted the positive benefits of Eco therapeutic activities in the successful treatment of many conditions connected to mental health including improving self esteem and reducing social isolation (Mind, 2019,1). 1. Mind.org.uk. (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/new-research-shows-benefits-of-ecotherapy-for-mental-health-and-wellbeing/ [Accessed 14 Apr. 2019]. |
Eco Therapy in my Practice
In 2018 and 2019 I undertook additional training in Eco Therapy on the hills of beautiful Mount Snowdon, Wales. During the training I saw first hand how powerful a tool counselling coupled with nature can be, following the training I was excited to introduce it to my own practice. I see eco therapy as a great opportunity to combine physical and mental wellbeing with a deep reverence for the environment. As i'm sure that many of you who read this will agree, the act of just being outside in nature can be in itself a very powerful rest and balance aid, therefore, nature coupled with counselling can be extremely beneficial for many clients. In this page I will briefly outline how I incorporate eco coaching techniques and therapy within my practice.
Sessions with me follow a similar framework to that within the counselling room, that is to say we still abide by the therapeutic framework, the sessions are timed and like a session in a counselling room notice will be given to the clients when we are due to finish, leaving time for reflection if appropriate. Many people who hear of eco therapy or walk talk therapy sessions initially think of it as walking. Whereas walking forms a large part of the session the eco counselling session is far more than a walk with my client, it is an opportunity for the client to engage with nature and the surroundings in a creative and therapeutic way. The practice of walking in nature can be very relaxing for many clients and particularly beneficial to clients who find sessions in the counselling room restrictive.
As in face to face sessions I will invite you to explore your concerns and will respond accordingly. There is the opportunity to also engage with the environment. In sessions when clients are drawn to particular aspects of the environment we focus on what is drawing them in and what that means for them, we may also construct sculptures and art to aid our exploration. This kind of creative exploration coupled with the interaction with nature can be a powerful therapeutic aid for many clients.
It is important to highlight that in my practice eco therapeutic sessions following an initial face to face session in the counselling room. This is just so that I can get to know a bit more about you and your presenting issue, this first session will incorporate an assessment and will allow me to explain a bit more about what walk talk therapy and eco counselling involves and how I might work with you in this process. During this first session we will also decide upon a route to take for our session, where to meet and how we might negotiate outside influences, such as bumping into people we know. This is part of the initial counselling therapeutic contract and ensures that you the client know the particulars connected to your session and that you feel safe and secure within this process.
These sessions last a minimum of one hour most sessions take one and a half hours allowing for a walk and creative exploration, sessions take place in the Beautiful Amber Valley of Derbyshire where we are blessed with an array of natural spaces to explore. For Eco Therapy I operate a sliding fee scale between £40 - £60.00 a session
In 2018 and 2019 I undertook additional training in Eco Therapy on the hills of beautiful Mount Snowdon, Wales. During the training I saw first hand how powerful a tool counselling coupled with nature can be, following the training I was excited to introduce it to my own practice. I see eco therapy as a great opportunity to combine physical and mental wellbeing with a deep reverence for the environment. As i'm sure that many of you who read this will agree, the act of just being outside in nature can be in itself a very powerful rest and balance aid, therefore, nature coupled with counselling can be extremely beneficial for many clients. In this page I will briefly outline how I incorporate eco coaching techniques and therapy within my practice.
Sessions with me follow a similar framework to that within the counselling room, that is to say we still abide by the therapeutic framework, the sessions are timed and like a session in a counselling room notice will be given to the clients when we are due to finish, leaving time for reflection if appropriate. Many people who hear of eco therapy or walk talk therapy sessions initially think of it as walking. Whereas walking forms a large part of the session the eco counselling session is far more than a walk with my client, it is an opportunity for the client to engage with nature and the surroundings in a creative and therapeutic way. The practice of walking in nature can be very relaxing for many clients and particularly beneficial to clients who find sessions in the counselling room restrictive.
As in face to face sessions I will invite you to explore your concerns and will respond accordingly. There is the opportunity to also engage with the environment. In sessions when clients are drawn to particular aspects of the environment we focus on what is drawing them in and what that means for them, we may also construct sculptures and art to aid our exploration. This kind of creative exploration coupled with the interaction with nature can be a powerful therapeutic aid for many clients.
It is important to highlight that in my practice eco therapeutic sessions following an initial face to face session in the counselling room. This is just so that I can get to know a bit more about you and your presenting issue, this first session will incorporate an assessment and will allow me to explain a bit more about what walk talk therapy and eco counselling involves and how I might work with you in this process. During this first session we will also decide upon a route to take for our session, where to meet and how we might negotiate outside influences, such as bumping into people we know. This is part of the initial counselling therapeutic contract and ensures that you the client know the particulars connected to your session and that you feel safe and secure within this process.
These sessions last a minimum of one hour most sessions take one and a half hours allowing for a walk and creative exploration, sessions take place in the Beautiful Amber Valley of Derbyshire where we are blessed with an array of natural spaces to explore. For Eco Therapy I operate a sliding fee scale between £40 - £60.00 a session
