Outside Therapy

Outside therapy is counselling outside: walking or sitting. The approach is the same except that we may use how we are moving or the outside environment in our work. We will also pay attention to the differences in confidentiality and risk that inevitably arise when working outside.

Book An Outside Therapy Session

FAQ's

Why Work Outside?

There are many reasons why people enjoy having therapy outside:

some people find it therapeutic or that they just feel more "alive" when outside: walking in or being close to nature.
some find it easier to talk with somebody side-by-side rather than face-to-face. We can find the counselling process much easier when walking or sitting next to someone.
some find walking helpful; the act of moving can help us to feel calmer, freer and less “stuck”.
some find that the ever-changing environment offers many opportunities to explore their relationship with their bodies, with seasons, with nature and with what is out of their control or beyond them.
some find that the environment and the journey offers them meaningful metaphors to communicate and explore their lives.

Where will we be?

I offer outside therapy in:

Alton, starting at Whitedown Lane by Ackender Woods (GU34 1PY).
RHS Wisley. You can find out more about getting to RHS Wisley here.

How much does it cost?

The cost is £90 full price or £55 per session reduced rate - please just say if the reduced rate would be helpful. Payment is made by bank transfer 24 hours before an appointment.

How do I find out your availability and book a session?

You can find my current availability and book a session on the bookings page.

How is it different to being inside?

The main difference is to do with confidentiality. We will discuss in our first session how we can make every effort to preserve confidentiality and privacy whilst during our session, recognising that we have less control over this outside. This will include:

what to do if we encounter someone I or you know.
being mindful of who might be able to overhear our conversations.

The other important difference is to do with safety. I have done a risk assessment which I will share with you. However, we each retain responsibility for our own safety whilst outside. This includes bringing appropriate footwear, clothing and a drink.

What about bad weather?

We will either:

enjoy the outside environment anyhow. At RHS Wisley, there is the option of making use of covered areas or coffee shops. This is not an option in Alton.
switch to talking by phone.

Occasionally, RHS Wisley is closed due to high winds. If this is the case, I will get in touch and the session can be conducted by phone or online.

Accessibility

Detailed information about accessibility at RHS Wisley Gardens can be found here.

Please do talk to me about any concerns you have about accessibility before the session. This lets me investigate anything that I need to beforehand. We will discuss together the routes that will work for you

What should I expect from a session?

We will arrange a place to meet beforehand. If this is in Alton, this will be along Whitedown Lane (where you can park along the road), and you will then be able to choose where you would like to walk. If it is at RHS Wisley, parking is free and we will meet at the Garden Entrance and we will then enter together using my membership card (you do not have to pay anything extra). If you arrive early, there is outside seating and a café by the Garden Entrance which you can use.

After this, we will begin our session. I am happy for you to choose which way you would like to go or to lead us on a set path. Alternatively, I can take us on a set path. We can also, from the start, discuss a path that would work for you and go from there. We will go at your pace and we can find a bench or log to sit on at any time. I will be mindful of time and prompt us when we need to start heading back.

During the session, we will be talking in similar ways to any counselling session.

We will return to the entrance after 1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes. The sessions are a little longer to give some lee-way so that we do not feel rushed to get back. I just ask that you leave promptly, respecting that I may be meeting clients soon after the end of our session.

Do I need to be fit?

The pace will be set by you and we can sit down on one of the many benches if we need to at any point. Please do talk to me about any concerns you have about fitness before the session. We will work out what routes will work for you.

However, if you do have any medical concerns, I suggest that you seek the advice of a medical professional before starting any new physical activity.

Outside Therapy

FAQ's

I offer outside therapy in:

Alton, starting at Whitedown Lane by Ackender Woods (GU34 1PY).

RHS Wisley. You can find out more about getting to RHS Wisley here.

​

How much does it cost?

The cost is £90 full price or £55 per session reduced rate - please just say if the reduced rate would be helpful. Payment is made by bank transfer 24 hours before an appointment.

​​​

How do I find out your availability and book a session?

What about bad weather?

We will either:

Occasionally, RHS Wisley is closed due to high winds. If this is the case, I will get in touch and the session can be conducted by phone or online.

​

Accessibility

​

Detailed information about accessibility at RHS Wisley Gardens can be found here.

Please do talk to me about any concerns you have about accessibility before the session. This lets me investigate anything that I need to beforehand. We will discuss together the routes that will work for you

What should I expect from a session?​

During the session, we will be talking in similar ways to any counselling session.

​We will return to the entrance after 1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes. The sessions are a little longer to give some lee-way so that we do not feel rushed to get back. I just ask that you leave promptly, respecting that I may be meeting clients soon after the end of our session.

​​​​​

Do I need to be fit?

The pace will be set by you and we can sit down on one of the many benches if we need to at any point. Please do talk to me about any concerns you have about fitness before the session. We will work out what routes will work for you.

​

However, if you do have any medical concerns, I suggest that you seek the advice of a medical professional before starting any new physical activity.

​​​​

FAQ's

What should I expect from a session?

We will return to the entrance after 1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes. The sessions are a little longer to give some lee-way so that we do not feel rushed to get back. I just ask that you leave promptly, respecting that I may be meeting clients soon after the end of our session.